Elisabeth Dijkgraaf’s Post

Reflecting on My First Two Weeks as Director of GTM & Enablement - Strategic Programs at Optus ... The past two weeks in my new role have been exhilarating and engaging. Reconnecting with familiar faces and building new relationships has made my transition smooth and welcoming. Working with colleagues with whom I have strong relationships has been a pleasure, and meeting many new, supportive people has been equally enriching. Their warmth and readiness to help have been instrumental in getting me up to speed. The culture here is one of trust, support, and fun - qualities I deeply appreciate and do not take for granted. Landing in such an environment fills me with gratitude and reinforces my belief that I've found a perfect place to thrive. Here are a few reflections on what I have learned so far: Be curious: Seek to understand the new world around you, ask lots of questions, and grasp both the bigger picture and the relevant deeper details. Value expertise: Allow yourself to be led by the experts in the field. Never underestimate the wealth of knowledge that those around you have. Use fresh perspectives: Capitalise on your fresh set of eyes to look for opportunities to contribute to step changes that lead to high-impact outcomes. Build relationships: Meet as many new people as possible. The people around you know a lot and are generally very generous with their time. Trusting and reciprocal relationships are key, so get out there and start creating them. The impact this group is poised to make on our customers and our organisation is profound. I am incredibly driven to contribute to positive changes and feel a deep sense of optimism and energy for what lies ahead. I have thoroughly enjoyed the start of my learning journey in new subject areas and appreciate the opportunity to contribute to significant and impactful programs already in flight. This combination of continuous learning and meaningful contributions has been immensely fulfilling. Ultimately, it feels like I have found the ideal balance of challenging and impactful work in a supportive and dynamic environment. I am both grateful and energised for what’s ahead. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has generously given me some of their time over the past two weeks. Your support and willingness to share your insights have been invaluable as I dive curiously into this new space. Here's to the exciting journey ahead! #optuslife #leadership #GTM #culture

🌟 Welcome Newcomers! 🌟 We’re thrilled to have you join our team! As you embark on this exciting journey, remember that every great accomplishment begins with a decision to try. Here are a few words to keep you inspired: 🌱 Embrace Learning: Every day is a chance to learn something new. Be curious, ask questions, and never stop growing. 💪 Stay Resilient: Challenges are opportunities in disguise. Face them head-on, and you’ll emerge stronger and wiser. 🤝 Build Connections: Your colleagues are your greatest resource. Collaborate, support each other, and create something amazing together. ✨ Dream Big: Don’t limit yourself. Believe in your potential, and let your dreams guide you to new heights. Welcome aboard! Let’s make incredible things happen. 🚀 #NewBeginnings #Motivation #Welcome

Internal or External career movement? Had a great morning sharing career insights with the Nokia Indonesia team! We discussed the internal vs. external move dilemma and explored key strategies for success: There are some key points i would like to share on what we need to consider before making the decision *Sign to move internally: limited growth opportunities, relationships with your boss/ peers, clear career path, company culture fits *Sign to look outside: stagnation, lack of recognition, limited career opportunities, cultural misalignment *Additional factor to look at: market conditions, personal goals, risk tolerance Any other tips for navigating the internal vs. external career dilemma? Let's discuss!"

𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀! 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 ☕ Celebrating my 2 years in Italy! Yesterday, I crossed a significant milestone, reflecting on all that I've achieved so far in this period: - Graduated with my master’s degree in engineering (3rd one, don't ask me how this happened); - Learned Italian from 0 to a C1 level; - Landed a job in a leading italian company in my field; - Traveled to 27 countries; - Made incredible friends along the way. They say moving abroad sets you back, and you have to rebuild your life for years. Looking back, it is true. I can proudly say I’ve now regained my footing and in some things even exceeded my expectations. However, there’s one thing I miss from my time in Russia — being part of a strong professional community. As a Product Manager, I’m passionate about making life better through impactful solutions. I love tackling challenges, improving processes, and constantly learning. 𝗜’𝗺 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆! 𝗟𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿.  𝗪𝗵𝗼’𝘀 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁, 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? 🚀 #ProductManagement #ProductHeroes #Milano #Milan #SheTech #SheTechItaly

Starting A New Role: Embrace the Change 🌍 Starting a new position is always an exciting yet challenging experience. As I step into my new role in Vietnam with Carlsberg, I’m reminded of the importance of building relationships early. When entering a new role, with new colleagues and teams, it’s easy to focus solely on the tasks at hand. But real success comes from getting to know the business and people around you first. Especially when you are moving to a new country with a different culture and values that may be different to yours. 🤝 Building relationships from day one is key. Whether it's understanding people’s  individual challenges, collaborating on solutions, or simply learning from their experiences, strong connections will make all the difference. 🌱 In my career journey so far, I’ve realized that trust is the foundation of teamwork. It takes time, openness, and a willingness to understand different perspectives. By embracing the change and seeking common ground, you not only build a supportive work environment but also pave the way for greater success. 💡 So as I navigate my new role, I’m focusing on making genuine connections and learning from those around me. After all, it’s not just about what you know but who you know and how you work together! I am looking forward to this new chapter, new experiences, and building new relationships! ✨ #NewBeginnings #Leadership #CulturalAdaptation #BuildingRelationships #Teamwork #Trust #CareerGrowth #Vietnam #NewRole #Success #WorkCulture #Networking #carlsberg #carlsbergvietnam

*Appreciation Post* As I reflect on my experiences so far personally and in my career, there are people who have consistently been instrumental in my growth. And with their consent, I’d like to share some pivotal moments that I’m forever gratitude for. (Nothing like an appreciation post to kick off your week on a high.) ~~~~~~~ My first appreciation is for Brenda Han, my manager at Ogilvy, who took me on to lead some challenging work. A few months into my Ogilvy gig, 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴, looking back it’s clear that imposter syndrome got the better of me (I’d had a tough first year in Singapore with my jobs - a story for another time). 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝘇𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿. I’ll never forget the moment Brenda took me aside and had “a chat”. While the message was very serious, it came with support and reassurance that 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 - and yes, the truth hurt… and then something inside me shifted. I started to focus on what I do well - 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗵** 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘥. I grew key accounts and teams, pushed creative boundaries, we won Effie’s awards, and won multiple integrated creative pitches. 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗹𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴. It truly was this moment that’s famously quoted: “But what if I fall?”… “Yes my dear, but what if you fly” Thank you Brenda for giving me the candid feedback I needed to 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳 and for always being a constant, inspirational mentor and friend. Lesson Learned: Candid, constructive feedback is gold - whether giving or receiving - know you could be changing a career path for the better when given/received with kindness. #mentor #impostersyndrome #fightorflight #appreicationpost #fallandfly

When I joined Johnson & Johnson in 2011, I was mostly relieved to have a permanent job in the competitive Brussels market, planning to complete two years in the corporate environment before going into the European Union institutions, where I thought my passion lay. I knew little about healthcare, even less about medical devices and diagnostics, the business I was asked to support as a junior hire. What reassured me, besides the wonderful team and supportive manager who took me into J&J, was the other half of my job - establishing a new policy capability on environmental risk and advocacy within our EMEA team, supporting our EHS and Supply Chain organizations. I felt more prepared for that, mostly because I had worked on environmental policy world in a previous job… Fast forward 13 years and 7 jobs later, and I find myself here in Singapore, saying my goodbyes with colleagues around the world, who have been part of my J&J journey. Many would say that you can have multiple careers here, and they were right: the pathway since that first “double-hat” role has been exciting, winding, sometimes frustrating and exhausting, but never dull, and always rich with new learnings and personal growth. As I took the decision to leave J&J, I had the unique opportunity to step back and reflect on the past years. I thought about what I invested in time, energy, emotion, and commitment to the company, but I was also trying to sum up what I gained - in what I call my “suitcase” of experiences. Here is a flavor of what "piled on" in the luggage, after 13 years... 📌 People management and talent development; 📌 Team restructuring and change management; 📌 Cross-functional leadership in issues management, disease awareness, market expansion and market access; 📌 Setting up new capabilities in external affairs and alliance development; 📌 Upending my life (and my partner’s!) in a career shift that took us to Asia; 📌 Learning and doing communications & public affairs in support of transformational medicines; 📌 Leading our government affairs team in one of the most complex markets worldwide; 📌 Rebuilding and accelerating J&J leadership and impact in one of the key multilateral fora worldwide; 📌 Serving as a regional chief of staff to drive team transformation, and setting up another “first” - building a new capability in AP in government affairs for supply chain, technical operations & risk. None of these would be possible without the managers, mentors, sponsors, colleagues, and friends, who hired me, bet on me, partnered with me, challenged me, shared the good, bad, and ugly, and are now reaching out for those “final” catch ups ahead of my last day at the company. You know who you are - thank you! Keep making the "special sauce" that makes J&J the special company it has been for me and so many patients and employees (past and present) worldwide. Now, with my suitcase in hand, it’s off to the next adventure…stay tuned!

🌟 Welcome Back Lior Guriel! 🌟 We are beyond excited to welcome back Lior to ExplorAds! After some time away, we’re thrilled to have you rejoin our team and continue contributing to the innovative and collaborative environment that makes our company so special. Why We're So Excited About Lior's Return 🤩 : ✅ Experience & Expertise: Having already made an impact here, Lior brings valuable insights and a deep understanding of our culture, processes, and goals. This continuity helps us hit the ground running! ✅ Faster Integration: Returning employees require less onboarding time since they are already familiar with our tools, systems, and teams. This allows them to get back to delivering results quickly. ✅ Cultural Fit: Lior is already a great fit with our company culture. His return strengthens our team's dynamics and helps maintain the positive work environment we've all worked so hard to create. ✅ Fresh Perspective: With His time away, Lior brings new ideas and fresh perspectives that will help drive innovation and inspire growth across the company. ✅ Proven Track Record: Lior has already demonstrated his dedication and ability to deliver outstanding results, so we know he will continue to excel as he is reintegrate into our projects. We’re confident that Lior will continue to make great strides with us as we work together to push boundaries and achieve even greater successes. Here’s to many more milestones together! 🚀

Have a guess: How famous are we in Malaysia for being a tech company? Alan was surprised seeing a global IT position at Continental. He gave it a try and joined our team. Nine years later he tells his story to make our global IT opportunities more visible. Read his story about growing an international career by grabbing the chances that pop up and making use of our value Freedom To Act: https://lnkd.in/eh3c_YGS

In 2017, I received the words in this screenshot from the mother of an ex-colleague. Nearly 8 years later, I still find myself revisiting these words and thinking of that story. The story that helped shap both my career and my life. At that time, I was working in Singapore under a terrible manager, someone who was racist, unknowledgeable, irresponsible, and cruel. He had a habit of threatening to fire people, especially junior employees, over minor mistakes. One day, a junior paid media specialist on my team made a small error that resulted in an overspend of less than $2 (I still remember the exact amount). My manager immediately sent an email, threatening to fire her if it happened again. I knew I had to stand up for her. I confronted him and made it clear that his behavior was completely unacceptable. He didn’t take it well, and it ended up costing me my job. He went to HR and gave them an ultimatum: either I leave or he would. They forced me to resign, but honestly, I was ready to go. Within weeks, the entire marketing team either quit or was foreced to leave somehow, and the Singapore office was shut down. His toxic leadership drove everyone away. The words from my colleague’s mother really came true: after leaving that company, I had the privilege of working with some of the best teams and leaders across the globe, at Adobe, Skyscanner, Curvature, THG, and now Amazon, where I’m about to celebrate my 3rd anniversary in few days. The biggest lesson I learned is that standing up for what’s right is always worth it, even if it comes at a cost. Eventually, things will fall into place. Titles and companies don’t define your career; it’s the people you work with and those who have your back that truly matter, and it is really about people and I consider myself quite lucky that since that situation I find myself working with just amazing people I’m incredibly grateful for everyone I’ve met along the way. Thank you all!