Professional Development Workshops

The Most Valuable Financial Skill for Long-Term Career Success   Throughout my career placing executives and professionals across industries, I've observed a critical pattern that separates those with genuine career flexibility from those perpetually trapped in roles that no longer serve them.   The distinguishing factor isn't income level, investment knowledge, or even network - it's the ability to resist spending money to impress others.   This rarely-discussed financial skill creates a profound advantage in today's volatile job market.   Professionals who've mastered it can: • Maintain robust emergency funds that allow them to decline misaligned opportunities • Build investment portfolios that generate passive income, reducing dependency on salary • Create career pivoting runways that enable strategic moves rather than desperate ones • Negotiate from positions of financial strength rather than necessity   Meanwhile, their equally talented but financially-constrained counterparts remain tethered to positions they've outgrown, making career decisions based on immediate financial pressures rather than long-term fulfillment.   The irony is striking: the external trappings we acquire to signal professional success - luxury vehicles, prestigious addresses, designer wardrobes - often become the very anchors that limit our professional mobility and decision-making power.   True career independence requires financial independence, which begins with the psychological freedom from caring what others think about your spending choices.   What financial decision have you made that prioritized long-term flexibility over short-term status?   Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://lnkd.in/ei_uQjju   #deepalivyas #eliterecruiter #recruiter #recruitment #jobsearch #corporate #careeradvancement #workplacesurvival #financialindependence #careerstrategist

Want to charge more, lead better, and think sharper? Invest in learning before you have to. I used to tell myself I was too busy to invest in learning. There was always something more urgent - client work, meetings, deadlines. But once I started blocking out just 3-5 hours a week for learning, everything changed. -> I launched new offerings in my business -> I stayed ahead of industry trends -> I increased my rates and charged more for my time Now, I see learning as a non-negotiable, not an extra task. It's what keeps me and my business competitive. Here's 6 key skills you can start working on today that will set you apart + plus free online courses to help you build them! 1/ Strategic Decision-Making A structured decision-making framework helps you cut through uncertainty and act with clarity. ↳ Course: Making Evidence-Based Strategic Decisions (University of Maryland) - 9 hours 2/ Operational Excellence Learning basic financial literacy early in my career helped me have more strategic conversations with cross-functional teams. ↳ Course: Financial Acumen for Non-Financial Managers (University of Pennsylvania) - 8 hours 3/ Team Leadership Regular, specific feedback can transform a team's culture in weeks. ↳ Course: Building High-Performing Teams (University of Pennsylvania) - 12 hours 4/ Strategic Vision Even a little strategic foresight can help you pivot faster when the market shifts. ↳ Course: Foundations of Business Strategy (University of London) - 4 weeks 5/ Decision Analytics  When you back up your insights with data, stakeholders trust you more. ↳ Course: Analytics for Decision Making (University of Minnesota) - 4 weeks 6/ Emotional Intelligence The ability to connect with people on a human level is one of the most underrated leadership skills. ↳ Course: Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence (Case Western Reserve University) - 4 weeks How to Take Action: ↳ Pick one course based on your biggest skill gap. ↳ Block out study time each week (treat it like an important meeting). ↳ Apply one key lesson immediately in your role. ↳ Stay connected with fellow learners for accountability. The best part? These courses are free to audit. No excuses, just growth. 👉 Tell me in the comments which skill & course will you focus on first? ♻ Share this to help others invest in their leadership journey. 🔔 Follow me, Jen Blandos, for daily insights on leadership and business growth.

Last week I shared how AI helped analyze our retreat feedback survey data in minutes. Today, I want to highlight the three elements that our team rated most impactful from our recent company retreat in Ireland... - [New addition] "Connection Court": We created a dedicated space in the castle with games, snacks, and comfy seating that was open throughout the day and late into the night. This gave people a relaxed place to connect in case of bad weather and removed the pressure to drink or socialize in high-energy environments. This was great for introverts and those who don't enjoy the bar scene and provided more inclusive evening activities that worked for everyone. - Doist Build (our company hackathon) hit different this year: We surveyed the team for "hack-worthy" topics ahead of the retreat, pre-selected the top 10 we felt could make an impact on the company, and revealed them the day before so people could start brainstorming. Morning of, it was first-come-first-serve with limited seats per topic, which created some incredible energy to start the day. Best part? The winning team's project was implemented right there at the retreat and immediately improved our onboarding metrics 🚀 - "Choose your own adventure" itinerary structure: Instead of forcing everyone into the same activities, we offered parallel options during free time. We balanced physical activities (hiking, sports), cultural experiences (castle tours, local music), and team building events (escape rooms, group games). This approach let people naturally form smaller groups around common interests, creating deeper connections through shared experiences. After organizing multiple retreats over the years, one principle stands out: create a flexible structure and trust your team to find meaningful ways to connect. When people have the freedom to choose activities that align with their interests and energy levels, authentic relationships naturally develop. Hope this is helpful and I'd love to hear what's working for other teams as well 👇

Professional etiquette is not just for Monaco or royalty... - it's valid for everyone, across all businesses - How we conduct our professional relationships does matter. Whether you're in Monaco or sitting on your desk. When we deal with people outside of our organisation, it is even more important. Here my 5 principles for respectful collaborations: 1. '𝗡𝗼' 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗮 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱: Ghosting is for Halloween or dating apps, not business.  A simple 'Sorry, we're not interested anymore...' keeps door open and respect intact. 𝟮. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀: We're not just free providers of ideas, data and insights. Skills and experience are valuable assets and deserve recognition  (and remuneration) You're buying strategic ideas that have impact on your brand/company. 𝟯. 𝗕𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗼: Confront the elephant in the room. It's necessary for efficient collaborations. Knowing the budget saves time and it's pivotal to build the right program. I don't judge you for your budget. I find solutions considering your budget. 𝟰. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲. Identifying who is can streamline the entire process. And it helps in building the proposal and facilitating the outcome. I don't judge you for your business card. 𝟱. 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱. My golden rule, for life. This timeless principle remains at the heart of professional and personal interaction alike. ------------- How we interact with others is not just a reflection of who we are. It's a direct reflection of the brand and company we represent and speak for. Any of them resonating with you? P.S. Ever found yourself not liking a brand anymore because someone in the company didn’t treat you with respect? P.P.S I may have the gift of ubiquity....😊    #ProfessionalEtiquette #MotorSport

High Financial Literacy = Better Leader , How........? Let’s be real—great leadership isn’t just about motivating your team. It’s about understanding the numbers that keep the lights on. When I became Chief Strategy Officer at 28, I learned this the hard way. One day, someone asked me, “What are you contributing to the business?” And honestly, it stung. I realized that no matter how empathetic or visionary you are, if you can’t manage the P&L, optimize costs, or align resources effectively, you’ll hit a wall. Leadership is about more than inspiring others—it’s about delivering results backed by sound financial decisions. That’s when I started using the EMBED framework, a simple way to connect financial literacy to leadership: 🔵 E – Empathy: Numbers don’t exist in isolation—they’re connected to real people. Instead of cutting costs blindly, look for ways to protect team well-being while driving engagement. Engaged teams are 21% more profitable.(Gallup) 🔵 M – Managing Stakeholder Expectations: From your team to your investors, people want clarity. Clear financial communication builds trust and confidence. Transparent leaders increase investor trust by 30% (McKinsey & Company). 🔵 B – Building Future Leaders: Great leaders pass on their knowledge. Teach your team to think about costs, benefits, and the bigger picture—you’re building tomorrow’s leaders. Leadership-focused companies see 2.4x higher returns (Deloitte). 🔵 E – Efficient P&L Management: Your Profit & Loss isn’t just a report; it’s your strategy. Streamline operations, question redundancies, and align spending with priorities. Financially literate leaders make businesses 20% more profitable (HBR Consulting). 🔵 D – Defining Clear Structures: Every role in your team should have a purpose, both strategically and financially. This eliminates overlap and boosts efficiency. Well-structured organizations improve margins by 10% (PwC). In my role, focusing on these principles didn’t just improve the bottom line—it created a culture where everyone knew their impact. What’s one way financial literacy has shaped your leadership journey? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments. Follow Sanjay Kathuria, CFA for more! #LeadershipTips #FinancialLiteracy #BusinessGrowth #TeamEngagement #StrategicLeadership #LeadershipDevelopment

🎯 𝘿𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣-𝙈𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝘿𝙖𝙩𝙖 𝙎𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙞𝙩𝙮: 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝘿𝙤 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝘿𝙤 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙉𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙁𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙎𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙩? In a perfect world, we’d have real-time dashboards, full datasets, and no ambiguity. But in reality? The clock’s ticking. Stakeholders want answers. And often, the data isn’t all there. 💡 I’ve faced this countless times—where critical business decisions had to be made with partial, outdated, or even conflicting data. So what do you do? You adapt. You build judgment around 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦—not what’s ideal. ✅ Use proxy metrics when exact numbers are missing ✅ Identify directional indicators to gauge momentum ✅ Build scenario models in Excel to simulate outcomes ✅ Rely on trend extrapolation, benchmarks, or even customer signals I recall the Techno Tools case during a 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 disruption: We didn’t have up-to-date market pricing, but by combining Google Trends, historical elasticity curves, and vendor lead times, we helped the business make a pricing call that preserved both margin and market share. 𝗕𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮-𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮-𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁. It means being resourceful, analytical, and decisive—especially when clarity is in short supply. 📣 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙤-𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙖’𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩? #DataAnalytics #DataDrivenDecisionMaking #BusinessIntelligence #ExcelModeling

The real meaning of the word ‘analytics’ has become entirely lost in modern business. In almost all cases, when people use this word, what they are referring to is the interrogation of data, or even just the reporting of data. Number crunching. This is not analytics. The origin of the word means to break things down into component parts that allow an understanding of the whole. True analytics is something which can only be achieved through the practice of critical thinking, which can often (but not necessarily) be assisted through the use of data. Careful definition and articulation of business problems; breaking down problems into component parts; identification of lines of enquiry; design of analyses and experiments; recognition and avoidance of cognitive bias; etc – these thought processes are always more important than the data itself, and yet are rarely seen. Rather, someone simply produces a report of data and hands it around for people to interpret and act on. This is what gets called 'analytics'. How can you bring the art of critical thinking back into your data? #experimentation #cro #productmanagement #growth #digitalexperience #experimentationledgrowth #elg #growthexperimentation

If you got the Interview Call, you deserve the offer letter Yet Most people get rejected! Why? "Most people wait for an Interview call to start the interview preparation and that’s wrong" You must start your preparation from the day you decide to look for a new job. And this is how 👇🏻 [1] Research the company and the role: → Thoroughly research the company's history, mission, products/services, and industry. → Understand the job description, responsibilities, and qualifications required for the role. [2] Review your resume and qualifications: → Carefully review your resume and make sure you can clearly explain your work experience, skills, and achievements. → Identify how your qualifications and background match the requirements of the role. [3] Practice answering common interview questions: → Prepare common interview questions, such as "Tell me about yourself," "Why are you interested in this role?" and "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" → Practice your responses out loud to improve your confidence and clarity. → Prepare a few questions to ask the interviewer, such as about the company's goals, challenges, or the typical day-to-day responsibilities of the role. [4] Prepare for specific interview types: → If the interview is scheduled for a panel, group, or behavioral-based interview, research the format and prepare accordingly. → Practice for any technical or skills-based assessments, if required. [5] Practice and rehearse: → Conduct mock interviews with a friend or family member to practice your responses and receive feedback. → Record yourself and review your body language, tone, and overall performance. → Continuously refine your responses and practice until you feel confident and comfortable. And remember, Don’t wait for an Interview call to start your Interview preparation! Prepare from the day you decide to look for a new job! Best of luck!

Descriptive Statistics are the foundation of great data analysis. Before diving into advanced models, they help us understand the story our data is telling. Here are a few key takeaways: 1. Understand the Basics: Metrics like mean, median, and standard deviation help identify patterns, trends, and anomalies in your data. They’re the building blocks of deeper analysis. 2. Spot Variability and Red Flags: High variability? Outliers? These insights can shape your next steps, whether it’s cleaning your data or segmenting your audience. 3. Context is Everything: Numbers mean nothing in isolation. Use descriptive statistics to establish benchmarks, historical trends, or business goals to uncover actionable insights. 4. Leverage Tools: Tools like XLMiner (Google Sheets) and Excel’s ToolPak streamline the process, so you can focus on interpreting the data instead of calculating it. (Use the attached guide to install these tools in your preferred spreadsheet tool). Start every analysis with descriptive stats. They ground your work, guide your exploration, and ensure your models are based on solid foundations. Art+Science Analytics Institute | University of Notre Dame | University of Notre Dame - Mendoza College of Business | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign | University of Chicago | D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University | ELVTR | Grow with Google - Data Analytics #Analytics #DataStorytelling

Desi Atomic Habit Tip #4: Embrace Continuous Learning "Roz seekho, roz badho" (Learn daily, grow daily) In our rapidly evolving business landscape, staying relevant means staying curious. Continuous learning isn't just about formal education; it's about cultivating a mindset of constant growth and adaptability. Actionable Steps: ✅ Daily Learning Ritual: Dedicate 30 minutes each day to learning something new in your field. ✅ Skill Diversity: Identify and develop cross-functional skills that complement your expertise. ✅ Teach to Learn: Share your knowledge through mentoring or creating content - teaching others reinforces your own learning. Here's how I've incorporated continuous learning in my entrepreneurial journey: 👉 Subscribed to industry-specific podcasts for my daily commute. 👉 Joined online communities to stay updated on emerging trends and technologies. 👉 Allocated budget for annual skill-enhancement courses or workshops. 🎯 Result: Stayed ahead of industry curves, fostered innovation in my teams, and opened new business opportunities through expanded knowledge. Your Continuous Learning Challenge: This week, learn one new skill or concept related to your field. It could be a new software tool, a management technique, or an industry trend. Share what you've learned and how you plan to apply it! How has continuous learning impacted your career growth? Share your favorite learning resources or strategies below! Stay curious, stay growing, and stay tuned for more success-boosting habits in our Desi Atomic Habits series! #DesiAtomicHabits #ContinuousLearning #SkillDevelopment #EntrepreneurialMindset #CareerGrowth