Vanessa Martinez’s Post

As a non-American, Thanksgiving wasn’t a holiday tradition for me, but over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the value of stepping back to reflect and focus on gratitude. This Thanksgiving, I’m thinking about the incredible people who’ve been part of my career journey. It’s been almost 10 years since I decided my career wouldn’t be tied to a cubicle, and thanks to remote work, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with amazing individuals from all over the world. I’m grateful for: • 🤝 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 I’ve had the privilege to work with. Collaborating with truly talented and committed individuals to turn plans and ideas into realities is inspiring. Your dedication and creativity have made every project a learning experience. • 💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 who’ve trusted me with their visions and challenges, and who’ve pushed for clarity, innovation, and results—even under pressure. You’ve challenged me to step out of my comfort zone, and that made me a better professional. • 🧠 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 who’ve shared their wisdom, challenged me to grow, and reminded me that no career is built alone. Your selfless guidance has been invaluable, and I’ve learned valuable lessons because you chose to invest your time in my development. Every project is a collaboration, and every success is shared. Over the last years, I’ve come to realize that it’s the relationships you build along the way, not just the milestones, that make this work so fulfilling. To everyone who’s been part of this journey: 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵! 🥂 Whether you’re a teammate, a client, or a mentor, your contributions have left a lasting and positive impact, and I hope I’ve been able to do the same for you. Who are the people you’re most thankful for this year? Let’s celebrate them in the comments. 🙌

We’ve gotten so good at celebrating the big moments in life and at work - a milestone birthday, a big fat bonus, a much awaited promotion, an award or accolade won, that sometimes we forget the little ones. But life is of course neither perfectly designed nor full of highs. Very often you get one thing, but struggle with another, and some days can be better than others. I’ve had a challenging few weeks recently, and in those moments, it was the little things that kept my sputtering engine going - friendly banter with co-workers, an unexpected note of appreciation and thanks, an engaging conversation about possibilities and little reminders of the “wins” already made and the promise of those yet to come. I don’t think the individuals involved intended to or expected it, but some of the interactions I’ve had kept me going when I struggled to find my mojo. And so this one’s for the little moments - ending the day earlier and getting to see the little ones before they get to bed, a productive meeting, the start of an interesting project, and in this particular case, the opportunity to give my ocean-loving son a glimpse into the marine biodiversity project we’re working on, and watching his face light up with delight and awe at my job (albeit misplaced - no this is not what I do everyday, son). It’s easy to lose sight of the small things when we’re chasing the big, and even easier to forget how our little interactions can make a difference to someone’s day. And while I hope that there’ll always be big triumphs to celebrate, I equally hope that we’ll be able to find our days peppered with sufficient micro moments to keep us going when the going gets tough. And much more than that, I hope our interactions can bring you that little lift when you need it. 💕

Happy 20th Anniversary to Alex (Alejandro) Martinez! Alex began his career at Accord in the Chicago 940 building as a Finishing Operator, thanks to a referral from his brother who also worked at the company. He recalls that when he started, his department had only seven people, which required him to learn and master everything in his role. We asked him a few questions about his time with Accord Carton. Q. What do you like the most about your job?  A. I love what I do and like to think about how my co-workers and I can do a better job. Q. What has kept you at Accord for so long? A. Opportunities to grow. Q. What are you the proudest of at work? A. Working with the team. Q. What superpower would you like to have if you could choose one? A. Help my fellow coworkers figure ways to do things the best.

To celebrate PRIDE month we’ve got an offer 🏳️🌈 ‼️Send me a message with the word “PRIDE” if you meet these points ‼️ 1. You are motivated to get in the best shape of you’ve ever been this summer and are between 25-60 2. You are willing to put in the work for the results and keep communication open at all times 3. You are willing to put in to action what we give you to GUARANTEE that you feel amazing this year 4. We’re not looking for perfect but we are looking for you give 100% effort 5. You can train at least 2-3 times per week And you want to not only rock an incredible physique this summer but improve your performance at work ‼️This is not a free programme‼️ Working with us we will specifically guide you through our 4 phased system to ensure that you leave with the tools you need to manage your results forever: Phase 1: Priming Phase ✅ Phase 2: Performance Phase ✅ Phase 3: Precision Phase ✅ Phase 4: Progression Phase ✅ These are the exact phases which have got our clients in the shape they are today and if you execute all 4 you will not only build a physique you’re proud of But you will leave with the tools you need to keep your results forever This programme is for those that are SERIOUS about improving their physique and performance so don’t message if you: ❌ Don’t want to give it 100% ❌ Don’t want to be part of a community ❌ Don’t want to keep communication open ❌ Think that you will only need to eat chicken and Rice ❌ Think that this is a QUICK FIX Achieving the physique of your dreams is possible if you action what we give you and keep us in the loop when things go wrong And if you’re wondering how I know how to work with guys in the corporate industry I’ve been there and most of my guys are as well Send me a private message with the word “PRIDE” if you want to get in the shape of your life over the next 12 months 💪

Today is my 8 year work anniversary at Douglas Stuart Ltd. This got me thinking... What is the average tenure of employment? UK - 10.1 years France - 10.4 years Germany - 11.1 years USA - 4.1 years Australia - 3.3 years Denmark - 8 years The average tenure of employment in the #Recruitment industry ranges between 2 to 4 years and the most common reasons for leaving are; 1. Career Advancement (lack of opportunity) 2. Work-Life Balance 3. Feeling Undervalued Which for me speaks volumes for the way Douglas Stuart Ltd. have supported me, given me the opportunity to develop, and thus the reason I'm 8 years in and still enjoying the journey.

As it’s Friday I’ll end the week with a bit of sunshine ☀️ In the spirit of celebrating colleague of the quarter, I thought I’d introduce my small but mighty team 🙌🏻 I am super #proud of my team, they all work so hard, have fantastic attitudes and what more, we have fun doing what we do. So today I celebrate them all in turn and allow the lovely world of LinkedIn to get to know them a little better. ☀️ Nichol Gibbard is the newest member to the team. She is definitely the yellow in our wonderful team. Always smiling and happy to go that extra mile for anyone. Her energy is infectious and she knows how to turn frowns upside down 🙃 #myteam #no1 #proud #bmstores #MiddlewichDC #thankyou #Excellence #Speed #Teamwork #Hardwork What is you role within B&M - People Advisor How long have you worked at B&M - 6 wonderful months What is your favourite work memory - Being surrounded by brilliant people everyday. Favourite song - Never not remember you - Cooper Alan Favourite movie - Harry Potter and the goblet of fire Favourite holiday - Every one that is spent with family. Who is your hero - Alessia De Pasquale, best friends since 2 years old, died from a cardiac arrest on new year’s eve, 6 years ago. Promised to live for the both of us. What can you talk about for hours - Scooby Doo or Gavin and Stacey What is something you would like to learn - Monster Truck Jumping If you could live a day as an animal which one would you choose - Specifically one of the Queen/Kings Corgi’s. Finish the sentence: it’s never too late to…. Start again. If you weren’t happy with yesterday, try something different today. Don’t stay stuck, do better. One word that describes you? - Sunshine 😂😂😂

Happy World Champagne Day! 🥂 A reminder to celebrate. As professionals, we often find ourselves caught up in the hustle, focusing on what’s next on our to-do lists. However, it’s equally important to take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments, both big and small. Celebrating achievements, whether it’s hitting a target or completing a challenging project, reinforces our hard work and motivates us for the future. Recognising milestones fosters a positive work culture and strengthens relationships within our teams. Let’s remember that collaboration and support are essential for our continued growth. Each success, no matter how small, contributes to our personal and professional development. Let’s take the time to pop that champagne and celebrate our journeys. Here’s to future successes and the moments that make all the hard work worthwhile. Cheers! 🥂✨ #worldchampagneday #celebratesuccess #professionalgrowth

Lucky 7! I'm probably due for a post, so here's 7 things that have made me feel pretty lucky in the last 7 years... 1. Invaluable exposure. I have a front-row seat to watch business leaders of all ages and maturity levels as they approach the same question: how can we solve this business problem with software? 2. Having chances to learn from mistakes. I am not the same professional I was 7 years ago! 3. Having advocates in leadership that have mentored me to a seat at the leadership table. 4. Getting to spend a lot of time at the Denver office! Shoutout to Catalyst. 5. The financial stability and work-life balance to have creative hobbies. 6. Finding a passion in age-tech and being supported by ForytAU to organize a pitch competition. 7. Having a license to build my network. I've made some great friends along the way. Once upon a time, a dear friend, who was much older and smarter, said to a much younger me, who was lamenting the difficulties of adulting: "you have the hardware, you just need the software!" Isn't the universe cheeky?

🎉 Today, I celebrate my 34th birthday, and as I reflect on my journey so far, I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities, growth, and challenges that have shaped me into the person I am today. From embracing roles in business development and strategic partnerships to helping organizations like the Miami Marlins and Remote Year build meaningful connections, I’ve learned that success is about more than numbers—it’s about relationships, impact, and showing up authentically every day. This year, I’ve pushed myself to step outside my comfort zone, chase bold opportunities, and align my professional journey with my personal values. Whether it’s helping individuals discover new experiences, empowering communities, or creating memorable partnerships, I’m proud of the work I’ve done—and excited for what’s ahead. If there’s one thing I’ve learned as I enter this new chapter, it’s this: Growth isn’t just about climbing a ladder. It’s about building bridges, leaving a positive mark, and continuously evolving, both personally and professionally. To my incredible network: thank you for inspiring and supporting me every step of the way. Here’s to another year of learning, building, and thriving! 💡 How do you measure growth in your journey? I’d love to hear your perspective in the comments below. #BirthdayReflection #Gratitude #Partnerships #GrowthJourney

This is a PSA to all those who don’t feel like they’re enough. For anyone feeling “less than”, incompetent, or suffering from imposter syndrome. I lived in Amsterdam for 2 years.🇳🇱
Living abroad changed my life. It changed me. I taught for 8 years. 6 in the USA, 2 in Europe.👩🏻🏫
Teaching changed my life. It changed me. I could go on and on listing the countless experiences that have shaped my outlook on life and molded me into who I am today—being an older sister, adopting a dog, switching careers. You have a long list of unique life experiences too. And that’s your superpower. There’s no other you here on LinkedIn.
There’s no other you at your workplace.
There’s no other you in the whole entire world. Own it. Embrace it. Love it. Live it.
Because there’s only one you. You are enough. You are capable. You are worthy. You may not have the same work experience as Bob. Or the same life experience as Cathy. But you have your own. Because you are not them. You are you.
 And no one else can be you. 
No one else brings exactly what you do and how you think to the table. So, stop comparing.
Start celebrating. 
You’re not meant to fit into someone else’s mold. You’re meant to carve your own path. Your uniqueness is your greatest strength. The world needs more of you, just as you are.✨ Always remember: You’ve got this.