Career Development Partners’ Post

I have been the Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Corporate and Employee Benefits for exactly 100 days today.   It’s been an exciting journey loaded with different emotions.   But the most overwhelming emotion I’ve felt in the past couple of months is that of gratitude – gratitude for being the first black female CEO in the Discovery Limited Group, and for being given such a huge responsibility; gratitude for the incredible executive team and broader team that I am partnering with; and gratitude for the opportunity to build and shape a business that I have no doubt will be part of Discovery’s growth story.   The Corporate and Employee Benefits (CEB) business is the newest business unit within the Discovery Group, but it is already a very important part of the organisation. Our vision is to be a pivotal force in South Africa’s growth story, enabling people and business to thrive.   What excites me the most is that we’ve spent the past 100 days truly understanding what employers want and how best to provide what employees need to cope with the current state of the world we operate in and the challenging economic times.   Once we knew what our clients wanted, we looked at our business’ needs. We focused on our own people within the CEB team and making sure that we had all the right skills in place because, without the right team, you can't possibly be expected to play your best game.   I’m confident now that – at 100 days - we are where we need to be not only to get the job done but also to play a bigger and important role in our economy and in our country.   We are now at a point where we can see the architecture that we’d drawn on paper coming to life. I am so excited about all the things we are going to do in the next 100 days and beyond.   The video interview which is included in this post features an excellent discussion between myself and Discovery’s Chief People Officer, Zimkhitha Saungweme, in which I share some of the paramount moments and challenges experienced in my first 100 days as CEO of the CEB division. I am grateful to Zim, for her kindness and willingness to sit with me and reflect.   Please share your thoughts and comments with me below – let me know if anything in our discussion resonated strongly with you at all.   #NewJob #Growth #Future #100Days

One of the best construction companies that I have worked for.

🌟 Thank You for Attending! 🌟 We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who was able to join us for the "Creating and Sustaining a Diverse Talent Pipeline" event! Your attendance and participation made it a resounding success. Special thanks to our dynamic speaker, Kesha Kent, BA, MAOL, DTM, (WHO WE CANNOT RECOMMEND HIGHLY ENOUGH) for sharing invaluable insights on building a talent pipeline that is focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). She left us all with some practical, actionable takeaways based on some of the following key learnings: - Organizations that don't adopt DEIB practices will get left behind. - Leverage Employee Resource Groups to foster a sense of community and support. - Modeling an inclusive culture starts at the top of the organization. - Organizations who don't invest in their employees run the risk of them leaving. **Above all, it starts with a focus on understanding the individual when building relationships.** Thank you for joining us for such an important conversation! Krista Junge, Joani Alsop, M.A., Kha Huynh, Abigail Wheeler Charlu, Cheryl Throgmorton, Ed.D., SPHR, Mikayla Blankenship, SHRM-CP, Ramona Jones, Paula Godar, Ali Brokaw #STLODN #Diversity #Inclusion #TalentAcquisition #ProfessionalDevelopment #Networking #FridayVibes

Grateful for the memories, the milestones, and the moments that made our year unforgettable! 🌟 Here's to our top 9 – a heartfelt toast to the journey of growth, the spirit of innovation, and crafting uncommon paths to success in 2023. 1. Unveiling MDK’s brand refresh and the launch of our new website (thank you Brave Little Beast, Fredricks Communications and Meredith Yuskewich) – setting the stage for a bold and innovative chapter ahead. 2. Wonderful moments spent volunteering with Besa, making a positive impact in our community and creating lasting memories of service and compassion.  3. Infusing every endeavor with purpose, our mission: "We create uncommon paths to success for our clients and ourselves" ensuring that innovation, collaboration, and excellence define all we do. 4. Kicking off the year with a transition to an agile methodology, unlocking new levels of efficiency, collaboration, and innovation as we embrace a dynamic approach to achieving our goals. 5. Dynamic collaborations with American Resort Development Association and the American Legal & Financial Network "ALFN", elevating our initiatives and fostering meaningful partnerships that amplify our collective impact. 6. Embodying our values of engagement and collaboration through monthly town halls, where ideas flourish, connections deepen, and our team spirit soars. 7. Nurturing growth and excellence by living our commitment to advancement through diverse professional development opportunities – empowering each team member to thrive. 8. Recognizing and honoring the exceptional individuals who embody our spirit of innovation and lead the way toward a brighter future. 9. Honoring our value of respect at events like Columbus Pride, where we proudly stand united, embracing diversity and championing inclusivity. #TopNine #YearInReview #MemoriesThatMatter #TeamMDK #OneMDK 

Proud to share that Avison Young | US has (again!) been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Midsize Employers for 2024. I think the secret sauce is the way we work across teams and ignore labels that can be limiting in other organizations.  Integrating our talents is not just better for our clients, it is better for our people. Avison Young #aydifference #poweredbypeople #workplaceculture #workplacestrategy

As an HR consultant focusing on the attraction, hiring, and retention of employees, I'm known for a few key strengths 🌟. One of them is bringing the right people and practices to the table, for any HR-centric, organizational-development, or change management program or process. It's what a consultant does. 🤝 How we do it, is where the rubber meets the road. 🛣️ Flash to bang, I can do an 'audit' of a division, a process, or a program in less than 2 weeks, depending on the organization size, the project scope, and the number of people involved. In short, I start each and every working relationship with an audit. And that terrifies everyone, from CEOs to CHROs to general staff. 😱 So, it's not really in the execution; it's in the name. I've come up with a dozen or so ways to never say the word audit. For my fellow consultants and HR folks in the trenches, here's my New Year's present to you: 🎁 💡 Strategic Organizational Analysis: Instead of 'auditing', focus on conducting a comprehensive organizational analysis 🔍, delving deep into the company's HR practices and processes. My approach is tailored to each client, ensuring a unique understanding of their specific needs and challenges. 🔥 Integrated Engagement Programs: I specialize in creating both internal and external engagement programs 🤝 that go beyond mere assessments. By intertwining key HR practices, I extract the essential data needed to foster meaningful change or construct vital initiatives. ⚔ Collaborative Consultancy Approach: Recognizing the importance of diverse perspectives, I advocate for bringing in additional consultants and third-party accountability groups 🌐. This isn't just a rebranding of an 'audit'; it's a deeper, more collaborative investigation into what an organization truly needs to thrive and show tangible results. 🔢 Result-Oriented Solutions: In my line of work, results are paramount 🎯. My strategy revolves around not just identifying areas for improvement but also implementing effective solutions and demonstrating real progress to stakeholders. 💥 Partnership with companies like, Top Employers North America: Depending on the scope, I may partner with full-service companies like Top Employers North America 💼. This is a company that is gaining momentum in the US. They provide valuable data analysis, comparing and contrasting HR practices from each company across various industries globally. More than just a 'badge', this ensures that you not only meet but exceed industry standards. Data-Driven Insights for Industry Excellence: Utilizing the insights gained from comprehensive organizational analysis, my team and I guide companies to not just meet but excel in their industry standards 📈. Using a data-driven approach, comparing your organization’s practices with the best in the field. Try using a holistic approach 🌐 identifying not just problems but also the opportunities that lie within your existing structure and practices. Need help? Let me know.

Glynnis Blake joins us for today's Points in My Career spotlight to discuss her journey through TouchPoint from Temporary Associate to Director and offers advice to those looking to grow their career within the industry. Click through her story below: #Pointsinmycareer #iamtouchpoint #careeradvice #professionaldevelopment #careerjourney

All of us at Cornerstone are deeply commited to our core values - they help shape our team culture and behavior. Cornerstone's Client Service Assistant, Jan Taylor, was recently honored for going above and beyond in living our core values. According to her nomination, "Jan is one of the hardest working ladies I have ever met. She only works part time, but the impact that she makes at Cornerstone is truly incredible. Jan doesn't say much, but when she does, you had better be paying attention because she always has great ideas and input. She is always thinking of a better way to complete a task. If you give her a project, she will have it done far sooner than the deadline. Jan is incredible and we are blessed to have her – she will surely be missed when she retires!" Let us know your favorite interaction with Jan! #bettereveryday #CornerstoneGuides #legacy #weinvestinpeople #TrustedAdvisor This ranking is not based in any way on the individual's abilities in regards to providing investment advice or management. This ranking is not indicative of advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience.

7 years of great work, helping our clients' people functions run to their maximum greatness. Still lots of work to do, & if your business is experiencing some pain points & challenges across Development, Coaching, Recruitment & Assessment - let's have a chat! #development #coaching #learning #recruitment #assessment #australia

Taking bold steps in our careers requires courage and practice. When we review our list of next steps, let's also consider how we can help others in their learning and career pursuits. One effort to assist someone can make a significant difference in both lives! #CareerDevelopment #LearningAndDevelopment #PayItForward #withapureheart