ALPFA Washington, DC’s Post

In exactly 4 months, I’ll celebrate a 10-year anniversary since I started my journey with Karanovic & Partners. Back then people often asked me how I felt after the change. My response was always the same – that it feels like coming home after a long trip. Coming to a home full of great people. A house full of amazing professionals. Successful, yet grounded. I was 30 years old when I started this journey, but I was not afraid of the challenge. On the contrary, I could not wait to start running. I was ready and I trusted myself. I had a plan, and I simply started executing. Day by day, week by week. Looking back, I see my journey in two phases. The first 5 years were incredibly challenging and required immense hard work and dedication to build our practice in Slovenia. The energy I invested was unbelievable.  I often wonder if I can repeat something similar in this lifetime (not that I think I should). I also wonder if we would be where we are today had I chosen a different, more modest path with a slower pace. I do not have the answer as I cannot walk the same path twice, but I am sure of one thing – having a clear plan, focused dedication, belief in yourself and being surrounded with great people can bring amazing results. The second part of the journey was challenging in a different way. I vividly remember April 2020, when the world paused, and the legal community worried about the workflow. And how quickly this turned around, bringing the busiest years we've ever seen, especially in M&A. For me, the last 5 years where even better as new leaders emerged in our firm that brought our services to the next level. As we look back on the Paris 2024 Olympics, the parallel is clear. There was a lot of sacrifice and hard work. Sometimes we won, sometimes we lost. But the direction was clear from day one – forward and to the top. However, one thing has to be said very clearly. I would not be where I am today without amazing people that joined me on this path. Some chose different directions, many stayed. I am grateful to each and every one of them as they all contributed to who we are today. THANK.YOU.ALL. #10yearanniversary #4monthstogo

As we near our 10th Anniversary celebrations at CM Advocates LLP, these are some of the most important lessons that I have come to embrace: 1. Don't try to be better; be different. In other words; always think differently; and often inverse. 2. You should be ruthless when it come to execution. Concerning this point, I wish to borrow these two quotes: (a) “Ideas are easy. Execution is everything.” – John Doerr (b) “Strategy without execution is hallucination.” – Thomas Edison 3. Always be bold and courageous. Never give room to fear or self doubt. In the words of Peter Drucker, “The best way to predict the future is to create it." 4. Resilience and agility are critical and indispensable skills or attributes in life and in business; therefore, cultivate them. By these I mean that we should always be ready to respond quickly to any disruptions or change. On this point, here is my favourite quote from the father of the rainbow nation, Nelson Mandela: "Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again." And this too: "When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven't."~ Thomas A. Edison

🌄 Happy Monday, everyone! Just a typical weekend for me, ADC Eastern Europe ambassador, right? 😂 This Saturday felt like it was straight out of a "Series of Unfortunate Events." Imagine trekking through the mountains at night when, out of nowhere, an aggressive spruce branch decided to make a sudden appearance—right across my eye! 🌲👁️ Spoiler alert: the branch won. Despite a bandaged eye and looking more like a pirate than a hiker, I didn’t let that stop me from catching the sunrise with my loyal sidekick, Fuks—who, as many of you know, is quite the celebrity on LinkedIn himself. Carrying him wasn’t easy with one eye not working properly, but hey, what are weekends for if not a little adventure? Now, did I make a mistake by not watching my step? Absolutely. Did I end up with a scratched cornea? Sadly, yes. And did everyone comment, "Typical Sikora"? You bet. But none of that stopped me from moving forward. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn and grow—even if it’s learning to duck a little quicker next time! At ADC Eastern Europe, we embrace this spirit of continuous learning and improvement. We understand that every challenge is a stepping stone to greater success. Here’s to embracing our mistakes and the powerful lessons they bring. Let's carry this mindset forward into our workweek at ADC, where innovation and resilience are part of our everyday journey! #ADCEasternEurope #LearningFromMistakes #ADCEEambassador #AdventuresWithFuks #ALTEN

STAGE IS THE MOTIVATION!! Everyone wants to be on stage ✅ June,2004; Sydney Australia 🇦🇺 I was there for my first company event. I was 20 yrs old, FG. There were 1000++ people and this was my first time a conference of that size. I was not on the stage. I saw people coming up and receiving their awards. I was in the audience clapping 👏 I made a decision that day that next year conference I want to be on stage and get an award…. That marked my Career in the World of Sales & Marketing ✅ Today I am on stage to give awards. Big transition!! Big Transition starts with Personally Transformation ✅ We one makes the changes in their Habits, the stage becomes closer to them. So as we are getting ready to welcome 2025 in 6 weeks, it’s time to start the Personal Transformation habits that will put you on stage for 2025 ✅ See you on Stage 👌 #aglasia #aglasiasolutions #vishnuannapareddy #onstage

Today, as we conclude the celebrations of our 25th anniversary on this festive day, we all want to say with one voice: THANK YOU, Miguel Casal! None of this would have been possible without your leadership! Miguel Casal, CEO and Chairman of COSTA NOVA Industria, represents the drive to bring Portuguese ceramic tradition to the world. Everyone in the company knows him. He is more present than any of us, familiar with every file and mastering every issue. This is not an exaggeration – his work ethic is exemplary, and his intelligence is boundlessly admired. He leads with expertise. Above all, Miguel is a remarkable entrepreneur and visionary. The company, which began modestly yet ambitiously at the start of the century, is now a global reference. It operates four manufacturing units in the Industrial Areas of Vagos and Ílhavo. Projects like the COSTA NOVA brand, present in over 60 countries, and ecogres show his capacity for innovation and success. "Our story has always been based on a very simple vision: innovation," he says. He is often seen cycling through the factory floor, always ensuring the quality of the final product and the well-being of his team. We know he will continue to inspire and lead, bringing ambition for success to the table every day. "Many times, we were in the right place, at the right time, with the right people. Circumstances often dictate success or failure – sometimes by a small margin. We had a mix of luck and vision," he adds. We respectfully contest this, Eng. Casal, because luck requires a lot of hard work, and nothing that happened in these 25 years was by chance. It was (and above all) a result of your personal effort!

Do you celebrate your Anniversary? Do you want to propose to your loved one? Do you want to celebrate a graduation? You name it! We can help you organize an amazing CELEBRATION ON A YACHT! The below is from a Celebration that took place in Spain! Let's celebrate! Life is fun! #celebrationonayacht# #anniversarycelebrationonaboat# #graduationcelebrationonaboat#

From my partner in business and in life.

Last week I had to turn down a keynote invitation…. in Rio de Janiero 😭 While I cherish BOTH this client and drinking caipirinhas on Copacabana Beach, it was literally 10 days before my due date with baby #3 ➗Unfortunately, it’s just MATH that our peak family-growing years overlap with our peak career-growing ones—and sometimes that calculus leads to disappointing moments, like saying no to this gig! Here are 3 things I practice to keep growing my career while growing my family: ✅ Let situational disappointments (eg turning down this keynote) be a bummer, without being an existential expression of my future opportunities. You better believe the first thing I asked was: can I save the 2025 date now?! ✅ Find a way to “yes” — while this opportunity was a “no” I’m ALWAYS looking for ways to get to “yes” on the things that excite me, whether it’s working out schedules with a super-supportive partner or having my team get creative on my travel. ✅ Broadcast my career aspirations and accomplishments so others know (and remember) that Something Major is open for business on coaching, keynotes, training, and retreats during this special time for our family and beyond. I’m reminding myself I’m in a different phase of “high-growth” mode…. what would you add to help women grow their careers while growing their family? #womeninleadership #workingmoms #caregivers #coaching #keynotespeaker

🌍 Reflecting on My Journey in Germany: Three Years of Growth, Change, and New Beginnings: Three years ago, my husband and I made one of the biggest decisions of our lives—to leave the comfort of our home and move to a new country. Starting fresh in Germany has been both challenging and transformative, a journey full of firsts that pushed me far beyond what I thought I was capable of. Leaving my comfort zone was not an easy decision. Learning a new language, adapting to a different work culture, building new friendships, and even hearing my name pronounced as "Oezge" (a new sound 😊) were all part of the experience. I had to navigate not only unfamiliar surroundings but also the ups and downs of starting over from scratch. Yet, alongside the challenges, there have been incredible rewards. I’ve had the privilege of meeting a big circle of new friends—people who have become like family to me here in Germany. I’ve started learning a new language (still learning!), broadened my perspectives, and built a new sense of belonging in a country. These experiences have shown me that leaving the familiar can lead to unimaginable beauty. Taking on new challenges has not only allowed me to grow but also to find joy in unexpected places. Every step out of the comfort zone is a step toward something new, something greater. 🌱 Leaving the comfort zone is not easy, but true beauty often lies just beyond it. 🌟 To anyone who has recently started a new life abroad or is considering taking that leap: Remember, the beginning may be tough, but every challenge you face will make you stronger and more resilient. The world is full of people who will soon become friends, places that will soon feel like home, and experiences that will shape you in ways you can’t imagine. Embrace the unknown with courage and know that you’re building something truly special. The beauty of a new life awaits—you just have to take that first step. 🌍✨ #newbeginnings #personalgrowth #embracechange #lifejourney

Completed almost 3 months at RSM Italy So, how has it been so far? 1. In the early days, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of information to process. I had no understanding how the customer operated, the operational procedures, or the expectations set for me. However, as time went and I began to handle duties on my own, I began to see the bigger picture. It is improving day by day. 2. Fortunately, the team has been quite welcoming. I've asked the same questions several times, and my seniors have patiently addressed each one, allowing me time and space to grasp. 3. During my time at RSM Italy, I had the invaluable opportunity to travel both beyond Milan and to nearby cities to some clients. These experiences have allowed me to gain new skills, start engaging with clients, and expand my professional network. 4. One of the most significant benefits I have discovered at RSM is the ability to network extensively and meet new people. Having a wide network (professionals + friends) allows for easy sharing of experiences and staying in touch (and often joking) using Microsoft Teams. 😄. I understand that three months is a short period of time, but when I compare where I was three months ago to where I am today, I see significant progress. I'm not claiming to be the greatest or most efficient, but I've made mistakes and learnt how to fix them successfully. Biggest lesson: After a few weeks, I realized that every task, big or small, is vital. As new employees, we frequently expect to be assigned essential work on a daily basis, but we are also assigned less exciting tasks on occasion. It is critical to embrace this fact. Even seasoned colleagues may face similar tasks. What matters most is how these duties help the project succeed. Understanding this is essential for delivering high-quality work. You may find yourself performing seemingly routine chores, but understanding their significance in the larger picture allows you to appreciate their position in the process. Simply said, there will always be boring moments, and you must learn to cope with them. (Regardless of which domain you are in!). I am deeply grateful to RSM Italy for this incredible opportunity and to all the amazing people who welcomed me and supported my journey. Thank you for making this experience truly memorable. RSM