From Senior Account Manager to Founder and Managing Director

From Senior Account Manager to Founder and Managing Director Success Story > From: Job To: Startup From Senior Account Manager to Founder and Managing Director “It's scary at times, but we're making a difference; it's a great feeling.” * From Senior Account Manager to Founder and Managing Director Philippa White worked in advertisingbut wanted more from her work. When she saw an opportunity to use her skills for good, she jumped at it. Here's how she made her shift. What was your old role? I ran the everday communications demands for twomajor accounts at BBH:Barclays/Woolwich and the Mail on Sunday. I produced, created and developed an average of 2.5 TV ads a month for the Mail on Sunday (MOS); 30 press ads for Woolwich and Barclays; and 6 radio ads in total for Barclays, Woolwich and the MOS. All projects required close relationships with all departments within BBH, the Media agency Starcom and the online agency Dare. I was the main point of contact on all pieces of business and had complete control over all projects. Two Account Executives reported to meand I was the sole presenter of creative and strategic work to all Clients. I was also the key member of the transitions team when BBH won the global British Airways business. I was responsible for the CASAMEA region, developing first agency impressions with new global clients and ensuring the smooth transition of all assets, materials and information from former Agency MC Saatchi. What's your new role? I am now the Founder and Managing director of The International Exchange (TIE) I am responsible for running, scheduling and organising each placement; company operations and growth; fundraising; marketing; networking; NGO recruitment; communications company recruitment; business development; PR and expansion. Why did you change? After fiveyears’ experience working successfully in the London advertising industry, I knew that there was an opportunity to do even more with the skills I had developed. I also recognised the need for communications assistance within the NGO sector. There seemed to be a host of NGOs in developing countries that could benefit hugely from professional communications support. In addition to this, I could see there was an opportunity to develop employees within communications companies in a different sort of wayâ€"the developing world offers quite a different view of life than, say, Soho does! And so, with the help of many supportive friends and advisors, then a period of thorough research in both the UK and Brazil, TIE was born. In 2006, UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, awarded TIE a grant to help get us off the ground. Since then we haven't looked back. Are you happy with the change? Yes, very much so. I can see that we are making a difference to all of those people and organisations involved and it's a great feeling. It is a little scary at times, and we are still in the early stages of development, but I definitely feel as though we are heading in the right direction and looking forward to seeing what the next year has in store for us. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the stability and the regular income that comes from a regular salary paid job at a big company. You also have a solid support network at a company. There are company drinks at the end of a long day, people to pick you up when you've having a tough timeand the structure of those around you which helps you know when you're doing the right thing. You don't have that support or stability when starting a new business and sometimes its a little hard to get used to. But hopefully things will improve as we develop and grow over the next year or so:we'll have more people around, we'll have a officeand we'll hopefully have a little more income. I love working for myself and having the autonomy to be creative with a business and develop something new where people truly benefit. I love meeting so many interesting people from so many different places, and just love working on projects that are making a real difference to everyone involved. I believe 100% in what we are working towards and I wouldn't change that for anything. How did you go about making the change? I have done years of research, developed relationships with people in the Development and Communications sectors, and have surrounded myself with fantastic people who believe in the initiative and have been working with me to help make it come to fruition. I quit my job and moved to Brazil to do six months of research. I then have had to freelance in advertising on the side in order to make ends meet, whilst developing the service proposition and gaining clients. What was the most difficult thing about changing? As mentioned above, the most difficult thing about changing from a secure and well paying job, to something that is new and untouched, is the instability. It's tricky to look around at friends of mine who are in the process of buying their second property and realising that the reality of doing a similar thing is just not going to be possible in the near future. What help did you get? I am very lucky to be surrounded by a number of people who are at the top of their game in both the Communications and Development industries that believe in TIE. I have some incredible people working for TIE and a number of advisors who help us out regularly - I am eternally grateful to them all. I also received anaward from UnLtd in the UK. They helped fund the first stage of TIE which made it possible for us to get off the ground. What have you learnt in the process? I could go on for ages answering this one. I've learned loads. I've learned new things about communicationsâ€"the industry that I've been working in throughout my career to date. But I've also learned about an entirely new sector:Development. I've learned theories and approaches to development, I've learned a bit about what works and what doesn't, and I've learned some of the many intricacies that makes up the third sector. I've learned more about HIV/AIDS, about children's rights and about the various players involved in the industry. I know that I have only scratched the service, but I'm looking forward to all that I still have to learn for years to come. I've also learned how to set up a business, how to run a business, and learned all of the things in between. Even though I did a business degree, I couldn't remember how to write an income statement when I started up a year ago. I've even learned how to do that again. It has been such an incredible process, and I'm looking forward to continuing the learning journey as things develop. What do you wish you'd done differently? Thankfully, I have no regrets. I have, of course, made loads of mistakes along the way, but that's all part of the journey, and I wouldn't be where I am if they hadn't happened. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Follow your heart, believe, stay focused, and never lose sight of your goal. You can learn more about Phillipa's organisation here:www.theinternationalexchange.co.uk What lessons could you take from Phillipa's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

6 Things I Learned as a Young Entrepreneur. By, Kim Grotto

6 Things I Learned as a Young Entrepreneur. By, Kim Grotto By, Kim Grotto Have you ever felt the drive to start your own business? Or maybe you just grew up knowing that, one day, you would work for yourself. I fall into the latter category. Both of my parents are self-employed, and coming from a family of nine kids, I saw the benefits first-hand: the flexibility in hours (great for my mom who could work late at night while the kids were sleeping), the flexibility in pay (when you need more money, you can take on more clients), and the personal satisfaction that you can implement your own hard work and ideas. But starting your own business can seem to be difficult and overwhelming. There are a multitude of questions you need to ask yourself. The biggest: what exactly am I going to do? I personally didnt focus on creating a product, as I had no idea what to create. So I focused on services that I could provide and that I enjoyed. Then, how am I going to do it? For me, I worried about people taking me seriously. After all, Im fairly young and understandably, to some people that means inexperienced. And another how, how am I going to get clients? After I graduated from college, I spent a year getting acclimated in my job and absorbing every learning experience that I possibly could. A year later, I found myself itching to explore my options, and focus once again on my long-term goal. I knew that a stable job and paycheck was important, and I wasnt ready to leave it yet. However, I also knew that my time in the corporate world had an expiration date. In 2006, at age 23, I started working to get myself into position to transition to being self-employed. I wanted to work as a marketing consultant, and found my first client through Craigslist. I worked with her at night and on weekends for about a year, and eventually added a second client. To start, I focused more on the value of attaining experience than the value of money. I again took the time to absorb every learning experience with my new clients, and I also took the time to read as much as I could. The more I grew and learned, through both consulting and my day job, the more confident I was to adjust my prices to account for the value I provided. Finally, in December 2008, I reached a point in my career where I had to make a decision. Through networking and hard work, I reached the point where I was either going to have to turn down potential clients, or take the leap and consult full-time as a self-employed person. I took the time to consider important factors such as health insurance, my bill cycles vs. pay periods, and of course, salary implications. The benefits outweighed the positives, and I chose to make the change. I definitely work longer hours now than I ever did, but the experience has been immensely satisfying and I cant imagine my life any other way. Heres what I learned through my journey to self-employment:   1.   Decide what you want to do, and commit. This doesnt mean that you cant evolve over time, but jumping quickly from idea to idea wont help you establish yourself. 2. Start early. Take on a client or project in the hours you have time. This will help prepare you mentally for the work, and build up a client base and resume. Be honest to potential clients about your background and goals. Dont worry if you dont have enough experience yet, be confident in your ability and know that ambition can go a long way in getting yourself hired. However, dont be afraid to substitute dollars for experience in the beginning, especially if you have a full-time, stable job. 3. Dont be afraid to look for clients in unconventional ways. I found my first two clients through Craigslist. I still find short-term jobs such as research projects there. People posting jobs on Craigslist are looking to hire right now, and you are looking for a job. Its a win-win. 4. Dont be afraid to look for clients in conventional ways. Even if you have a full-time job, dont keep your side work a secret from your friends, family and even some co-workers if you feel comfortable. Networking is the easiest way to get clients because it usually comes with a strong referral on both sides. Ive found clients through my friends, former co-workers, current clients and even my parents and siblings. Ive also found them on my own, by walking into a store or just through everyday conversation with people. 5.   Work hard to educate yourself. I read as much as I can, to stay on top of current trends and to push myself with new thoughts and ideas. Dont become stagnant in your knowledge. 6.   If youre thinking about taking the plunge to full-time self-employment, take the time to consider all the factors and scenarios: health insurance, emergency cash fund, new pay periods (will you now be paid once a month instead of twice?), client turnover, etc.

When Bad Things Happen, Part 2

When Bad Things Happen, Part 2 Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'Fnmvv7r4QJd7Fk_PWy5nkg',sig:'O-baSNlTZW3qEupbv4yZdJBHpXNTEU6jkwGqN56UGOM=',w:'509px',h:'339px',items:'567166331',caption: false ,tld:'com',is360: false })}); I wrote in a previous post that what happens to you in life is less important than the story you tell yourself about it before or afterward. Every day, whether it’s the best or worst of your life, is made up of the same 24 hours.  This, too, will pass, if you let it. But many of us have trouble letting go, especially of unpleasant events. Rumination is the act of replaying, over and over, an incident that we can no longer change. An argument with a family member, a mistake at work, discipline from your manager â€" even a chance remark from a stranger on the street. If you lay awake at night agonizing over the mistakes you’ve made or the injustices you’ve endured, you’re keeping them alive just as if you were still in the moment. Rumination is unhealthy and debilitating, writes Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S., an associate editor for the online blog World of Psychology.  â€œRumination also becomes the fast track to feeling helpless. Specifically, it paralyzes your problem-solving skills. You become so preoccupied with the problem that you’re unable to push past the cycle of negative thoughts.” Being disciplined or laid off is painful; the embarrassment, rejection, sadness, even anger you may be feeling are very real. And after the moment passes, it’s natural to take some time for introspection, time to review what happened and process how you feel about it. The more traumatic the incident, the longer you may need to reflect, process, and grieve. But after a certain point, the story you tell yourself about the incident (how unfair it was, how sudden it was, how cruelly you were treated) will determine how you feel and how long you feel it. That puts you in charge of how long and how much you suffer. If rumination is part of your pattern, letting go will improve your ability to succeed, your well-being, even your health. If you’re ready to disrupt your rumination habit, here are some tips. Take your negative thoughts to the most extreme outcome. What’s the very worst that can happen? “My boss will demote me; I’ll end up serving food in the company cafeteria until they finally fire me. I’ll become homeless and wind up living in a box on the corner of Third and Main Streets.” By the time you get this far into your disaster scenario, your brain will start to protest and provide all the reasons it won’t happen â€" or what you can do to cope if it does. Separate the incident you’re ruminating about into “things you can do something about” and “things you can’t.” Make a list of actions you can take to make things better. For example: Thing I can’t change: my boss is a micromanager who worries too much. Thing I can change: I lost my cool and spoke in anger. (“I’ll apologize tomorrow for speaking disrespectfully, and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”) Give yourself a rumination break. Set a time limit (say 15 minutes a day) where you’re allowed to fret, ruminate and fulminate as freely as you like. Add a punching bag session â€" do what it takes. Then put a lid on it for the rest of your day or night. Rumination, like its counterpart worry, is helpful in small doses. But learning to let them go is life changing. “Never regret anything from your past because one day, youll look back and thank it for hurting you so much that you decided to become a stronger human being.”  Faith Starr

Why Youre Getting Sick in the Summer... And How to Avoid It!

Why Youre Getting Sick in the Summer... And How to Avoid It! Despite the association made between sickness and wintertime, many are surprised when they fall ill during the beautiful, warm summer season. While our immune systems do tend to take down viruses with more ease in the summertime, they don’t always win the fight. Thankfully, combatting summer sickness requires a simple, straightforward approach. To protect yourself from getting sick in the summer,  Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O.  is sharing his simple advice to find a natural fix.  He suggests the following tips to identify the cause of your ailment and find a natural remedy: How clean is your air conditioner? Air conditioning is a life-saver in the summer heat, but when’s the last time you cleaned your air conditioner? When left uncleaned for long periods of time, air conditioning systems can accumulate a wide array of bacteria that can make you sick. With these little germs being blasted right at you in the cool air, there’s no wonder you may be falling sick in the summer. In fact, studies have indicated a link between using air conditioning and needing to use health services. Not to fear, thoughâ€"Just make sure to clean your air conditioner regularly and you can enjoy the coolness with much less risk to your health! Are you getting a break from your fan or AC? Constantly being blasted by the cool air has quite the drying effect, not only on your skin, but on your mucus membranes inside your nasal passages. When these are dried out, their ability to defend against infection is greatly weakened, and thus a cold may ensue. Even without infection, the dryness can also cause your body to overproduce mucus in order to compensate, which can mimic cold-like symptoms with congestion and discomfort. Are you really even sick? It’s quite easy to confuse allergies with a cold, especially for those who haven’t previously been subject to the deleterious effects of pollen and other allergens. One easy way to know if you have a virus or if it is merely allergies is by the color of your mucus (assuming you have a runny nose!). A general rule of thumb is that if it is clear and watery, you’re just having allergies, but if it’s more viscous and greenish, it is likely a virus. Another sign that you have allergies and not a cold is that your symptoms remain constant for more than a week to a week and a half, as colds tend to clear up within that time frame. How is your sleep schedule? While our environment plays a substantial role in our health, at the end of the day, colds and other sickness come from viruses and bacteria (usually). The human body’s most fundamental mechanism to ward off these pesky guys is with our immune systems. But how do we show our immune system some love, you may ask? Sleep! But not just any sleep. A consistent, generous number of hours is ideal. Furthermore, the sleep you get with alcohol, marijuana, and other substances in your system is not as revitalizing for your body. As many people drink more in the summer months, pay attention to this, as it may very well be the culprit behind your weakened immune system. How clean is clean enough? Paying attention to cleanliness is even more important in the muggy summer months. First of all, as you may be going out more (and thus touching more things!) in the summer, constantly washing your hands is one of the most reliable ways to stay illness-free. Not only should you keep yourself clean, however, you must also keep your surroundings spick and span. Picking up your clothes and straightening your pillows is not enough in the summer season; it is the smaller bits that pose a more insidious threat. With more air circulating due to AC, all of the microscopic particles have a heightened chance to enter your breathing pathways and make you sick. Not only that, but the warmth also creates an ideal environment for bacteria proliferation, so make sure to wipe down all your surfaces regularly and to stay clean! About the doctor: Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O. is an Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine and anti-aging medicine. Proclaimed the The Stem Cell Guru by the New York Daily News, Dr. Calapai is a leader in the field of stem cell therapy in the U.S. His stem cell treatments have achieved remarkable results in clinical trials on patients with conditions as varied as Alzheimers, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, frailty syndrome, heart, kidney and liver failure, lupus, MS and Parkinsons. He has worked with Mike Tyson, Mickey Rourke, Steven Seagal, and Gothams Donal Logue; and as a medical consultant for the New York Rangers. Connect with him via Twitter @drcalapai or at  www.drcal.net.

The Proper Way to Write the GIS Resume

The Proper Way to Write the GIS ResumeThe most important thing to remember when writing the GIS resume is that it should be simple and effective. While an exceptional job history can be a sign of excellence, the simple truth is that it may be overshadowed by what lies beneath. When you work with a well-written resume, employers will see your real value and therefore take note of it.For those who are serious about a career in GIS, they should spend time studying the career field before creating the resume. The GIS industry is currently booming and there are a number of positions available. If you don't have some experience in GIS, it is recommended that you get some training before submitting your resume. This will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants and also show potential employers that you have a sense of urgency for the position.Another thing to consider when creating a new resume is the type of work experience that you have had in your past. Remember that it is not only relevant, but it may also help you land a better position. There are many programs that require GIS experience, so making sure that you are able to meet the requirements is a good idea.When you are creating the resume, make sure that you include pertinent information that will prove that you have expertise in your area of interest. You should also make a few revisions to ensure that it stands out. Your resume should highlight your qualifications as well as your overall potential. Make sure that you also highlight how you got to where you are now and the steps that you took to get there.You should also use the free GIS resume template that is available online. The best way to apply for these positions is by simply doing a search on the company's name and see if there are any openings. Alternatively, you could always sign up for job alerts. Many of these programs allow you to receive invitations directly through your email.In addition to the templates, there are many things that you can include in your resume that relate to GIS and related skills. For example, your skills in the field of GIS could be something like database management, GIS programming, computer network support, GIS database management, GIS engineering, or software development. Other relevant information includes hobbies, educational accomplishments, and academic endeavors. Adding a short description of your career is a great idea as well.Another element to consider is the format of your resume. You may find that a lot of these programs actually allow you to customize your resume. Just make sure that you keep it simple.If you find that you are one of the best qualified people for a GIS position and then make sure that you write a good resume. You will know that you are on the right track if you make the right impression. Never forget that the most important thing is to be able to sell yourself to the hiring manager.

Keeping Your Employees Happy in Four Steps.

Keeping Your Employees Happy in Four Steps. It doesn’t matter if you are hiring freelancers, or you’ve managed to get into a small office. Maybe youre expanding, and your employees are growing steadily. There comes the point where it is difficult to ensure that you get good quality face-to-face time with them all. So what can you do to make sure that your employees are productive and happy? It is important to say that while you can contribute to your employees feeling comfortable at work, and being productive, you are not responsible for their overall happiness. Let’s take a look at a few simple things to you can implement. Being a Good Person It might be tempting just to say that you need to be a good employer, but being an overall good person will shine through when you come into contact with your employees. Facilitating healthy relationships within the work environment will start with you. Setting clear boundaries, working with your employees (freelance or otherwise) to ensure that they complete the responsibilities, meeting both your expectations and their own. You should take the time to create a manual, that outlines the ethos of your business, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. Keep this a consistent point of reference for all employees joining your company or freelancers you will be working alongside. Communication is key. Watered and Fed Something that sets some employers apart is ensuring their employees are nutritionally taken care of. While it might seem like a big task to provide food for a whole office, you might like to get in touch with local catering companies and see if you can reach a great deal. Or, offer employees who take public transport or carpooling free lunches in a bid to cut down carbon footprints. It goes without saying that you should have office water coolers, hydrated staff work much better. Fruits available in the mornings is a great way to start the day too. Value The Work It is easy to look at the big picture all the time. But, while you’re busy looking at the bigger picture you can miss out on the little details. In other words, take the time to recognise the contributions of each team member on a project. Work on a positive reinforcement basis. While it might be tempting to lash out or say something unkind if someone makes a mistake, all that is likely to do is leave negative feelings. Instead, keep a positive mindset and act accordingly. Fun Things Never underestimate the power of ‘outside of work’ events. Booking a meal every few months, celebrating birthdays, cakes days, and enjoying festive periods. Little things like this make a big difference in how people feel about a company. While many people do love to have a few drinks and relax with co-workers, it important to remember people with anxiety and the introverts. Keeping your staff happy will ensure great work, excellent working relationships and a fantastic synergy that can’t be replicated without you leading the way.

Negotiation and the Gender Divide

Negotiation and the Gender Divide The Washington Post reported that according to a recent study, men and women get very different responses when they initiate negotiations and womens reluctance to negotiate was based on how they believed they would be treated if they did negotiate. The study indicates that both men and women were more likely to subtly penalize women who asked for more. Does this mean that women cant negotiate for what they want? No. But both men and women should think carefully about their negotiation strategy. Negotiations are most successful when there is a strong relationship between the two parties involved. The interview process allows the job seeker and hiring manager to build this relationship. Repeated exposure through multiple interviews deepens the relationship and solidifies the trust.Once an offer is made, job seekers can leverage this relationship to negotiate for what they want and need. They should never demand something or give ultimatums to attain their goals. Instead they should ask for things by demonstrating why they are fair and reasonable. Hiring managers have invested equally in this new relationship and they dont want to damage it after they have put so much time and energy into the process.Negotiating your employment package is a collaborative process where both parties involved want the same outcome. By nurturing the relationship built during the interview process, you are more likely to overcome potential gender bias and achieve your negotiation goals.