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One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned in my career is this: No one will advocate for you the way you can advocate for yourself. When I first entered the professional world, I thought my work would speak for itself. I believed that if I put my head down, worked hard, and delivered great results, recognition and opportunities would naturally follow. But here’s what I discovered: While hard work is essential, visibility is just as important. It took observing how others approached their careers to realize this: The people who often get ahead aren’t just hardworking — they’re intentional about making their contributions known. They speak up in meetings, share their goals openly, and make sure their achievements don’t go unnoticed. That realization changed the way I approached my career. I began to see the importance of not just doing the work, but owning my voice and advocating for myself. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way about self-advocacy: 1. Track your accomplishments. I started keeping a journal where I noted key projects, results, and positive feedback. When performance reviews came around, I didn’t have to scramble to prove my value. I had it documented. 2. Ask for what you need. Whether it’s a promotion, mentorship, resources, or even a clearer direction, I learned to be upfront about my goals. 3. Speak up. This was the hardest for me. I used to hold back, worried my ideas weren’t “good enough.” But I realized that staying silent wasn’t helping anyone, not me, not my team, and not the organization. Advocating for yourself isn’t about arrogance or entitlement, it’s about honoring your value. It’s about recognizing that your hard work, skills, and ideas are worth being seen, heard, and rewarded. If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: Don’t wait for someone else to notice your potential. Take the first step. Speak up. Celebrate your wins. Ask for what you need. Your career is yours to build, and no one else will fight for it as fiercely as you can. #StephSynergy

Career tip for those Early in Career: ✨a series ✨ Advocating for yourself in the workplace is essential for career growth and success. Here are 4 key things to know (and what I’ve learned through my own journey thus far): 1️⃣ Speak Up with Confidence Your perspective matters! Don’t hesitate to share your ideas or insights during meetings or discussions. Advocating for your contributions not only highlights your value but also builds your confidence over time. To do this, you don’t have to block other people’s voice — part of this skill is knowing when, where and how to speak up. Mastering this will set you apart. 2️⃣ Set Clear Boundaries Know your limits and communicate them. Whether it’s managing workload or addressing unrealistic expectations, advocating for your well-being helps maintain balance and ensures you can deliver your best work. I’ve found when I’m super overwhelmed it shows in how I communicate — taking a step back with clear boundaries will do more good for you. 3️⃣ Track and Showcase Your Achievements Keep a record of your wins—big or small. Highlighting your accomplishments during performance reviews or casual conversations with your manager (peers, other leaders) this demonstrates your impact and sets you up for opportunities. 4️⃣ Build a Support Network Advocacy isn't a solo journey. Build relationships with mentors, sponsors, allies, and peers who can amplify your voice and advocate for you when you're not in the room. 💡Advocacy is about finding your voice and ensuring it’s heard in a way that aligns with your values and goals. It’s a skill worth mastering! What are your top tips for self-advocacy? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. ⬇️ #theBOLDjourney #EarlyInCareer

How I Secured 100 Percentile in MBA CET 2024: Strategies That Worked for Me 🎯 As I reflect on my MBA entrance journey, I wanted to share some strategies that helped me achieve a 100 percentile. These tips are practical, actionable, and can make a real difference in your preparation. Let’s dive in! 👇 1️⃣ Covering the Syllabus Strategically - Focus on topics with maximum weightage, like Arithmetic, which forms the backbone of Quantitative Aptitude. - Cover the syllabus in detail, but don’t just skim through—understand the concepts deeply to build confidence. 2️⃣ Build a Reading Habit for VARC - Read what you love until you love to read. If reading isn’t your habit yet, start with books or topics you’re passionate about. This will make the process enjoyable and improve your comprehension skills for VARC. - Reading regularly sharpens your ability to grasp passages quickly and accurately. 3️⃣ Revise and Recall Regularly - Dedicate weekends to revising everything you’ve studied so far. This helps reinforce concepts and prevents forgetting. - Use active recall: Test yourself by trying to remember topics without looking at notes, then check what you missed. This strengthens memory retention. 4️⃣ Mock Test Strategies - Quality over quantity! Instead of taking too many mocks, focus on analyzing each one thoroughly. - Take 2-3 mocks per week after completing at least 60% of the syllabus. - Always review solutions—even for correct answers—to find faster methods. - Treat silly mistakes seriously. Avoiding these can be the game-changer that pushes you into the top 0.1 percentile. 5️⃣ Maximize Your CET Marks - Solve maximum easy questions in minimum time—don’t waste precious seconds on ego-solving difficult ones. Remember, CET doesn’t reward extra marks for solving tough questions. - With only 45 seconds per question, eliminate extreme options quickly, trust your intuition, and move on. There’s no negative marking, so don’t get stuck! 6️⃣ Fun Ways to Stay in the Zone - In your free time, try solving Sudoku, word puzzles, or practice speed math for fun. These activities improve logical thinking and keep you mentally sharp while staying in the preparation zone. 💡 Final Thoughts: Success isn’t about doing everything—it’s about doing the right things consistently. Focus on strategy, discipline, and self-awareness. With these tips, I hope you feel more confident in your preparation journey. Wishing all aspirants the very best! 🌟 Let’s ace this together! 💪 #MBAEntrance #MBACET #ExamPreparation #MockStrategy

49% of students feel their attention span getting shorter. You might be one of them. Here are the 5 best evidence-based tips to stay focused while studying 👇 1. Mindset 💭 It’s time to get away from the idea that focus is something that we either have or don’t have. We should adopt a growth mindset instead: Focus is something that we can all learn to develop and improve. For example: We don’t struggle to focus when we hang out with friends. But we often struggle when studying for exams. The reason is we view seeing friends as more fun than studying. But we can change this perception. This is how I made studying fun: I started a ‘Pomodoro-Society’ with friends at uni. We studied for 25 mins and then had a 5 mins break. It was great to hang out with mates, make some memories, while also getting stuff done. 2. Technique 💃 Our brains struggle to focus for long periods of time. For me, 25 mins is the sweet spot (that’s why I love the Pomodoro technique). It creates a mini deadline, which is great to encourage action and the pressure makes us perform better. Also, task switching is a bad. Every time you respond to a notification we split your attention between tasks. Our brain then needs time to switch back to the original task. This is also why I like the Pomodoro technique so much: for 25 mins, you’re laser-focused on one task. 3. Environment 🌳 Having our phone on our desk reduces our ability to focus. Instead, put the phone face down or, even better, leave it in a different room. We also work better in environments that inspire us, whether that’s being in a coffee shop or sitting in silence. We should also choose the right distractions. Reacting to every notification is bad. But, there are also good distractions e.g. having our kids come in or friends calling while working. We won’t regret losing that 1% of productivity and we'll create some nice memories too. 4. The Human Factor 🧠 This is the basic stuff: 1. Rest 2. Sleep 3. Nutrition 4. Exercise Get this stuff right before anything else. 5. Caffeine ☕ Coffee’s pretty much a wonder drug. Three cups of coffee a day seems to be the optimum for me. Unless you suffer from anxiety, drinking coffee will help you improve your focus massively. Use it wisely. These sre the 5 different factors that play into our ability to stay focused: 1. Mindset 2. Technique 3. Environment 4. The Human Factor 5. Caffeine

Yesterday I led a workshop for women in private equity, and one theme kept surfacing: self-advocacy feels impossible when you’re already fighting to belong. It's the paradox these women face every day. They need to speak up more to get noticed, but when they do, they risk being labeled “aggressive.” They need to promote their wins, but they’ve been socialized to let their work speak for itself. They need to build relationships and visibility, but the informal networks often happen in spaces where they’re not invited. Nevertheless, self-advocacy isn’t optional, especially for women working in male-dominated industries. Research shows that women’s contributions are systematically attributed to others, that our ideas need to be repeated by men to be heard, and that our expertise is questioned more frequently than our male colleagues’. Self-advocacy isn’t about being pushy or aggressive. It’s about being intentional with your voice and strategic about your visibility. Here are four concrete ways to advocate for yourself starting today: 1. Master the “credit redirect” When someone repeats your idea, immediately respond with: “Thanks, John. I’m glad you’re building on the solution I proposed earlier. Let me expand on that framework…” This reclaims YOUR ownership while maintaining professionalism. 2. Document your wins in real-time Keep a “victory log” on your phone. After every meeting where you contribute, jot down what you said and any positive responses. Reference these specifics in performance reviews and promotion conversations. 3. Practice strategic amplification Find one trusted colleague who will amplify your contributions in meetings. Agree to do the same for them. When they share an idea, respond with: “Sarah’s point about the data analysis is exactly right, and it connects to…” This mutual support system works. 4. Lose the “self-shrinking” language.  Stop saying “I’m sorry to bother you.” Stop saying “Maybe we could…” Stop saying “I’m wondering if…” Stop saying “I’ll make it quick.” Take up space. Make your mark. Trust that you and your ideas are worthy of other people’s time, energy, and attention (and most certainly your own as well.) The reality is that in many industries, we’re still fighting to be heard. But we don’t have to fight alone, and we don’t have to wait for permission to advocate for ourselves. Your ideas deserve to be heard and you deserve credit for the value you bring. What’s one way you’ve learned to advocate for yourself at work? The women in yesterday’s workshop had some brilliant strategies to share too. #womenleaders #privateequity #womeninmaledominatedindustries

I just spoke with the MD of a small agency who’s serious about inclusion. But she had 3 issues I’ve seen too many times before. It all sounded promising. She had a plan. She had a partner. She had good intentions. Here’s what I told her and what I tell every small team trying to make progress: --- 1) Don’t adopt someone else’s inclusion agenda. The workshop plan? Came from the partner company. On paper, it looked like a win-win. Split the cost. Share the learning. But here’s the problem: If your priorities are inherited. It's someone else's Diversity Hierarchy. You’ll solve their problems. Not yours. Their team would get what they need. But hers? I wasn't convinced. I suggested she didn't do it. Instead. Start by asking: - What does your team need? - What’s happening in your workplace? - What problem are you trying to solve? It's not selfish. It’s sensible. --- 2) Skip unconscious bias training (until you’ve got the tools to track your results) She wanted to start with unconscious bias. It’s familiar. It sounds foundational. But I told her the truth: I’m not a fan. I say this a lot. Most unconscious bias training fails. Not because people don’t care. But because no one tracks what changes. - No follow-up - No reinforcement - No accountability I often get hired AFTER it’s failed. So I told her: Start with an outcome you’re willing to measure. Bias might be part of it. But don’t assume it’s the first step. --- 3) Don’t waste a workshop Lots of "DEI" workshops are engaging. Very few are effective. People show up. They nod along. They leave with good intentions. Then nothing changes. A workshop should reinforce your strategy. Not replace one. Before you book a session with anyone, ask yourself: - What outcome do we want? - What behaviour needs to change? - How will we know it worked? Without clear answers, you’re just paying for a performance. --- If you're a small team serious about inclusion, start here: - Own your agenda - Define your terms - Don’t jump to training That’s how high-impact inclusion work starts. Even with a team of 8. If you want help doing the same, drop me a message. I’ll show you where to start. I've got tools that will answer these questions for you.

💭 Someone asked me the other day: “What would you do if someone less qualified or accomplished always gets promoted or recognized before you?” In my career, there have been many moments when I felt overlooked or slighted. Early on, I chalked it up to life being unfair - or as an immigrant, I believed I simply had to work harder to prove myself. Over time, though, I came to realize that working hard alone isn’t enough. I learned that: ·        Calling attention to our achievements doesn’t have to sound boastful - it’s a skill that can be learned. ·        Volunteering often gets us noticed and enables us to broaden our network. ·        Networking and asking for help are crucially important steps to our success ·        Stating our career goals in a humble yet clear way helps our superiors chart a course for us. And proactively seek feedback, act on it, and let others see our growth. ·        Exhibiting executive presence - demonstrating thought leadership, projecting confidence and composure ,and communicating clearly and insightfully enable us to stand out. ·        We all need advocates - someone to speak up on our behalf when we are not in the room. Being humble is a virtue. But being humble and visible is is a career accelerator. 👉 What strategies have worked for you to advocate for yourself without feeling boastful? #Leadership #CareerGrowth #SelfAdvocacy #Networking #PersonalDevelopment

2018-2021: You're a full-time student, preparing for FRM & CFA, AND building a startup? 2022-2024: How do you manage 2 businesses and keep up with content on 3 platforms? From networking events to family functions to friends reunions, almost everyone asks me the same question! It all comes down to one thing: effective time management.⏰ 18-year-old Ishaan didn’t know anything about it; just went with the flow; life disciplined me! Here are the time-management strategies that help me stay productive and avoid burnout! ⏳Apply the Eisenhower matrix: Sort tasks into four categories: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither. This method helps you focus on tasks that add the most value while pushing aside distractions. ⏳Use the Pomodoro Technique: Work for 25 minutes, then take a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle, and after completing four cycles, take a longer break (15–30 minutes). This method helps maintain focus and prevents burnout. ⏳Use the 2-Minute Rule for Small Tasks: If a task takes two minutes or less, do it immediately. This keeps minor tasks from piling up and clears your schedule for more significant work. ⏳Apply Time Blocking to High-Energy Periods: Instead of just blocking out time on your calendar, match your most demanding tasks to the times of day when you have the most energy. This makes difficult tasks easier and leaves less mentally taxing work for low-energy times. ⏳Apply Parkinson’s Law: Set tighter deadlines for tasks to force yourself to focus and complete them faster. Parkinson’s Law states that "work expands to fill the time available," so giving yourself less time can boost productivity. ⏳Follow the Rule of Three: At the start of each day, identify the three most important tasks you need to accomplish. By focusing on just three big things, you can keep your priorities clear and your workload manageable. Which techniques do you use? 💬

🚀 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 🚀 As the placement season approaches, I've been reflecting on the strategies that have helped me stay focused and excel in my preparation journey. Here are some tips that might just resonate with you: [1] 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞: Create a dedicated, clutter-free zone where you can immerse yourself in your studies. A comfortable chair, good lighting, and organized materials can work wonders in boosting your productivity. [2] 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: Define specific daily or weekly goals for your preparation. This not only gives you a sense of direction but also a feeling of accomplishment as you tick them off your list. [3] 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Divide your study time into focused blocks, say 60-90 minutes, followed by a short break. During these blocks, commit to working solely on your preparation tasks. The ticking timer can be a motivating force! [4] 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐱: Social media, notifications, and random online browsing can be major distractions. Consider using apps or browser extensions that block these distractions during your study hours. [5] 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧: Identify the topics or areas you need to cover and prioritize them based on your strengths and weaknesses. Create a study plan that allocates sufficient time to each subject. [6] 𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: Mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing and meditation, can help improve your focus and attention span. A calm mind is a productive mind! [7] 𝐑𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟: After completing a challenging task or achieving a milestone, treat yourself to a short break or a small reward. This positive reinforcement can motivate you to stay on track. [8] 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞: Share your goals with a friend or mentor who can hold you accountable. Regular check-ins can provide the encouragement and support you need. [9] 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Focusing on one task at a time leads to better results. Avoid juggling multiple tasks simultaneously, as it can hinder your ability to grasp concepts deeply. [10] 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞: Adequate sleep, regular exercise, and a balanced diet are essential for maintaining your energy levels and cognitive function. Remember, preparation is not just about acquiring knowledge but also about developing the right mindset and habits. Embrace the journey, stay positive, and don't let distractions deter you from reaching your full potential. 🌟 Feel free to share your own strategies and experiences in the comments below. Let's support each other in our pursuit of success! 👇 ---------------------- #PlacementPreparation #Focus #Productivity #SuccessMindset

A lot of People Ops leaders have talked to us about having a large population of new managers who need training. Here's a collection of all the L&D strategies I've heard so far to tackle this: 🤝 MENTORSHIP PROGRAM Chances are, you have great experienced managers in the org who are eager to teach your newer leaders. Creating a mentorship program is an easy way to create cross-team collaboration and give teammates applicable learnings they can use for managing at your company. 💸 L&D BUDGETS I heard a lot of mentions of dedicated L&D stipends for employees, and this is especially important for new managers. Go beyond a patch solution by recommending books, courses, and trainings for them to purchase. The best teams also lean into marketing these benefits well and often. 👋 NEW MANAGER PLAYBOOK/STARTER PACK No one can define what great management looks at your company besides you, which is where playbooks and starter packs can really come in handy. Walk them through the skills and competencies they need and give them an few points of contact with HRBPs when they have a question. 💚 FACILITATED SUPPORT GROUP A big shoutout to Peter Mostachetti, who's story of manager support groups was some of the best I've heard so far. Create shared learning experiences or readings and bring your managers together to discuss them. The discussion and camaraderie is where this information will really stick! 👩🏫 SPOT WORKSHOPS WITH SME's Another favorite activity I've heard, bring in some great subject matter experts to speak on leadership, communication, and managing teams. Some of my favorites include the incredible Kim Scott, Jessica Chen, Lindsey Nehls, Ali Merchant, and Scott Asai to name a few. 💬 LEADERSHIP GROUP COACHING Individual coaching can feel out of budget for a lot of HR teams, but that's where group coaching can be really handy. Bring in executive coaches like Matthew Cooke or Janine Davis, at Evolution to facilitate support groups and shared coaching experiences. They can dive deep into leadership situations and give managers great insight! 🍏 THIRD-PARTY OR IN-HOUSE COURSES We've seen L&D and HR teams go the extra mile for their managers by developing custom courses. This is a time-consuming labor of love, and some incredible folks like Josh Zimmerman have built entire trainings with a team of one. An alternative option, you can purchase external courses from Coursera/Udemy/LinkedIn Learning, or go with providers like Elevate Leadership. What new manager development options did I miss? Did you have any favorites? Let me know in the comments! Next Monday's issue of my Substack dives deep into this topic. Sign up today so you don't miss it: https://lnkd.in/gGiTem3y #management #training #leadership #learninganddevelopment #hr #peopleops