Dr. Philipia Hillman’s Post

Happy October 1st and 365 days since I first posted about The October Group! This year has been an amazing journey.  I’m grateful for the joy, the lessons and even the challenges. With intention, The October Group has expanded throughout the year and attracted cool, top-notch talent, all aligned toward a shared purpose. Every day, with every interaction, we strive to uphold the company’s guiding principles: ·     Partnership ·     Imagination ·     Growth ·     Imperfection ·     Joy Upholding these principles has been our guiding force behind winning stimulating, rewarding, and impactful work, including: ·     Partnering with executives of a global tech leader bringing cutting-edge innovation to serve missions across the federal space ·     Fostering the next generation of leaders at a storied scientific, exploratory and educational organization ·     Supporting a first-time CEO leading transformational growth at a media tech firm disrupting their industry As I shared a year ago, my great-grandparents owned their farm, my grandmother owned a 50+ year successful flower shop, and my mom is an esthetician and marriage/family therapist. This makes me a fourth-generation entrepreneur. Not only am I living out my legacy, but I’m also living my purpose – sparking human flourishing through courageous leadership.  It is a purpose-driven privilege to work with cool clients focused on growth, disruption and mission success. On behalf of The October Group team, thank you to all who’ve trusted us and made us part of your growth story. We are looking forward to expanding and continuing the journey. Please check out our website (www.theoctobergrp.com) and follow us on LinkedIn (https://lnkd.in/g3njBKCB) for new updates and info. Nick Jivasantikarn Monica Sherese Brewster, PMP Jennifer Vanmeter Steven Jones, Ph.D. Dr. Yasemin Gokalp, PHR, SHRM-CP, CPC. CCDP, PCC Amy Steindler Zachariah H. Karp Philip Hillman Stephen D. Allison Selen Turner Allison Abayasekara Heather Gronek Archer Digital Singleton Media LLC

Happy Sunday! The last day of the summer and today in 1846 Neptune was first observed. She spends her days helping people better understand and embody trust. Author and entrepreneur, Andrea Howe (she/her) has built a business on “Creating magical experiences of community that make space for people’s spirits to come alive” Her thriving business, The Get Real Project opens people’s awareness and confidence in offering trust. She guides people to truly “get real” via the Trust Equation – Credibility (upholding their word) + Reliability (owning their actions) + Intimacy (being psychological safe for others) / Self-Orientation (being less self-focused). Andrea works in a variety of industries, professions and crisscrosses organizational boundaries. Live or virtual her learning experiences are interactive, engaging, grounded in adult learning theory and are proven to boost corporate performance. Andrea upholds, models and practices what is means to have worklife harmony - when personal and professional values are aligned. #leadership #culture #strategy #trust

Happy Friday! The best day of the week and the first Friday in September. Greetings from the Mediterranean Sea – heading to Ibiza for dinner and dancing. I have the luxury of traveling with the “Harlem Cuties” - Linda Talton Vanessa Levy and Crizette Woods. I’ve known these women for more than 25 years and our friendship has always been about our collective harmony – traveling to Croatia, visiting Barbados, discussing love gained, loved lost, our children’s hopes and our nieces’ and nephews’ journeys. Each of us experience our worklife harmony in strategic and purposeful ways: ·     Linda Talton is the founder of School First, serving all families striving for and independent school education ·     Vanessa Levy is an advertising sales executive in the real estate industry, serving corporate and residential desires ·     Crizette Woods is a restaurateur via her mom’s legacy Sylvia's Catering & Events in Harlem, keeping the tradition of southern soul food alive I’ve continued to share my purpose as founder of The October Group – sparking human flourishing through couregous leadership. We are in joy and being good role models of worklife harmony! #leadership #culture #strategy #worklifeharmony

Romal Tune As always, thank you! Appreciate you sharing your experiences with The October Group. Look forward to our continued success.

Happy Monday! The first day of the work week and the last Monday in August. As the 2024 Canadian Administrative Professional of the Year, Heather Gronek has been recognized by her colleagues and the profession as one of the best. Imagine, living your worklife harmony and being recognized for doing it. She has stitched together a work schedule that allows her to be and do her best. “I eat lunch with the preschoolers and monitor recess for 1st – 8th graders on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays” says Heather Gronek a wife, mother, twin and entrepreneur. Then, she brings her organizational expertise, experience and gifts to her clients. The October Group is super proud of Heather and a witness to her greatness. https://lnkd.in/euKP_xiR Congratulations Heather! You’re a worklife harmony exemplar and we are so grateful to have you in our orbit. #leadership #culture #strategy

Happy Friday! The best day of the week and National Book Lovers Day. With conviction, “No! That time won’t work - I need to be available for the baby and Mona” said expectant father Stephen D. as we were setting dates for future client meetings. This family-first value provides insight into Stephen's unwavering discipline and commitment. As a former D1 college athlete (and the unofficial 2024 Olympic Men's Gymnastics correspondent to his family and friends), he intimately knows how passion works in our lives.             Stephen founded Scramble Systems in 2008 to help companies break through their most complex and mission-critical situations. His specialty is stabilizing companies amid distress and critical change. He joins leadership teams as an interim finance/operations specialist, supporting them as they “move into their fire.” Stephen’s brain, body and spirit abilities offer him a thoughtful blend to navigate life’s professional and personal entanglements. Including creating solid boundaries to have sacred space for his growing family. This is a beautiful embodiment of worklife harmony – when your personal purpose and professional purpose align. #leadership #culture #strategy

Happy Saturday! The second-best day of the week and the last Saturday in July. Creatives enliven all our senses – we see the beauty they create; we taste the delicacy of their imaginations, we hear the beats they compose, we smell the flavors they engineer and touch the artisanship of their crafts. Our lives are more alluring and exquisite because people like Carmen Parsons Sneed, CID, NCIDQ, IIDA are living their work life harmony. Carmen earned a masters in architecture from Howard University and has deep experience and teaching in commercial interior design. Her entrepreneurial spirit and pursuit of happiness has led her to food and food product photography and styling. Carmen’s food imagery and styling taps our curiosity and entices us to explore the next wonderful food product. She loves baking and the art of cooking including the process of working on a recipe that brings joy and meaning to friends and family. #culture #worklifeharmony #leadership #strategy

Happy Friday! The best day of the week and it’s National Simplicity Day. “Knowing when to stop, reset or push harder” is complex and ongoing, says Entrepreneur Laseandia (Sean) Pounds aka Savvy Business Chick. Focused on healthcare home care start-ups and growth, she understands the ongoing entrepreneurial grit necessary for success. Sean, a former flight attendant, echoes the metaphoric instructions, “Should the oxygen mask drop, secure your mask first before helping someone else.” In other words, take care of yourself first so you have the energy, focus and ability to be in service of others. A beautiful example of self-compassion. As a busy wife, mom, daughter and sister those flight instructions can often feel counterintuitive and push against Sean’s CEO sensibilities. Work life harmony encourages us to question social norms, do the unnatural, perhaps the unexpected and “know when to stop, reset or push harder.” Big shoutout to Sean for knowing to mask herself first, exemplifying self-compassion and living into her work life harmony. #Strategy #Culture #Leadership #worklifeharmony

Happy Saturday! The second-best day of the week and 4 days before July 4th. As we exit the week and step into the 4th of July holiday, curious – what is independence to you? What do you think about worklife harmony as a possible definition or descriptor of independence? Worklife harmony is when your personal purpose and professional purpose align, reinforce and are congruent. That kind of harmony is freedom. Today, a celebratory lookback and shoutout to worklife harmony exemplars: · Gilbert Dussek wanderlust CEO whose cultivated an award-winning culture focused on empowered accountability and fun ·  Chibs Okereke his testimony and work bring home the humanness of worklife harmony ·  Ethel Mae Rivers, my grandmother whose flower shop was the community hub and a lifeline for those in need ·  Beth Maloney imaginative CEO, health equity advocate with a mission to make science accessible to all audiences ·  Ali Reza Manouchehri high vibe founder, recognized CEO, being people centric has always been a part of his business ethos and success ·  Dr. Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE thoughtful CEO whose writing and wisdom calls us to pause, ponder from head and heart, then act · Toddre' Monier African fashionista that does not allow borders to define her gifts, talents and giving ·  Andy Wyatt summer Capitol Hill intern advocating solutions to protect our healthcare rights and planet ·  Kimberly Aldridge, PhD founder Faith Angel Foundation, providing compassion and resources to parents with adult children who have mental illness ·  Philip Hillman my brother who had the courage to do the required inner-work necessary for worklife harmony Encourage you to take some time to think about, what does independence mean to you? Have a mindful and amazing Indepedence Day! #worklifeharmony #culture #strategy #leadership Gunnison Consulting Group, Inc. Lumina Corps MetroStar Leadership Lighthouse

Happy Friday! The best day of the week and Sunday is Father’s Day. “I don’t want to be sad anymore!” After spending his career in the commercial drink industry, my brother Philip Hillman affectionally known as Phil Nyce quit his job. That was October 2023, I remember when he said, “I’m good at it, and I don’t like doing it anymore.” It takes courage to walk away from a career where you’re know, excel and it affords you a generous livelihood. He did just that. He walked away and spent six months on a self-care journey – got off social media, started working out with a trainer, read books like The Body Keep Score by Dr, Bessel Van Der Kolk, Psyche Williams-Forson book Eating While Black and Romal Tune book I Wish My Dad Had, and revived his love of cooking. With a new outlook, energy and healed spirit – he began to look for a gig. Having years of experience in sales, hospitality and the art of persuasion he wanted to leverage those skills and not get lured back into selling spirits. Which wasn’t easy because the offers were coming. With patience and faith, he landed a job with the start-up company Badger Bevs a sophisticated club soda and tonic water company. He is now doing what he’s good at and enjoys. The new venture allows Phil Nyce to be in worklife harmony – when our personal and professional purposes align.