Melissa Nigh - Del Carlo’s Post

When I was searching for a new job, I made a list of criteria I was looking for in my future employer. (Full list below for accountability measures.) I promised myself that if I were to make a move, every criteria on this list had to be met - no compromises. I'm glad I held firm in this requirement because it led me to Valent Partners. Valent not only met these criteria but has quickly proven itself to be among the #BestPlacesToWork. To my friends actively job searching: make your list, be selective, don't settle, and be grateful for where it leads you. It may take some time, but it'll be worth it. - Who I work with and for: Am I surrounded by people that are driven, kind, and humble; people that inspire me and push me to be better? - The example leadership sets: Are leaders really 'walking the talk'; is there a culture of trust and accountability; is grace encouraged and extended? - A place to grow: Am I being pigeon-holed into one role, or is there room in the future for me to expand on my skills and the scope of work? - Room to think strategically: Do I have autonomy to experiment with new concepts or processes; can I turn my ideas into action, with minimal red tape? - Alignment of professional values with my personal values

"If we don't do it today, there won't be a tomorrow" Yesterday, I attended the 'Black on Bay' lunch. Panelists spoke about their journeys in Corporate Canada. Overcoming challenges. Collaborative solutions. The esteemed panel of Konata Lake, Kurankye Sekyi-Otu, Stanley Julien, and Lori-Ann Beausoleil, moderated by Colin Lynch seriously delivered. They discussed: Corporate challenges → navigating 'token hires' Giving back to community → uplifting one another 'Equity' and 'allyship' → outcomes and support are key Their stories were powerful and real. But this conversation wasn't new. That, to me, was the biggest takeaway. And as a corporate professional. As a recruiter. As a leader. The only way to foster success is to support and uplift others. Now. The longer we wait to change, the longer change will take. Support each other → we all rise together Thanks to Chandran Fernando for purchasing tickets for myself and Nifemi Osundina to attend the event. And for encouraging me to attend, despite needing to wear flip flops with my suit due to my foot injury... 🙃 -------------------------- I guide careers in the Commercial Real Estate & Development industry Follow me for hiring, career development, leadership, and industry insights If you enjoy my content, ♻️ with your network 🙏

As Black professionals in Ireland, surrounded by a cloud of expectations and pressures, here's your midweek reminder: Your authenticity is your superpower. Don't let societal expectations or cultural norms dictate how you show up in the world. Your experiences, your culture, your voice; they all add immense value to your workplace. Don't dim your light to fit in. Shine bright and light the way for others. Remember: You were hired for who you are, not who others want you to be. You belong in every room you enter and your presence matters. Be unapologetically yourself. Share your unique perspective. Celebrate your heritage. Let's continue to support each other. Together, we can create workplaces where everyone can thrive as their true selves. We want to hear from you: How do you embrace your authenticity in your professional life? 🌟Be seen, be heard, be valued. Join BPI and experience a community that celebrates your uniqueness.🤝 https://lnkd.in/endpY-z5 #BlackProfessionalsIreland #BeYourself #AuthenticityMatters #RepresentationMatters #Empowerment

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of attending the Blue Springs Chamber Lunch & Learn, where the focus was on empowering often-overlooked talent pools in our workforce. Each panelist detailed their experience working with these individuals and the benefits it had to both the company and the employee. Thank you to the panelists Bobby Hines, Corey Martin, and Karvel Kofoed for their insight on such an important topic. Bobby shared insightful perspectives on how businesses can create opportunities for justice-involved individuals, providing them a second chance and benefiting from their dedication and untapped potential. Providing a justice-involved individual a second chance not only fills critical roles in the workforce but also helps uplift our community by fostering growth and inclusion. Corey emphasized the immense value that veterans bring to the workplace. With their keen eye for detail, veterans are trained far beyond the capabilities of most civilians. They excel in teamwork, know how to follow directions precisely and adapt quickly to dynamic situations. It's important to create pathways for their successful transition back into civilian careers and by doing so businesses can fully leverage these unmatched skills. Karvel talked about the value of “experienced” or post-retired professionals, pointing out how much knowledge and reliability they bring to the table. Businesses can benefit from their mentorship and the seasoned perspective they offer, especially when it comes to tackling tough challenges. They have a depth of experience that sparks innovation, and their strong work ethic and traditional values lead to a higher level of dedication. Bringing older professionals on board not only strengthens collaboration between generations and boosts company culture, but it also gives them a continued sense of purpose, and belonging, and a way to share their expertise in a meaningful way. Look out for a follow-up to this post next week detailing our experience hiring a post-retired professional! This event was a powerful reminder of the importance of inclusive hiring practices. As businesses, we have the chance to shape a more diverse and resilient workforce by embracing individuals from all walks of life. Let's continue to build teams that not only elevate our businesses but also uplift the broader community. #InclusiveWorkforce #SecondChances #VeteransInBusiness #PostRetirementProfessionals #BlueSpringsChamber

🌟 What a Week! 🌟 From meetings to strategic planning, our week was a whirlwind of excitement and growth! 🚀 🤝 Beginning strong with strategic meetings: Colin delved into discussions with Jeanette Martin, while Lucy had a productive conversation with Andrea Cloughley. But that wasn't all! Together, Colin and Lucy had a long overdue catch-up with the incredible Douglas Marshall. 💼 Colin's midweek highlight? Delivering training to a dynamic Tech Company, empowering them with crucial skills and delivering on their Employee Wellbeing Strategy. Meanwhile, Lucy lent her expertise to Rob Griffiths, assisting in a critical recruitment seminar at Shropshire Chamber of Commerce. 📚 Then came our cherished Book Club, where minds met and ideas flowed. Engaging discussions and shared passions made for a memorable evening! 👩💼 As the week drew to a close, Lucy was on-site with a valued customer, offering invaluable support for their people strategy and commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). Meanwhile, Colin immersed himself in networking with SVBG, forging connections and exploring opportunities. ✨ Wrapping up with a flourish, Lucy delved into BNI Achievers Black Country. A lot of the positive actions we take from business are driven by #EngagementSurveys and planning based on data and not guesswork. If you'd be interested in learning more email [email protected] and we'll have a productive conversation with you. #HumanEverything

We celebrate the hard work and incredible impact of our Canopy moms this Mother’s Day and all year through. “Too often we talk about work and life as separate and that’s why the word career never meant much – for me, it’s all the same road.” –Ara Katz, co-founder and CMO at SpringNYC #ConsultingExpert #ConsultingServices #ConsultingFirm #DenverBusiness #CanopyAdvisoryGroup

Oh...to be in a space where... Our conversations are...different.... Our eye contact is steadier. Seems to do less room scanning and focuses more on finding meaning with those directly before us. Our attire is, well, less the uniform we were trained to wear, more an expression of our comfort, our cultural expressions, our fuller selves. And our expectations of each other and of ourselves are exceedingly, refreshingly deeper. Have you been in this kind of space? Spaces where firm handshakes are replaced with hugs? Spaces where you've found yourself asking or being asked --not just about how your work is coming along but how you are holding up, standing up, along the journey to get the work done? Spaces where you've felt, or better yet, offered more warmth? In these well-curated spaces the work, of course, is still being lifted. But how people show up to do that powerlifting tilts toward a more human-centered approach. Here's the reality. Everyone can't. Everyone may not want to. And every space does not lend itself or engenders the psychological safety required for our full human-centricity to unfold. Oh but to be in a space where it happens... What is said and unsaid What is leaned into and away from What is done and how it is done... is different. And the impact is deeper, stronger, and more sustainable. Kelly S. Woodland, Folasshade Dunbar, Dalila Wilson-Scott and their teams curated this very precise space at last night's #GTKU event--reminding us that movement from transactional networking to community-building is required in our impact work--especially when we aim to truly build trust with our exceptional Black leaders. Thanks to Sulaiman Rahman for visioning P4 Hub. I hope you join or support this movement, community and space. Oh to have it...is necessary! Welcome to the weekend, #workforcewarriors! #learningandunlearning