CA Janavi Lakhani’s Post

In today’s evolving job market, the debate between being a generalist or a specialist is more relevant than ever. 📊 With the rise of startups and evolving roles, this discussion has become even more intense. 💹 So, which is better? Is there a universal answer? Let’s explore. 🔍 Generalists are versatile problem-solvers with broad knowledge across many areas. They have diverse interests, skills, and hobbies, and they thrive on creating new things and setting up business processes where none exist. Their adaptability is crucial, especially in early-stage startups and family-run businesses that require quick pivots and innovative thinking. 🎯 Specialists, on the other hand, are experts in a specific field, focusing deeply on a particular area or topic. They build extensive knowledge in their niche and are often hired to lead projects that require in-depth technical expertise. Specialists bring advanced understanding, allowing for high-quality work and innovation. They are the go-to experts for solving complex problems within their domain. Both generalists and specialists bring unique strengths and face their own challenges. Generalists provide adaptability, while specialists bring deep expertise. 🧠 Additionally, there exists a gray area where the lines between these two types of employees blur, creating a blend of skills and expertise. 🤝🏻 Starting your career or spending the initial years as a generalist can be beneficial. It helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses and discover what drives and motivates you. Jumping directly into a specialist role right after graduation can be risky because there is often a significant difference between academic learning and real-world work. It’s important to experience different job roles and industries and experiment before deciding to become a specialist. Alternatively, you might remain a generalist for as long as you wish. Ultimately, both Generalists and Specialists play vital roles in organizations and offer pathways to significant career growth. ✅ Which do you resonate with more, being a generalist or a specialist? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! 👇🏻 Co-authored by: Ayushi Khandhar & CA Janavi Lakhani #generalists #specialists #crossfunctional #startups

This article is a quick read with a much deeper message for anyone considering any kind of a career transition - first job, promotion, switching fields, exploring something completely new. It offers a simple, but powerful, set of 4 questions that you can answer for yourself in 2 minutes or contemplate for days. Definitely worth the read! Great job David Sluss! #career #growth #jobsearch #goodjobs

When you're applying for a new job, you might think first of salary, remote work possibilities, career progression... but do you think about if you'll LOVE it? David Sluss, professor at ESSEC Business School and academic director of the Global MBA, ESSEC Business School, suggests considering if you'll LOVE a job: will you Learn something, Open new professional connections, provide Value and Visibility, and Enjoy crafting this new role? Learn more about this framework in his Fast Company piece!

Recently, I met an industry expert Harriet A. through the University of Delaware Job Shadow program. It's only afterwards that you realize how a single conversation with an SME can outshine hours of study and internet research. Thank you Harriet A. for sharing your insights, knowledge and experiences about the dynamic marketing industry in the US. Thank you for dedicating time to meet with me despite your busy schedule. I also want to thank my University of Delaware for providing me with this opportunity. It was such a valuable discussion but here are a few key takeaways that we spent more time on: 1️⃣ The Significance of Collaborations: In today's fast paced organizations, one has to learn to move forward through collaborations with other teams and departments. It is vital for project success. 2️⃣ The Difference in Dynamics of Small Businesses, Startups, and MNCs: Harriet's vast experience allowed me to ask her about the dynamics of organizations with executing projects. It is extremely helpful to know about the systems in place that lead to progress and project execution in general. 3️⃣ Do Not be Afraid to Do more: This became my favorite as Harriet told me through her experiences how she went over to work past her role and eventually solve problems that she did not earlier believe she could. Sometimes, especially during the early part of our careers, being flexible and doing more work will help us in the long run. As someone who learned practically by delving into the world of startups and data-driven processes, I felt glad to see that I was moving in the right direction. Moving forward with positivity and a stronger belief of adding value in life! #UDjobshadow #universityofdelaware

Think your next career move is a no-brainer? Think again. I've worked at all of the different company sizes - from a startup that went public, to a stable mid-size national org, a multinational public company, and a high-growth scale-up. Each jump taught me one thing: there's no one-size-fits-all answer and they all had their own pros and cons. Let's break it down: Startups: ✅ Rapid growth opportunities ✅ Wear multiple hats ✅ Direct impact on company success ❌ Higher risk ❌ Potentially lower pay/benefits Corporate: ✅ Stable environment (not always though...) ✅ Clearer career paths ✅ Better resources and training ❌ Slower pace ❌ More bureaucracy So depending on the stage of your career - you might want something different. Early career? A startup could skyrocket your skills. Mid-career seeking stability? Corporate might be your jam. Senior level craving a new challenge? A scale-up could reignite your passion. For me - my scale-up experience turbocharged my leadership skills. The startup that went public? Taught me adaptability like nothing else and we had to invent everything from start and learn as we went The national org? Showed me the power of established processes and building lasting processes and tools that would be used for years. But my corporate stint? Crucial for understanding enterprise-level complexities and managing complex stakeholder relationships with many dependencies For me, it's not about startup vs scale up vs big corporate. It's about aligning your next move with your current goals and future aspirations. So, before you make that leap, ask yourself: What skills do I need to develop? How much risk can I tolerate? What kind of impact do I want to make? Where do I see myself in 5 years? Your answers might surprise you - and point you in an unexpected direction.

Seek out positions that offer intense, fast-paced, and diverse experiences that propel your skills and knowledge at an accelerated rate. Such positions are typically found in high-growth industries, startups, or roles that demand rapid learning and high responsibility. However, it's important to note that these roles can also come with high stress and demands, requiring resilience, adaptability, and a strong commitment to personal and professional growth. #Contramindisms #ContramindsPodcast #RapidLearning #HighResponsibility #AdaptabilitySkills #ProfessionalGrowth #DynamicRoles #ResilienceInWork

🤨 Being labeled a ‘generalist’ during an interview sparked a crucial realization for me. An interviewer's recent description of me as a 'generalist' wasn't just a label to me though; it was a crucial insight into the roles I'm targetting. I've seen first-hand how this versatility fuels success in dynamic environments, particularly in startups. For starters (and I'm backing this with founder paraphrasing): we are cost-effective. But to go a bit deeper, these are some of the strengths on offer: 1. Versatility: Generalists thrive or operate more prominently in startup settings, switching context regularly and with ease, and switching between multiple projects. 2. Problem Solving: A broad knowledge base equips generalists to tackle complex challenges innovatively, where more seasoned generalists tend to have a specialization to compliment their width of experience. 3. Adaptability: There is of course, the ability to pivot with changing priorities that is not just beneficial—it's essential in the unpredictable landscape of startups, where teams are expected, if not able to operate at the pace of the founder or CEO. 4. Collaboration: The understanding across various domains is what I believe is behind the excellent work culture at startups, enabled by the movement space and ability for effective teamwork across different departments. In the world of startups, where agility and the ability to handle complex challenges are paramount, generalists don’t just fit in - they lead. 🤝 Are you a generalist who has carved out a niche in marketing or built a career through sheer adaptability? Let's connect! #marketing #generalist #career #pivot

Starting a new job can be super exciting, right? You're pumped to dive in, make a difference, and help the company soar. That's an awesome mindset and shows you're all about doing great work. But hey, keep your eyes peeled. Sometimes, when they say 'let's work as a team for the company's good,' it might just be a sneaky way to pile on extra stuff that's not really your gig. Make sure you've got a job description that's crystal clear about what's on your plate. This is super important, especially at startups where things can get kinda fuzzy with who does what, and sometimes the bosses might not really get the nitty-gritty of everyone's roles. If you're not careful, you could end up doing a bunch of extra tasks without getting the high-five you deserve. And before you know it, those 'extras' might turn into 'expecteds.' If you push back, you could end up in hot water, with your rep taking a hit and your hard work going unnoticed. Also, heads up about some HR departments. They might not have the chops to back you up or fight for your rights, and they could twist things to make unfair stuff seem okay. Startups trying to save a buck might skimp on hiring, and that can include the HR team too. If you're stuck in a place that doesn't cheer on your growth or value your skills, it might be time to look elsewhere. Places that don't keep up the quality or dig real talent won't last, and you don't wanna be left in a crowd that's not going places. Even the pros can only deal with that kind of scene for so long before they bounce to somewhere better. So, keep leveling up your skills and stay sharp on the latest in your field. It's all about setting yourself up for a killer career down the line. #Innovation #Management #HumanResources #Marketing #Leadership #Sales #Technology #Networking #Entrepreneurship #Business #Growth #Success #Branding #Jobs #Career #Education #DigitalMarketing #SocialMedia #Finance #Productivity

💡 𝘈𝘴 𝘘4 𝘬𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧, 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭  𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘱 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛hey are not mine alone but aggregated from my daily conversations with job seekers, founders, VCs, and startup enablers 1️⃣ 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲. Startups may be hiring, but they’re setting the bar high. For eg I recently discussed a B2B Marketing Leader role for a post-Series C company and realized that, based on the criteria, the right candidate doesn’t exist in SEA. The search will need to go global. 2️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹. Many ex-startup leaders are launching communities, which is fantastic. But as I get invited to more, I sense community fatigue might start setting in as people are pulled in too many directions. 3️⃣ 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴. Senior roles are increasingly moving across the region as talent pools in neighboring countries rise but not all is rosy. Read article in comments for something we wrote yesterday 4️⃣ 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲. Many senior leaders are embracing the flexibility and diversity of roles, with fractional leadership communities and platforms emerging to support this growing interest. A ex-candidate texted me yesterday to share her excitement about pursuing five different projects after she left her full time role. The energy is contagious! What else are you seeing? Grateful for some feedback #StartupLife #TalentTrends #Q4Insights

Working in a startup can be thrilling but also challenging. Here are some tips to help you navigate the chaos and make the most of your experience: Understand the Dynamics: Embrace the flexibility and adaptability required in startups. 🌟 Focus on Learning: Use this opportunity to gain experience across different aspects of the business. 🎓 Set Boundaries: Manage micromanagement by setting clear boundaries and ensuring autonomy. 🚧 Use Data: Back your decisions with data to strengthen your case. 📊 Focus on Control: Concentrate on what you can influence to maintain a positive outlook. 🎯 Seek Support: Build a network of allies in the workplace to address common challenges. 🤝 Leverage Experience: Use your startup experience to enhance your resume for future opportunities. 📝 Keep the Big Picture: Remember how your current role fits into your long-term career goals. 🌍 Navigating a startup requires resilience, adaptability, and strategic thinking. Stay focused and turn challenges into valuable experiences! 🌟 #CareerCoach, #CareerChange, #CareerTransition, #StPetersburg, #Florida, #TimeManagement, #WorkLifeBalance, #StayFocused, #StayMotivated, #OvercomingObstacles, #PositiveMindset, #GoalSetting, #AchieveYourDreams, #SmallStepsBigResults, #PersonalGrowth, #Networking, #ContinuousLearning, #Productivity