ExponentialChangemakers

Standing on the green court, racquet in hand, wearing my sparkling clean white sneakers and skirt, as my coach required, I studied her moves as she showed me again how to serve. She must’ve shown me at least five times. Add in my other coaches, and that move was probably taught to me dozens of times before my tenth birthday. ‘Practice makes perfect,’ they said. I was a student. I understood it was my job to study my coach's moves and then practice and perfect my moves until they became the same or ‘right’ as theirs. I now know that my goal should’ve been to view their moves as a sample and mirror them as one part of the process of finding my own moves, but no one ever told me that. Yet, as you look across sports and music, and most domains, there are some critical foundational ‘moves’ - principles, ways of doing things - the true art lies in finding your expression of those moves. In fact, what we value most in society are those athletes and musicians who have taken those baseline ‘moves’ and adapted them, rejected them, mixed them up, or, even better, done all that and created their own signature moves. Finding our own moves and creating our signature moves is gold; it’s what makes us each unique. It’s what makes one business different, one piece of music from the same genre distinctive from another; it’s the spice of life. Don't you think? Yet, just like when I was learning tennis, too many of us crave instructions to help us find ‘the way’ and, especially, ‘the right way.’’ For example, the ‘right way’ to be the ideal candidate or the best performer on the job or to take the next steps in our lives. And, even deeper, the ‘right way’ to reimagine an aspect of their life, career, or business. As I had to tell a group of women this week, 'You are not broken, so you don't need to be fixed!' There are ways of being and doing, but what's 'right' for you is not outside you; it's within. Mentors, models, frameworks and approaches are helpful. But, ultimately, what's right for someone else isn't necessarily (or usually) what's right for you. The key is to go inward. Be honest with yourself about your needs and preferences, what matters to you, and how you truly want to spend your time in this one life. Jobs and careers are tools; use them to get the life you want. Of course, it's easier to write this than to do it—that's the real work—getting to know yourself and your unique superpowers, amazing weirdness, needs, and preferences while setting aside other people's expectations of you, closing down your FOMO (we've all been there), and letting everyone else's choices fade into the background. Look at role models, consult mentors, frameworks and books for approaches, and, just like when I was playing tennis, consider getting a coach to support you and challenge you as you take the amazing journey to what's right for you. #futureofwork #coaching #personaldevelopment #goals #dreams #careerdevelopment

Some assignments can set you up for promotion — this is the glamour work. Other assignments are necessary but unsung — this is the office housework. Research shows that women and people of colour are much more likely to get housework-type assignments than to get assigned to glamour work. Managers and executives have to fix this imbalance if they’re going to make progress on corporate diversity goals. To do that, start keeping track of how projects are assigned in your organization. Managers can identify what the office housework is in their department and who is doing it, and spread out these humdrum assignments more evenly. For new glamour work assignments, consider all eligible employees, not just the ones who come to mind first or who ask to do it. Senior executives and HR leaders can help hold middle-managers accountable for making progress. The result will not only be a system that is fairer for women and minorities, but for all employees. #diversity #equity #inclusion #belonging

'What do you want to be when you grow up?' Recently, I had the privilege of addressing parents at the annual celebration of the 'Leader In Me' Program at Global Academy For Learning - India, where I served as the Chief Guest. My address to the secondary school parents was asking them to reflect on this question we have all encountered during our school and college years: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I questioned the relevance and impact of such a query on our children's development. Here are a couple of reasons why I believe it's time to retire this age-old question: 1. Ego-centric Approach: Asking children what they want to be when they grow up tends to foster an ego-centric perspective. It subtly implies that their current pursuits are only a means to an end—ultimately, a defined career. This might limit their exploration of diverse interests and passions. 2. Lack of Respect: The question may inadvertently convey a lack of respect for the child's current identity and achievements. By framing success solely in the context of a future career, we may unintentionally undermine the importance of their present experiences, learnings, and contributions. So, what should we ask instead? I propose a shift in our approach to nurturing young minds. Instead of fixating on future professions, let's encourage a more holistic perspective: "What problem of humanity would you like to solve, and when?" This question not only stimulates critical thinking but also promotes a sense of responsibility towards society. Following up with, "To do that, what do you need?" fosters a dialogue about the skills, knowledge, and values required to address real-world challenges. This is exactly what we follow at Tapas Education when welcoming the child at the beginning of every academic year. By reframing our inquiries in this manner, we can guide our children towards a mindset that includes citizenship and community building in their aspirations. Let's strive to empower the next generation with a broader perspective—one that extends beyond personal success to making meaningful contributions to the world. Together, we can shape a future where our children grow up not just as professionals but as compassionate and socially responsible individuals. Looking forward to your thoughts and contributions to this important conversation. PS: I'd like to wholeheartedly thank GAFL for their warmth and hospitality. I loved the welcome by the beautiful Bharatanatyam dancers. #learning #school #secondaryschool #leadership

Apply Now! A great opportunity to join the growing Obama Foundation Girls Opportunity Alliance team, working with organizations and leaders making a difference on girls' education and empowerment around the world! #hiring #jobopportunity

Are you looking for an internship with us in the fall 2024? 🍁 You can apply for our (inter)national internship program across offices such as 🇩🇰Copenhagen, 🇹🇳Tunis, 🇰🇪Nairobi, 🇮🇳Mumbai, 🇺🇦Kyiv, and 🇱🇧Beirut. The internship program is designed to acquaint you with insight into yourself and your human potential while providing a real, hands-on opportunity to experience various assignments with our international clients. You will contribute to our work by applying critical and creative thinking on strategic issues and propose problem-solving frameworks to address key client challenges and to delve into policy and programming research across various sectors and meaningful projects in fragile and conflict-affected areas Together, we are making strides towards a world where more lives are made meaningful, and if you are keen on making a substantial impact, we invite you to explore these opportunities and apply. 🌱 🔗 Read more and apply here: https://lnkd.in/erGDDSN6

Come work with me! Voluntas is currently hiring for our international and national analyst programs for our offices in Beirut, Kyiv, Mumbai, Nairobi and Tunis to start in August 2024. These are fantastic (paid!) opportunities for recent graduates interested in international development, humanitarian, and policy research. We work on a wide range of thematic areas, including democracy and governance, migration, gender, climate, and conflict resolution for partners including UN agencies, the EU, and INGOs. All positions can be found here: https://lnkd.in/eZffh8vD 

"Love is not optional..it is a biological necessity that is as vital to a person’s wellbeing as fresh water, food, and exercise." Yet, when we talk about Love, we're almost never talking about it in the context of work. Of course, I'm talking about platonic love, not the romantic kind. Imagine applying the neuroscience of love to create healthy work cultures, healthy leaders, and healthy people. The difference we could bring to how we take care of one another in the context of work, how feedback is received and delivered, the type of decisions we make and how those decisions are made and communicated. These are just a few of the possibilities that come with exploring the idea that Love is a critical human need, an unlimited, largely untapped resource in the context of work. That's what my friend Claire Harbour and I are cooking up with some partners. Interested in learning more? DM Claire or me, and let's talk about how we might work together to bring love into your organisation. After all, #loveworks... #leadership #culture #leadwithlove #peoplefirst https://lnkd.in/dB5TxmiS