Vicky Doneska’s Post

➡️ 2015: I landed in Canada and started working at popeyes as a Cashier ➡️ 2016: Started working for George Brown College Computer Store and RBC ➡️ 2017: Started my co-op with KPMG and decided to graduate early with a 2 year diploma ➡️ 2018: Graduated and started working full time at KPMG ➡️ 2019: Got promoted to a Senior Tax Consultant and posted my first piece of content on LinkedIn ➡️ 2020: Met Pat Chaisang 🧡 and became a part of NPO - Empower International Students ➡️ 2021: I burnt out and took a 1 month sabbatical. We officially registered Isempower as a for-profit and launched our very first job search course ➡ 2022: Went on a reduced capacity at KPMG, working 4 days a week while building Isempower. Hired our first employee and also launched our first job board at Collision to start working with employers. I Quit KPMG on 11.11.2022 ➡ 2023: We raised our pre-seed round and launched out job search portal for international students. Scaled the community to 50,000+ students, 25+ partner schools and 100+ employers. Also became a team of 9. Won ApplyBoard International Alumni of Impact Award. ➡ Q1 2024: We launched our Ed-Tech platform in 3 colleges, rebranded to Wayble and launched Career Pathway Program in partnership with Business + Higher Education Roundtable and Government of Canada. When I write it all down I see what I have achieved in my 9 years in Canada but yet on most days I feel like I am not doing enough. Some call it imposter syndrome, some trait it as an overachiever But for me has become who I am and I am not happy about it! Does anyone else relate to this?

On a business trip sitting in the lobby of a hotel working on some school work while I wait for my room to be ready and I find myself reflecting on my life. It seems like every time I take a leap of faith, go out on a limb, and push myself things turn out differently than I expected, in a good way. Two years ago I walked away from a successful corporate executive role to pursue my dream and manifest a life for myself that more closely aligned to all parts of me. It has taken and will continue to take hard work, planning, reimagining my way of life, having faith, and being uncomfortable but the rewards and learnings I have gotten are invaluable. I identified what my priorities were… 1. My family 👨👩👧👦 2. My faith ✝️ 3. My continuous learning 📚 4. My desire to bring light and guidance to others’ life 🔆 Those were and continue to be what drives me. Flash forward to today. I’m sitting here listening to a lecture on neurons from the neurobiology class I am taking as part of my doctoral program. 🧠 I’m more rooted than ever in my heritage, identity, faith and spirituality, and am learning the ancestral teachings of both my Taino and Bantu bloodlines which includes living in more harmony with the world around us. ☯️ I have a healthier balance of quality time with my family and friends (there’s always room for more ☺️). As for my business, in 2024 we will be expanding to add on more staff due to an steady increase in business (stay tuned for more on this in the coming months). 📈 I’ve had some rough dips throughout my life and can expect more in the future but I’m also experiencing some really great highs. Highs that I would not have experienced if I didn’t take calculated risks. Majoring in a fairly new major called HR during my undergrad was something new. Taking a job at Bacardi with little to no experience in training was something new. Leaving the comforts of Bacardi to help set up a new sales division at Southern was new. Taking on corporate Talent Management and then heading up the new department of Organization Effectiveness at Southern Glazer’s was definitely new. Finally, walking away from an organization and colleagues that I absolutely adored to start this latest journey was also new. Bottom line? You don’t know what you are truly capable of until you put yourself out there and give it a try. Be smart about it. Be intentional. Have a plan. Put some safeguards in place. Learn from the trips and falls but pick yourself back up…go out there and live your best life! Explore! Stretch! Scare yourself! Dream big and deliver even bigger for yourself! I believe in you. #YesYouCan #BeIntentional #Plan #Dare #HaveFaith #BeYou

Navigating the Ups and Downs of the Promotion Cycle!!!🌟✨ Yesterday marked an important day in our office as the results of the promotion cycle were announced. It was a day of mixed emotions, with many colleagues celebrating their well-deserved promotions. Their hard work, dedication, and relentless pursuit of excellence have been rightfully recognized, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to each one of them. 🎉👏 However, alongside the celebrations, there were also moments of disappointment for some who didn't see their names on the list. To those who felt overlooked, I want to say that your efforts and contributions are deeply valued. This is not the end of the journey, but a stepping stone toward future opportunities and growth. Keep pushing forward, and your time will come. Promotion cycles remind us of the dynamic nature of our professional lives. They are moments of joy, reflection, and sometimes, tough decisions. Let's support each other through these times, celebrate the wins, and stay resilient through the challenges. Key learnings that I gained from this experience: 1. Celebrate Others' Successes: Acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of colleagues. Their hard work and dedication deserve recognition and can serve as motivation for everyone. 2. Resilience in the Face of Disappointment: Disappointments are a part of professional growth. Learn to accept setbacks gracefully, using them as an opportunity to reflect, grow, and prepare for future opportunities. 3. Importance of Persistence: Not getting promoted does not mean your efforts go unnoticed. Persistence and continuous improvement are key. Stay committed to your goals and continue to excel in your role. 4. Supportive Work Environment: Fostering a supportive and collaborative environment helps everyone cope with both successes and disappointments. Encouragement and solidarity strengthen team dynamics. 5. Continuous Learning and Development: Use feedback and experiences to identify areas for improvement. Continuous learning and professional development are crucial for long-term career growth. 6. Value of Hard Work: Hard work and dedication often lead to recognition and advancement. Consistent effort and a positive attitude are vital for achieving career milestones. 7. Patience and Timing: Career progression is a journey. Sometimes, the timing may not align with your expectations, but patience and perseverance will eventually lead to success. 8. Professional Networking: Building and maintaining a strong professional network can provide support, guidance, and new opportunities, both within and outside your current organization. #PromotionCycle #CareerGrowth #TeamSupport #Resilience #NewBeginnings #IFFCOTOKIOGeneralInsurance

“I got back-to-back promotions, yet I ended up feeling unhappier.“ Recently I connected with a person working in a senior leadership role, in the IT industry. After 3 back-to-back promotions, she felt overwhelmed and burned out by the continuous change in roles, added responsibilities, and even stringent deadlines which resulted in anxiety and stress. Her stress at the workplace began affecting her personal life. She reached the point where she shared, “I never wanted this as part of my growth. I did not know this would leave me so unhappy." She wanted to do something urgently as it had started to effect her personal life. And she is eager to come out of her overwhelmed state. She wanted to handle her new role without pressure, by eliminating stress and anxiety and achieving a better work-life balance. We started our sessions by identifying her values and purpose. We went deeper into what her career meant for her and what she wanted to do to thrive in her life. We made a plan of action to effective delegation and ways to hone her decision-making skills, to be more productive. And we prioritized her work through time and energy management. She looked at her life in a holistic way, and found her life's purpose and meaning within it. photo credit - internet P.S: If you feel like you lost yourself while running behind your career goals and want to balance your work and life, DM me ‘Life’ to book a free 1:1 discovery call. 

In an era where the professional landscape is rapidly evolving, the story of an individual dedicating decades of service to a single company becomes increasingly rare. Today, I want to highlight an extraordinary example of commitment and loyalty - an 84-year-old woman who recently retired after a long and remarkable career at McDonald’s 👇. Why do we seldom witness such long employment histories with one company in our current professional environment? I can think of several factors contributing to this trend ✅ The Desire for Career Growth and Opprtunities. ✅ Changing Job Market Dynamics. ✅ Organizational Changes. ✅ Work-Life Balance Priorities. ✅ Technological Advancements. The journey of Dot Sharp from McDonald’s is a testament to a bygone era of employment, reflecting immense dedication and loyalty. It’s a powerful reminder of the value of commitment, yet also an illustration of how the workforce and expectations have transformed over the years. As people navigate through careers, it’s important to remember the diverse paths success can take—whether it’s through varied experiences across multiple companies or deep-rooted loyalty to one. Each journey is unique and valuable in its own right. Happy Sunday to all! #careerjourney #professionalgrowth #workplaceevolution #employeeloyalty

February was a rollercoaster for Our Agency 🎢 We said goodbye to one of our OG employees, marking the first departure from our agencies in 4.5 years! It also marked another 1 year anniversary for a different team member Here are 3 principles that allowed us to grow and retain our team so well. 1. Self Fulfilment Principle 🙌 Our team members are welcomed on their first day and told “Job security is totally in your control, you will only ever get replaced if you aren’t fulfilling your potential.” From the off set, we aim to breed a culture of being the best version of yourself in and out of work. Just like a sports team, it’s competitive and you’re encouraged to be better - and there’s always someone chipping at the heels to get your space on the first team. 2. Our Growth Mindset Principle 📈 The team member who move on has experienced crazy personal growth over the time I’ve known her. Not only has she mastered the skills she first came to us with, but she has gained management, authority and confidence in loads of different areas. Now she is going on to create her own thing. The departure has been bittersweet, as we lost an awesome team member but the industry has gained another talented creator 3. Our Ownership Principle 🤝 At Life Like we have our infamous Friday morning training mornings. During these sessions, we hone in on a particular area of focus We remind the team that they can break barriers, get creative, and move outside of the norm. Not only can they- but this is ENCOURAGED. By constantly challenging themselves, some of the team will inevitably outgrow us. And ultimately as the Founder, that’s my goal. I’d like to wish her all the best in new ventures, can't wait to see where life takes you! We have a few openings available at the minute. Think you could fill the role? Apply here: https://lnkd.in/eedbyYmF

"You've only been here a year?!" Tell me about it, feels like 10 😂 Today marks my official first year anniversary as a HRBP at Kraft Heinz! 🎉 These past 12 months have been a WHIRLWIND! I've learned and grown so much (both personally and professionally) since starting. Here are a few takeaways from my first year: 🏢 Hybrid is honestly not that bad! Prior to accepting this job, I didn't want to even consider anything but 100% remote however I discovered that it is actually the best model for me right now at this stage in my career. If you're on the job hunt, keep an open mind about work models! ™️ When you're starting in a new role or at a new company, take advantage of the fact that you can re-create your professional brand. What do you want to be known for? How do you want to show up in your new environment?, etc. 🔁 Change is the only constant, and my first year was no exception. I've experienced a variety of changes, from switching zones and teams to new managers and even a shift in the population I support as an HRBP. Through it all, I've learned to give myself grace and embrace failing fast. Mistakes are inevitable, especially in a new role, but they are also valuable learning experiences. 🤝🏾 We all thrive in supportive environments. Don't subscribe to the notion that your co-workers cannot be friends. There’s no way I would have made it through the year without them. These friendships have given me encouragement, advice, and a sense of belonging that have truly made all the difference. 💡 The learning curve is steep in a new role, but that's a good thing! This past year has been a continuous learning experience. Now that I'm settled and I have a solid understanding of my role, responsibilities, and the company culture - I’m excited to “lap the cycle” and apply what I’ve learned to mature KH Digital’s HR and talent practices over this next year. 🇮🇹 Work anniversaries deserve celebrations, too! I'm incredibly grateful for this past year and excited to see what the future holds! (How fitting that this day landed during my PTO on the beautiful Amalfi Coast!) 📸 was taken on my very first day, 5/22/23, while attending the National Restaurant Association Show

Career chats? Sign us up! Hear from McDonald’s Global Chief Communications Officer, Sandy Rodriguez, about everything from overcoming challenging moments to her work bag essentials. What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve received? Drop it in the comments! 💡 #careerdevelopment #careeradvice

🥳🥳 Double the excellence, double the celebration! We're ecstatic to announce not one, but TWO incredible individuals as our February Employees of the Month: Nathan and Janine! 🏆🏆 Their unwavering dedication, passion, and sheer brilliance have set a new standard for excellence within our team. Now let’s dive into why they won 👇 - Nathan had an incredibly productive month, contributing to various key projects and initiatives such as: 📱 Our ASO offering 🧠 His knowledge-sharing session 🤫 Working on another upcoming offering 📊 Creating and automating internal reporting And that’s not all! He’s taken time to go out of his way to offer support, advice and useful shares regularly to the team as well as gaining a brand new client. - Janine conquered a whirlwind of tasks this month, showcasing exceptional skill in effortlessly juggling responsibilities, such as: 💙 Bi-annual reviews 🚀 Recruiting for a new role 🗓️ Planning for the year ahead 🔍 Leading calibration sessions - 👏👏 What a month! Let's raise the roof and give them the thunderous applause they truly deserve! 🌟 🌟 #EmployeesOfTheMonth #TeamExcellence #CelebratingSuccess

“The most rewarding part of growing my team has been watching our collective capabilities extend far beyond what any one of us could have achieved.” And I have seen this spread out in the last 2 years! 🔥 2022: "What am I even doing?" The freshly baked designation of a "manager" got me thinking 👉🏽 Do I get to tell people what to do? 👉🏽 Do I train people how to do it?  👉🏽 Does it mean I am responsible for what others are doing? 👉🏽 Importantly, does that mean I have to constantly check up on their work? (Ugh, this cannot be a good thing. I would hate people who would do that to me.) 😅 With the newfound responsibilities, I struggled between being an IC (Individual Contributor) & someone expected to shepherd a team. 🫣 (Jokingly, I decided on the name "42" from a sci-fi classic which says 42 is the answer to everything and put up the group icon as "Don't Panic!". It is still the same after two years though!) 😶🌫️ A team of fresh faces out of college, on their first job, looking sheepishly at me & vice-versa with a "What do you expect from me?" And I think that made all the difference. Surrendering to a "We will figure this out together!" than standing behind a "I know what I am doing..." I was devoting my days at the office to making things interesting for everyone in 42. To build that sense of curiosity and open communication, which has been MY drivers till now. Prioritising 42 before the brands that I worked with (actually I didn't, I came back home from office to do all the pending work for the brands...) AND I was miserable. In July 2022, I remember I had a conversation with Abhishek M. about this & he said something that changed it for me. "You have to let go and allow the team to make mistakes. That is how you guys made it this far..." That assurance is something that changed it for us. It allowed us to work fearlessly with one goal: "If you have a clear logic behind what you are doing, you are good as gold." That year ended with Swarnali as the best Juinor Media Buyer at Adbuffs. 🔥 And me being the best team player. --x--x--x--x--x-- 🔥 2023: "Hmm, not bad! What MORE can I do?" We evolved as a team. The fresh faces weren't fresh anymore. (The team was even "getting" my existential jokes!) We changed the narrative from: "How can we do this?" to "How ELSE can we do this?" 😎 And that made a HUGE impact. I had more time for myself. Meaning I was able to devote more time to work on analytics, strategy, & CX translating to better work for the team too! I was still solving some problems for them. But interestingly, it was more about managing their time than account CAC. 🫣 It was about how to keep client meetings rather than the ad copies brief. 🫣 And 2023 ended with Kushal being the best Senior assistant media Buyer. 🔥 And me being the best team player. One more time. #agencylife #teambuilding #teamappreciation