The Information Lab’s Post

From Hawaii to Harvard to London, Jasmine’s international background has uniquely prepared her for her role in our Sales Business Development team, where she collaborates with Ferrero teams across the globe. Jasmine’s video is part of our Session One series of Career Bites, where team members share their inspiring career journeys and the paths that led them to where they are today. Stay tuned as we are carefully crafting more career advice soon to be released as part of our Session Two series! You can also explore our existing content on our careers site: https://lnkd.in/emk3kfxN #WeAreFerrero #FerreroCareerBites

Celebrating the JOY and the Rewards of my Work.   Today I had such a JOYFUL day at lunch celebrating my client, Rebecca Abraham, MBA, SHRM-SCP (she/her). >>8 years ago, Rebecca and I worked on a strategy to advance her career to the senior executive level. 📈Since then, her career has accelerated through  3 promotions and today she is a Senior Vice President at an Investment Company with more than $1.4Trillion in assets under advisement. 📈“Your advice and direction made all the difference in accelerating my career. Thank you”, she said. >>SIDE NOTE: Rebecca and I reconnected a month ago when we were both on a flight from LAX to Cabo San Lucas for a weekend getaway. >>I had struck up a conversation with the passenger next to me and she asked me what I do. >>While I was telling her about my executive career coaching practice, I heard someone calling my name. >>I looked around in surprise since I knew no one on the flight. 🎯And, 1 row up was Rebecca who had recognized my voice. She immediately gave a live testimonial to the passenger. 🎯Couldn’t have planned it any better myself! 📈Getting to the top is much faster when you have support. Let’s connect. #executivecareer #careervisioning #Csuitecareer #careerjoy

What could saying ‘YES!’ do for your career? 🚀 For Courtney Doyle, saying ‘yes’ has been a game-changer. Through Sandvik’s secondment programs, she’s embraced new challenges, gained invaluable experiences, and fast-tracked her career. 🌟 Courtney’s journey highlights the power of stepping out of your comfort zone, from feeling nervous about her first secondment to eagerly pursuing her second. Discover the top 5 ways the Circumference secondment program has transformed her career – and why saying ‘yes’ might just be the best decision you make this year. https://hubs.li/Q034d-w40 What’s the last ‘yes’ that changed your career? 💡 #WORK180 #EndorsedEmployerForAllWomen #GenderEquity #GenderEquality #WomenInLeadership #WomenSupportingWomen #WomenEmpoweringWomen #WORK180Endorsed #CareerGrowth #WomenInSTEM #SayYesToSuccess

After 17 incredible years with Salo, a Korn Ferry company and the last year with Korn Ferry (post-acquisition), I've decided to step back and evaluate what comes next in my career journey. It's not often that we have the opportunity to truly disconnect, reflect, and regroup. It's also been what my family and I needed. In three short weeks, I've been able to celebrate my father's 70th birthday in person with him, take our 20-year wedding anniversary trip (a year delayed) and now prepare for my middle daughter's high school graduation. I'm grateful for everyone that has been part of my journey to this point and supportive of this decision. During my time at Salo, I've had the privilege to work alongside some of the most talented professionals in our industry. A company that lived its values out loud every day and used them to make every decision, strategic and tactical. The experiences and lessons learned have been invaluable, and I am immensely grateful for the opportunities and relationships forged along the way. Now, as I transition into a new phase, I am eager to share my expertise and insights to help other staffing companies achieve their goals and drive growth. I truly believe when you have an entire organization focused on a clear vision, empower and engage all team members to thrive and perform at their best, and commit to providing an exceptional experience for all, the possibilities are endless. If you're looking to elevate your staffing business to new heights, let's connect! Whether it's optimizing operations, enhancing talent acquisition processes, or fostering a culture of excellence, I'm excited to explore how we can collaborate and drive impactful results together. Here's to the next chapter of growth and possibilities! #Possibilities #BusinessGrowth #Consulting #StaffingIndustry

What do you want to be when you grow up? 🤔 Today we welcomed Rhys, our MD Blake Henegan's son to the workplace for some work shadowing. We've had a great day so far talking about our business, L&D and about his career aspirations so far too! We had lots to learn from each other, just as it should be! 😊 #continuouslearning #careerdevelopment #learninganddevelopment #workexperience #training #alwayslearning

Success stories like these are why we do what we do. 🎉 Meet Akram Abushamah and Fortuna T. —two of our incredible graduates who’ve landed roles at Top Employers Institute after completing our program a couple of years ago. Their manager, Wouter-Tim, calls it a win-win. Hearing this reminds me why investing in newcomers is such a game-changer—not just for the individuals but for the companies that get to work with them. This is what happens when talent and opportunity meet. 💪 #TalentDevelopment #SuccessStory #WorkforceSolutions #SocialImpact

I don’t write here often, but I had a thought and I’m also a firm believer in elevating others, so here goes.   Yesterday I had my Q4 review for 2024 at The Home Depot Canada. In a nutshell, it’s a discussion between associates and their department managers. My manager is Donette Compton!   The first review question was, “What are you proud of in the department?” That was about my work in the department. However, one thing I’m extremely proud of is Donette’s growth. I’ve had a front-row seat to her journey. When she joined our department, I had already been there for almost 2 years. I immediately saw her hungry for the North American dream we’re sold in the Caribbean. She’s from Grenada. She would ask a ton of questions, and if she thought she asked me too many times, she would apologize. I was never too busy to tell or show her again. She would ask me to review order notes because, according to her, her English wasn’t strong. She worked two jobs, and she still found the time to attend night school. When she couldn’t figure out a math question, she would WhatsApp me. I told her she could go all the way. She would always say no—she wasn’t ready, she lacked the skills or the confidence, she would never get it, she hated interviews, etc. However, I was relentless in assuring her she had the ingredients; she just needed to believe in herself.   After A LOT of coaxing, she finally applied for the Managers in Training program. She asked for interview tips, did the interview, and you can guess what happened. After completing the program, a department manager position was posted. She doubted herself, and eventually, the opportunity passed. A few months later, our department manager was promoted, and I would not take no for an answer. She applied, and the rest is history.   Fast forward to yesterday—it was a full-circle moment for me. She made it and has done so quite convincingly! I call it serendipity but last week, one of our Assistant Store Managers—her boss—was promoted. As the Gen Zs say, I hope you’re picking up what I’m putting down. The Core Values form the fabric of the company and drive the “orange blood” of employees. Taking care of our people, giving back to our communities, doing the right thing, excellent customer service, creating shareholder value, building strong relationships, entrepreneurial spirit, and respect for all people. Yesterday she was all that and then some!   It will take a lot of convincing, but I am committed to supporting her growth. February will be her 1st anniversary as manager. For her stewardship a promotion to replace her boss would be fitting. Will she apply? The jury is still out! Do I think she can grow into that role? Absolutely! Would she be a great addition to the next-level management team? Most definitely! She embodies the Core Values, she has the “orange blood,” and having witnessed her transformation makes me proud of Donette and excited to see where she goes from here!

Big thank you to our fantastic speaker, Klaudia Mitura, and all our amazing guests for joining us last Thursday at our second in-person event this year: "How to Be Happy at Work and Stay Motivated During a Career Transition," part of our Career Change series. It was such an inspiring event, with Klaudia delivering an insightful and fun workshop and our guests bringing so much positive energy while sharing their experiences and recommendations! And not to brag, but we had a full house! We are still buzzing! Key Takeaways (Part 1): To boost happiness in the workplace, focus on these 5 elements: ⚖ Fairness: Feeling valued and respected in the workplace. 🦁 Autonomy: Influencing your role and key decisions. 🏆 Mastery: Understanding your strengths you want to be known for, being able to apply them, and adopting a "learn it all" mindset. 🎯 Purpose: Linking your daily tasks to the bigger purpose of your organization. 👥 Sense of Belonging: Having connections and feeling included in your team. Stay tuned, more events coming soon!

After leaving the Army, I went into operations roles, because that's what I knew how to do well. I was good at them, but it took me a while to realize that I didn't enjoy it. Instead, I thought I was at the wrong company and bounced around early in my career. But, like a lot of people in my industry, I "fell" into executive search. I loved it. And for the first time in my life, I didn't hate getting out of bed in the morning and getting to work. Then ECA Partners found me. I left Korn Ferry after a short stint. The culture there just wasn't a fit for me. At ECA, I thrived in a culture that aligned with my ideals. I was promoted twice in two years and became a Managing Director at the firm. And while I worked hard to get there, it didn't feel like work because I was enjoying what I was doing. My advice to people, is to find a job you enjoy at a company that aligns with your values. Obviously, that is easier said than done. However, the first step is to do some personal reflection. Ask yourself the following questions: 1. What things give me energy? What are tasks that I enjoy versus those that I dread? 2. Are there jobs/positions that focus on these things? 3. What values motivate me at a company? What are cultural things that are important to me? 4. Does the company I work for or the job I'm applying to align with my values? If you can find a job with tasks that motivate you and you enjoy while working at a company that aligns with your values, I'm betting that you'll enjoy getting out of bed and going to work every day.

What’s the value of a Google review? It surely feels good to get a nice one. I recently touched base with a longtime client who has served as the CEO for two different major companies where ICC made crucial placements during their tenure. After radically transforming an Iowa-based coop, this executive moved on to run a global coffee supplier. I respect this individual a lot for their business acumen, and for being fundamentally decent and open to input. It occurred to me to ask if they would mind leaving a Google review for ICC. These seem to be all the rage these days with any service provider, from coffee shops to dentists and doctors. It also could not hurt to offset a completely bogus no-word review someone planted on us years ago, which has proven impossible to dislodge. My client said the following: “I believe the success that Tom has in recruiting the right candidate for an organization is a direct result of his ability to understand, at a very personal level, the needs of the candidate, what they are looking for, why they are looking for new opportunities and to match that understanding with the same deep understanding of what your organization is looking for.” And… “Our experience as to the type of candidates [ICC] has brought to us has been one of, ‘Do you really think we can get this individual to come work for us?’” That’s some high praise! I am so grateful to work with thoughtful clients like Milan Kucerak, thank you so much for your kind words. Check out the review here: https://g.co/kgs/R5j2Xxb If you need to find your own specialist in accounting or HR, give us a call and we will work hard to live up to that standard. #client #relationships #review