Work / Life Friends

Yesterday, I jumped off a long-overdue FaceTime with a girlfriend based in NZ. This person is particularly special as our friendship has covered so many life highlights - three country moves, three babies, two weddings, plus multiple promotions and career changes!

What makes this friendship so special is that it began at work and we’ve been there for each other through thick and thin since the early days of our careers. With International Women’s Day fast approaching, it got me thinking about some of the incredible women I have worked with throughout my career and the vital role some of them play in both my personal and professional life now.

Today, we talk about work-life “blend” - which I’m not totally sold on, but that’s another topic. One of the best things about this “blend” is that certain colleagues start to seamlessly transition between work and life... you know there’s a line somewhere but as your friendship develops, it blurs and you find that their boyfriend moving in is a topic you’d much rather discuss than WIP. These women get to see all sides of you, the side that preps for a big meeting with stakeholders, that bakes cakes for first birthdays, plans weddings, drinks too much and gets nervous about a first date.

Whether it’s the occasional Instagram message with former colleagues from Hong Kong about their cute babies or the daily ‘checking in’ Slack messages with women I currently work with, each of these relationships forms a bond that continues throughout your career – and if you’re lucky, some of those work relationships develop into friendships that will last you a lifetime. Building a network that cheers you on, supports through those ‘what am I doing with my life?’ moments and is genuinely supportive of growth and development is invaluable and something I am so grateful for and as I reflect on my journey to date and look forward to what’s to come.

So, in the spirit of International Women’s Day, my goal this year is to continue to nurture these relationships and rebuild connections with those I may have lost touch. Tell me, what does your network mean to you?

#internationalwomensday #IWD2020 #EachForEqual