Citi Trends’ Post

As I get ready to celebrate my first 4th of July as an American citizen, I reflect on my decade-long journey here. Adapting while staying authentic has been challenging but rewarding. Here’s what I’ve learned: Three new skills I acquired: 1️⃣ 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠: Before moving here, I never embraced this concept. Now, I see great value in reaching out to people, learning their stories, and building connections without really asking for anything. It's amazing how these relationships often lead to mutual support and unexpected opportunities. 2️⃣ 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: Before, I would complete a project and quickly move on to the next. Now, I've learned the importance of celebrating successes and communicating achievements. Initially uncomfortable with self-promotion, I've found that sharing a compelling "Launch Announcement" with the organization helps build a strong professional image. 3️⃣ 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐭: Like many Latinos, I enjoy sharing stories, which can make my communication verbose. Over time, I've improved by ending my contributions with a brief recap, summarizing my message into (at most) three key points. I've found that people tend to remember the last thing you say. 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚'𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲. I will try my best to carry these new skills with me always, while still keeping the human connection and warmth of Latin American culture. 𝐓𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲: It will not be easy, but what will really set us apart is the ability to adopt the new perspectives while also continuing to embrace our cultural heritage and remaining true to ourselves. Happy 4th of July! 🎇

NNers all over - this one is to celebrate 𝐘𝐨𝐮. [𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥-𝘰𝘧-𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵, 𝘐 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘦!] To our NN Hellas colleagues, and every one of our international teammates—whichever country you are—this one is to celebrate 𝔂𝓸𝓾. Thank you for: ✨ pushing through the wild journey of transformation ✨ for stepping in to help (even when it wasn’t technically your job) ✨ for your kindness, quick responses, and easy-going collaboration Whether we work on the same floor, different buildings, or in different countries, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬. We know how tough things can get sometimes—when the deadlines pile up, when challenges feel never-ending—but your dedication and resilience are what keep us moving forward, from each and every one of you. And even when there is not always 2 minutes (in yours, mine, all of our filled calendars) to say it out loud: 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 👏 We value everything you bring, from the big wins to the tiniest contributions that keep the gears turning. So, 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓: 𝐰𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬. 𝐘𝐨𝐮’𝐯𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬. And when it feels like too much, just reach out—whether to just exchange some quick messages here and there, a quick e-coffee (or a real one if you’re in Athens!), or to laugh about something completely random (𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦’𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘺 - seriously now - is it just me?!). Great things are coming. And we’ll make them happen together. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮—𝐨𝐮𝐫 150% 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬 - we all wear a cape in 1000 variations and flavors 😉 [𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: how excited are we for the Christmas party?🤗 ]

This is 100 percent true. Recent job losses that were compromising my mental health have taught me that getting let go while inconvenient and never feels good happened FOR me, not to me. I would have kept going, enduring the toxic environment until I found a replacement job, but the universe had other plans. I am so grateful this happened FOR me. I am launching Office Koolade Podcast in November on YouTube. It is long form where we will dive deep into common problems we face in the workplace and focus on solutions that create healthier, sustainable, and a more dignified experience. I will post two podcasts per month. Do you have a compelling work experience you would like to share over Zoom with me? I am booking podcast guests now. Are you promoting a book that is on work related topic? I would love to have you as a guest and promote your book. Are you long term job seeker (more than 3 months unemployed or under employed), and would like to do a 10 minute to 20 minute short conversation that includes an elevator pitch highlighting your experience and describing your ideal position? I feature one career seeker each week as a feature of the Office Koolade Podcast YouTube Channel.

Representation I had a moment… and it’s worth talking about. If I am honest, the representation of people of colour in the workplace is not something I have always been conscious of, even as a British South Asian. Call me lucky, privileged, or naïve, but I hadn’t given much thought to my race or acknowledged the prejudiced experiences I had buried deep in my subconscious, until the Black Lives Matter movement. Now, like many of us, I can’t help but notice representation, or the lack of it, all the time. So a couple of weeks ago, at our Cocktails In The City activation in London, where we worked with the wonderful team at Thin White Duke to create “Asian-inspired” cocktails, it really hit me when myself, Rico Grewal, Varun Sarna and Sherwin Acebuche were all standing together in our corner of  Bedford Park promoting our authentically Asian brands... We were doing it! Creating the representation that is needed in the drinks industry. (📸 Kodak moment). Not only through the brands themselves, but the people behind them too. Kudos to Andrew Scutts for supporting us to bring this to life. Thanks to the team at Thin White Duke and Dav Eames for their mixology magic and creating some truly remarkable cocktails (I’m still not over the pickled pineapple garnish!). With most of us having worked in the UK drinks industry for a while, this sparked a great conversation about the lack of people of colour in the drinks industry, in our personal experience. Especially in hospitality, creative roles, and leading brands, and why that might be? It just so happens to be South Asian Heritage Month, I would love to connect with other South Asians working in the drinks industry to keep the conversation about representation alive. I don’t have any answers, but maybe we can work something out together. Drop me a DM if you fancy a conversation over a cocktail. Saicho Sparkling Tea Tarsier Southeast Asian Spirit Kaveri Drinks #hospitality #southasians #drinksindustry #community #beverage

As Black Heritage Month comes to a close AND in honor of celebrating TWO years (on 2/22!) in my role with LinkedIn last week, I want to share TWO BIG things I’ve focused on during my time in role: 1.) RESILIENCE is KEY - taking a leaf out of this year’s Black Heritage Month theme, when you are faced with challenges(which we know in our careers WILL occur), it’s all about HOW you overcome them. Look your challenges in the eye, and KNOW that you CAN work through them. And don’t be afraid to innovate! 2.) ALWAYS BE LEARNING - this is regardless of your time in role and your overall professional career. There is ALWAYS more to learn, but it’s up to YOU to seek it out and invest in your learning. Cheers to TWO years! ✨ #linkedinlife

A picture paints a thousand words… But a flawlessly executed event tells an even bigger story. Behind every successful event is a dedicated planner who ensures that no detail is overlooked. This image of myself and the amazing Event Host himself Kolarele Sonaike who is a joy to work with makes me smile as it showcases in one snapshot my style as an Event Planner… 🤓 Attention to detail- so nothing is left to chance ✨ Close collaboration with event hosts and suppliers to bring your vision to life 👩🏾💻 Proactive problem-solving to keep things running smoothly Bonus…. 😊Working with a smile- my passion, love and dedication continuously shine throughout my delivery of clients' events. Your event deserves more than just preparation. It deserves precision, passion and perfection. Let’s make it unforgettable! P.S. Any impactful Black History Month events you have been to so far? #hayevents #eventmanagement #eventplanner #founder

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.

How do we celebrate the diversity of our workforce at Paragon? 🎇⚖ We have been recognising South Asian Heritage Month over the past month (July 18 - August 17). During this time, we have shared the stories and experiences of our people. Hear from our employees, who explore the history of their cultures and communities below. 🌸💕 How are you celebrating South Asian Heritage Month? Let us know in the comments section... #SAHM #DiversityAndInclusion #Culture #PlatinumEmployer

So this is me getting as close to feeling like Justin Timberlake as I ever will at the Dallas Pride Parade. Despite all the feels happening for me personally here, this moment captures what it truly means to be a part of something bigger. Beyond the music, the float, the banners, and the countless high fives from the crowd, there was an amazing group of partners (employees) coming together to stand for visibility, equality, and change (in a state that can sometimes feel unwelcoming and even hostile to those just trying to live a life as their authentic selves). Just as Pride Parades are more than just parades, Employee Resource Groups (Partner Networks at Starbucks) are more than just "DEI" hashtags and photo ops. They are an opportunity to leverage the scale and power of an organization to uplift employees, causes and communities that can directly benefit from our support.   To be transparent, I do not have an official leadership role in any of the Starbucks Partner Networks, my involvement is ad hoc and in the moment. And high fiving in parades was never part of my career goals. But from the perspective of my “day job” I see direct benefits through the lens of my professional development: influencing without authority, connecting with partners across the organization, helping others succeed, project/event planning, public speaking, community engagement – my involvement with the networks checks so many boxes. In short, ERGs drive results on many levels. So if you could use a moment of feeling like a rock star (or being a part of something bigger), consider starting, supporting or leading an ERG. Happy Pride Month. #employeeresourcegroups #tobeapartner

As Black History Month draws to a close, ADG spotlights Cassandra Cleare, Senior Director of our Events Division. Cassandra joined ADG in the fall of 2019, just in time to take on the challenges of guiding our clients through the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic. While navigating this "new normal" on the job, Cassandra also married and gave birth to twins! We asked her to answer a few questions about her work, life, role models and more. Q. What has your career path been? What did you do before joining ADG? A. My career journey has been guided by a passion for culinary arts and a desire to blend creativity with service. Before joining ADG, I pursued culinary education, interned at various renowned venues like Disney World and Churchill Downs, and eventually assumed leadership roles in food and beverage management, culminating in my tenure as Director of Food and Beverage at an NBA arena. Seeking a better work-life balance as my family grew, I transitioned to ADG through the recommendation of a trusted friend, finding a fulfilling niche that allows me to continue pursuing my passion while accommodating family commitments. Q. What do you like best about your current position? A. In my current position, I appreciate the fusion of my passion with a role that affords me a semblance of work-life equilibrium. Engaging with diverse nonprofit clients, I find fulfillment in event planning and governance work, contributing to the realization of their overarching missions. Q. What do you find most challenging? A. The most challenging aspect for me is maintaining a high standard of work while ensuring accessibility to clients, especially with the blurred boundaries of remote work. Striking a balance between professional dedication and personal space can be demanding. Q. Who have been your mentors and role models? A. My father, a chef, instilled in me a profound love for food and hospitality, fostering my culinary passion. My mother exemplified the art of balancing familial duties with a professional career, serving as a role model in achieving harmony between personal and professional spheres. Additionally, I draw inspiration from the dedication of volunteers in nonprofit organizations, whose unwavering commitment energizes me in our collective pursuit of shared goals. Q. Do you have any advice for those who are considering association work? A. For those considering association work, I advise maintaining an open mindset to learning from colleagues and clients, as continuous education is essential in this dynamic field. Effective organizational skills are paramount for success, given the multifaceted nature of the role, and patience is key when transitioning from related industries. #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #culinaryart #director #rolemodels #rolemodel #careerpath #careerjourney #leadershiproles #events #clients