30 years in 3 minutes - My story

​

I was lucky enough to grow up in a family where learning to think logically and using my common sense was more valued than only excelling in any particular subjects. My father always said, "Don't study math (one of my weaknesses) to become a mathematician, but use it to polish the way you are thinking!" 

So instead of specializing, I chose a more generic path for my studies in Business Administration and Diplomacy. I hoped this choice would at least make me feel better about procrastinating to answer the big question in my twenties...

Who do I want to become in my professional life...?

​

Honestly I had absolutely no clue..! Zero. All I knew at that time was that I had a good general knowledge and if I understand a problem, I enjoy finding solutions to it.

​

But I had to start somewhere...Having spent the first three years of my career in a sales and marketing position at an American hardware company paved the way for me to land an entry level marketing position at a multinational financial services firm, which determined the next 12 years of my professional career and growth.

​

I was junior and thirsty to learn all about marketing to succeed in the job. Soon I started to specialize further into digital and email marketing, which I loved and was successful at. However I realized early on that marketing was deeply interconnected with many other departments like technology, product development, sales, etc. So I leveraged every opportunity to learn about these areas to become better at my own. 

​

Interestingly, in my early thirties I also started to sense how my interest for psychology and passion for arts/design in my personal life, began to directly impact the way I was thinking about challenges at work.

​

Then eventually all this knowledge began to come together... The combination of my hands-on marketing expertise, ability to see the bigger picture, my common sense and general knowledge enabled me to start connecting dots and creating value in a unique way.

• By bringing in new perspectives, I contributed to achieve significant savings and make well-informed strategic, marketing and investment decisions for the firm's benefit.

• Understanding the power of combining data, technology and proper processes enabled me to leverage unexploited marketing and sales potentials for the firm.

• I worked on projects at unfamiliar territories, still managed to highlight new, divergent viewpoints that helped us develop a different, often more favorable outcome.

• I was always eager to use my experience to support initiatives that served a greater good, like the development of women and closing the gender gap, or creating a safe and supportive workplace for all with special focus on LGBTQ+ employees.

​

And of course, let's not forget to mention all the mistakes, major failures, sometimes inner insecurities with a pinch of impostor syndrome that have also shaped who I am today. Big time.

​

On such a journey of growth you are never alone. I have always been fortunate to be surrounded by fantastic and inspiring people, who recognized my potential and supported me in learning even the hardest professional and personal lessons I needed to learn to succeed. Trust me, there were (and still are) many...

 

Am I happy with where I stand today? Oh YES, I am exactly where I have to be, in the midst of transitioning into a new career by choice as a Consultant, aiming to incorporate all my experience into a superb service to my clients' benefit going forward! 

 

I just hope I can remain a thinker, a learner, a dreamer, a partner, a listener, a changer, an achiever amongst many other things, but for sure a work in progress with an open mind.