Joe Watson, CPP’s Post

🌟 Cognac and Conversations: A Night of Purposeful Dialogue and Action 🌟 Last night was nothing short of inspiring. Our Cognac and Conversations event brought together a room filled with powerful voices and change-makers who are all passionate about making a tangible difference in education, talent development, and the workforce. It was a night of intentional conversations, where we delved deep into what we can do to identify and close some critical gaps. Two ideas that resonated with me were the importance of not getting caught in the vacuum and the need for increased awareness of available talent. So often, individuals feel boxed into certain career paths without knowing what else is out there or how their unique traits can lead to fulfilling work. This is where CultureLancer comes in. One of our core missions is to expand this awareness—helping individuals align their passions, skills, and traits with career possibilities they might not have considered. We don’t just want to open doors; we want to provide intentional access to opportunities that can truly transform lives. This event is the beginning of something bigger, as we plan to hold these gatherings quarterly, with our next one in March 2025. At the end of the night, each attendee made a personal commitment to drive change, and we’ll be following up to ensure those commitments stay on track. It’s about creating accountability, moving beyond just talk, and making real, measurable progress. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us last night. It was a privilege to share the evening with such impactful individuals, each of whom brought their own energy and insight to the table. Special thanks to: • Late August (located in the Ion Houston for hosting us in their beautiful space. • Danny, the owner, for being such a gracious host. • Pierre Ferrand for being our signature cognac of the night. • Tariq, our incredible mixologist, for crafting memorable drinks that elevated the entire experience. Good food, good drinks, and even better conversation. I can’t wait for the next one, and to see how these conversations turn into actions that truly make an impact. Let’s keep the momentum going. 🌍✨ #CognacAndConversations #CultureLancer #Education #TalentDevelopment #WorkforceInnovation #CommunityImpact #HoustonEvents #CareerPathways #PurposefulConnections Chastiny Brown, Alexia Jones, Tiara Abu - Making HERstory, Akeel Bernard CPC, ELI-MP, Adrianne Stone, Loretta Williams Gurnell Sable R. Banks, M.Ed., CC

Did you know that 69% of employees would change employers for better job fulfillment?* In today’s competitive job market, it’s clear that fulfillment at work is crucial for employee satisfaction and retention. At Twenty & Creek, we understand the importance of creating a workplace where employees feel valued, connected, and inspired. We believe that a strong sense of community, shared values, and meaningful relationships are the building blocks of a thriving team – and we’re here to help you build that foundation. Whether you’re planning corporate training, leadership events, workshops, or special appreciation events, our venue is designed to facilitate connection and growth. We offer a space where your team can come together, foster collaboration, and strengthen the bonds that drive success. As you plan your next corporate event, consider how Twenty & Creek can be your partner in creating a purpose-driven environment that enhances both professional and personal fulfillment. Contact us today to book your event and start building a workplace where success and satisfaction go hand in hand. *Goh Chiew Tong, “The Great Resignation Looks Set to Continue—1 in 5 Say They’ll Change Jobs in the Next Year,” CNBC, May 24, 2022

Thank you to Liz Hernandez and Martha M. Garcia for inviting me to speak at WORDAFUL's "Thriving in the Workplace" panel series yesterday in LA alongside such a dynamic group of inspiring industry leaders. Together, we unpacked overcoming obstacles, defining moments of empowerment, sustaining drive and vision, achieving work-life harmony, career fulfillment, and finding balance in the face of burnout. I'm incredibly proud to have participated alongside these talented individuals (and new friends) from varying fields: Debbie Gonzales - Creative Director of Kids Of Immigrants & Co-Founder of EL CHILITO HOT SAUCE Sandy Archila - Director, Brand & Consumer Engagement, NBCUniversal Mica Le John - Chief of Staff, Black Girls Code Daniel Fernandez - CEO, TMC Community Capital Monique Sanchez (Sowinski) - Head of PR & Communications, Live Nation Entertainment The truth is that navigating a career path with purpose and fulfillment is not something we're taught in school or even comes naturally to most us. It requires personal development, mentorship, intentionality, determination, and focus - and above all a commitment to investing in yourself. A few tactics we highlighted included: ☑ Setting boundaries ☑ Separating our self-worth and identity from career success ☑ Establishing unwavering personal practices that prioritize self-care ☑ Constantly redefining your "why" to maintain motivation and drive ☑ Calling upon your relationships and resources for support While "collaboration" and "community" tend to be overused buzzwords in the professional networking and thought leadership world, I truly believe that establishing relationships, putting yourself in new situations, and the sharing of ideas are the true unlock to succeeding and finding fulfillment in your career and life. Events like yesterday remind us that we're all so much more alike than we are different, which is so uplifting, especially at this moment in our history.

An interview of how it all started by our Co-Director Faye....... #kesinternational #academia #academicconferences #academics #publications #publishing #virtualconferences #hybridconferences #globalconferences #networking #research #academicresearch #professors #scientists

As part of our new Colleague Spotlight Series, we spoke to Eve Galloway, Demand Analyst about her time at Whyte & Mackay. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐖&𝐌? Before relocating to Scotland, I worked for M&S and was keen to find a company with the same commitment to high-quality products and a strong brand presence. I couldn’t have found a better fit to begin this new chapter of my life in Scotland. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞/𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐖&𝐌 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫? I was recently invited to attend the UK Annual Commercial Briefing, where we explored the strategies and exciting brand plans for the upcoming year. I found it incredibly inspiring to see how the channel teams are planning for the future and driving growth across the business. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐖&𝐌? The biggest takeaway here is the importance of our approach. While we have a business strategy centred on showcasing what Whyte & Mackay excels at, it’s not always about innovation or reinventing the wheel. It’s about refining and elevating our existing brands to highlight their strengths. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐢𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐖&𝐌? For anyone considering a career at Whyte & Mackay or in the whisky industry, my top tip is to embrace both the rich heritage and innovative spirit, learning from the past while adapting to new ideas. As for the culture at Whyte & Mackay, it’s collaborative and supportive with a strong sense of shared purpose. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐛𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐖&𝐌? The week before I started, my line manager, Josh, called to check in and walk me through what my first day and week would look like. He followed up by sending a detailed three-week plan with a nearly full schedule, which was super helpful. It allowed me to meet many of my colleagues early on and settle in smoothly, giving me direction and structure without feeling lost during those crucial first days. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐖&𝐌? My role allows for meaningful collaboration and influence across teams and stakeholders, while still giving me the autonomy to lead and make decisions for the region I’m responsible for. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲? Whisky has stood the test of time and has a rich history and legacy – I am excited to see how we seamlessly blend old traditions with innovation, honouring the past while shaping the future. #WhyteAndMackay #LifeAtWhyteAndMackay

Listening to the song "Life is a Mess" always reminds me of how chaotic my career once was. But then, I decided to take a leap of faith and join a place far from my already distant home. 𝘋𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘵, 𝘪𝘯 2023, 𝘐 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 Dr. Sarvesh Tiwari, 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘣 𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳. 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥. 𝘈𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, PR Professionals Now, back to my story—while it might be too soon to claim that my life is entirely streamlined, I can confidently say that it's on the right track. The internal battle between making the right decision and hoping that a decision turns out right didn’t last long after I joined PR Professionals. I was blessed with a team that became my constant support, guiding my career towards the desired outcome. This is the identity of a strong corporate culture—a place where you can be part of the race yet find time for yourself. Often, organizations fail to become a home away from home, despite the 8-10 hours spent there daily. But I can confidently say that even if I spend half a day in the office, PR Professionals still feels like home. Here, managers manage without micromanaging; you realize this when your work gets streamlined on time, thanks to an external push. For me, that push is Prerna Dalakoti. Her approach, emphasizing that work comes first but always paired with strong character, personify the benefits of a strong corporate culture. This post is a cheers to my team—Shipra Kumar Bhawna Lakhera Guneet Kaur Udayabhanu Mohanty MD Kasim Aditi Jain and Aniruddha Sir—for making this place feel like home away from home. How do I wrap my post without mentioning Sadam Husen who has been a constant mentor, elder brother, and a very supporting colleague. The image is of 2023 awards event mentioned above, where I was behind my present team much ahead of time.

Day 3: Case Study of a Successful Surprise Event Today, I want to share a real-life example of how a surprise element turned a good event into an unforgettable one! 🎉 Imagine planning a corporate anniversary celebration where the agenda seemed standard—speeches, awards, dinner. But midway through, we surprised everyone with a flash mob performance by the senior leadership team! The guests were completely caught off guard, and the energy in the room skyrocketed. What could have been just another corporate event became the talk of the company for months. The key? Thoughtful planning, understanding your audience, and integrating surprises that resonate with the event’s theme and purpose. It’s not just about shock value; it’s about creating experiences that stay with people long after the event ends. Stay tuned for more ideas and insights on how to create surprise moments that leave lasting memories! 🌟 #SurpriseEvents #EventPlanning #EventStrategy #CreatingMemories #newjourney

Creating a culture of recognition and gratitude demands careful planning, a dedicated budget, along with a robust internal communications strategy to ensure widespread awareness and understanding across the organization. Brian Proctor offers valuable insights in this concise 4-minute read! Brian offers this advise "Bringing on an outside entity to lead the development of the program and then keep the wheels in motion is probably a very wise use of funds and time." #OCTANNER #gratitude #recognition

Are you looking for a unique way to elevate your corporate culture and personal or leadership development? Consider taking a Leadership Trip with Sports Outreach! These transformative trips offer a powerful opportunity for team-building and personal growth while engaging in meaningful service initiatives that bring real impact to communities around the world. Serving together not only strengthens bonds among colleagues but also cultivates a deeper sense of awareness, empathy, and problem solving ability, among a whole host of other shared values. Imagine your team, not only, making life-long memories as you bond over shared experiences, face challenges together, and celebrate victories that extend beyond the workplace, but truly developing through a dynamic combination of instruction, integration and innovation! Your personal development and coporate culture will never be the same. Sports Outreach Leadership Trips are turnkey international experiences, contextualized to the mission, vision and values and an organization and designed to give that organization and it's employees a super-charged opportunity to develop in the context of a story bigger than ourselves. If you would like to talk more about how your company, department, leadership team, or set of co-workers can take your corporate culture to new heights together, all while making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need around the globe, let’s chat! After all, together, we can always achieve more than we ever could alone!

The truth is, recognizing and fostering these individuals can elevate your brand.