GroundFloor

In her new book Emma Hayes makes a beautifully succinct point about being a leader when she says… Leadership is draining. Having left the Circus, one of the biggest wins of the past six weeks for me is to not have to lead anyone other than myself.  It’s been quite liberating really and has allowed my mind to wander around all the fringes of my mind and go and investigate those corners of my thinking that don’t often get the time they deserve. But now, I have to admit that I miss it.  As Hayes continues… “You have to constantly listen well, communicate clearly, and reflect wisely. You must have a deep understanding of the human condition and be hyperaware of what makes people tick. Assume nothing. The range of motivational factors within your workforce is surprisingly wide.” What a treat to be in a position where that is your job. So I’m really happy that GroundFloor have let me into their team of mentors. I had my first call yesterday, and another one today, and I loved it. Here's hoping for many more.

"Always be in a position where you are being mentored and mentoring someone else." I learned this early in my career and not sure where...but I know it's from someone so I thought I'd put it in quotes :) I have had the world's most incredible mentors in my career - some direct bosses, some adjacent roles, some clients.... huge list but some early career notables that come up right now are Archana Kumar Tim Welsh Pat (Patricia) Wilkinson Darlene Remlinger Malcolm McLean Doug Martin Dave Snell...SO MANY TO NAME. I used to think that mentors needed to be those who were more "senior" than I, with more years of experience, higher ranking titles, more, more more (than I). Along the way that changed. Case in point : I'm in the midst of applying to do something big, something that I've always wanted to do, but not sure how (more on this later). I connected with a person who just completed this goal and is being so generous in her feedback and helping me with my application...I am truly blessed and grateful. What's notable is that she is twenty years younger than me, so likely my youngest mentor yet (or better said, biggest age gap). Lesson: learning, teachings can come from everywhere. It's easy to dismiss someone because they are younger. But easy is not the most fruitful. If you do that, you are missing an incredible opportunity to learn from someone who's been there, and done what you wish for most. Open your mind to all forms of learning, especially when it comes from other generations. You'll be better for it.

So here is an appreciation post for all the mentors I had the opportunity to connect with and an introductory post for anyone looking forward to mentorship. As I am graduating with a business and marketing degree from York University, with a keen interest in marketing, I wanted to connect with professionals in marketing agencies to understand different job roles, skill sets required to land a job in agencies, and other insights that will make my profile stand out in today’s competitive marketplace. Before discovering GroundFloor, I attended a couple of in-person marketing events hoping to meet the right people. However, I realized that the chances of meeting the right person are slim, especially if you are not an extrovert. Thanks to LinkedIn, I discovered this amazing mentorship and coaching platform called GroundFloor, where I connected with a few incredible professionals in the marketing and advertising fields. I was surprised by the simplicity of the platform. Unlike other platforms where candidates have to fill in numerous details before algorithms connect them with the right mentor, GroundFloor is straightforward. You see a list of mentors. If you feel you can benefit from their experience, just hit 'Book a call' according to the time slot provided by the professional. That’s it. Be ready with your questions for your mentor on the session day from the comfort of your couch. Just think Netflix for entertainment, DoorDash for food, and GroundFloor for mentorship and coaching. Next, I just want to say thank you to all the mentors: Ivana M., Senior Vice President at Mass Minority; Craig Brandon, VP Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi Canada; and Sean Froese, Director of Data and Analytics at Humi, for their time, help in crafting the perfect resume, and helping me understand different roles. Lastly, thank you to Trent Thompson, Creative Director at OLIVER Agency and Co-Founder of GroundFloor, for his time, endless support, and guidance. I am sure I will benefit from all the knowledge and information imparted during these sessions. #mentorship #coaching

The Great Resignation of 2021/2022? NOPE, Welcome to The Great Detachment of 2024 Chloe Berger from Fortune paints the picture for you. https://lnkd.in/g9WtFDDz Here’s a quick summary: Declines in hiring and increases in inflation elevate the risk associated with changing jobs. Instead of leaving, employees are checking out. This applies to all levels, including upper management. A strong market in 2021/2022 provided opportunities for people to leave for jobs that gave them purpose or paid them more. Many are realizing the grass wasn't greener. Employees want out but are deterred by the competitive market, leading to increased disengagement. Employees are feeling a disconnection from work’s mission and are dealing with unclear expectations. 42% of those who left their jobs in the past year said their manager or company could have prevented their departure. This is challenging when managers themselves are also disengaged. There are obviously many exceptions. Especially those companies who lead with their values however, I'm hearing it at every level. What's next? The Great.....?