Matt Passalacqua’s Post

🎉 Celebrating 14 Years of Innovation and Impact at Bluetree! 🎉 We celebrated a milestone that fills us with pride and excitement – Bluetree’s 14th anniversary! 🌟 From our humble beginnings to becoming a trailblazer in workforce technology, our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. 🚀 Over the past 14 years, we’ve dedicated ourselves to transforming the landscape of external workforce management, ensuring that blue-collar workers are empowered and businesses thrive. Reflecting on our journey, we’ve achieved remarkable milestones: Empowered Millions: Through our innovative solutions, we've positively impacted the lives of millions of blue-collar workers, making workforce management more efficient and inclusive. Technological Advancement: Our commitment to cutting-edge technology has revolutionized the way businesses handle onboarding, attendance, payouts, and compliance, making processes seamless and effective. Customer Success: We’ve built strong partnerships with our clients, helping them achieve their goals while staying true to our mission of empowerment and innovation. But this anniversary isn’t just about looking back; it’s about the incredible future ahead. 🌈 We’re excited to continue pushing boundaries, driving innovation, and making an even greater impact. The road ahead is filled with opportunities to further enhance workforce management and empower more lives. This journey wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support of our clients, partners, and the relentless effort of our Bluetree family. Together, we've built something remarkable, and together, we'll continue to achieve even greater heights.🥂 Here’s to many more years of growth, innovation, and positive impact! 🚀 🚀 🚀 #Bluetree #14YearsStrong #WorkforceTechnology #Innovation #Empowerment #Celebration

Despite us only just entering December, some offices feel like they're already popping open the prosecco and calling it quits for the new year, but before we welcome Santa at our chimney, I think it's time for us to have a good look back at 2023. 2023 has been a year of great shifts in both attitude and environment, as we've seen unease, conflict and crisis at every turn across the globe. It's a year of challenges, but it's also a year of evolution and change. I don't think I would have ever expected 5 years ago that major companies would be having very legitimate conversations about the benefits of the #4DayWorkWeek, nor would I have expected CEOs to start accepting that #Hybrid and #RemoteWorking may be a permanent fixture, but both conversations have been raised this year. The world is changing and we're slowly starting to embrace that change, rather than embrace it for something more comfortable, and that's exciting. What are the biggest lessons you've learned in business this year? #Leadership

Last Friday, I attended Jopwell's annual summit, Jopwell Talks, where I had the pleasure of connecting with several leaders across different industries and functions. Huge shoutout to Jopwell for providing a space that not only celebrates diversity but also fosters authentic conversations among leaders and partners in the community. Here are my Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Craft Your Narrative: In a room buzzing with 100+ Black and brown leaders, each boasting over 7+ years of diverse corporate experience, the importance of storytelling stood out. Your story is your brand—know it, own it, and let it shine. 2️⃣ Rise Above the Rest: Qualifications are essential, standing out is crucial, but in today's job market, going the extra mile is the game-changer. It's not just about being qualified; it's about differentiating yourself in ways that make you unforgettable. 3️⃣ Network, Network, Network: Networking isn't a one-time activity; it's a continuous journey that opens doors and creates opportunities. Never underestimate the impact of building connections. Events like Jopwell Talks remind us of the strength that comes from diverse perspectives. I'm grateful to Jopwell for creating a space where our voices are not just heard but celebrated. Here's to progress, growth, and a future where diversity is not just acknowledged but prioritized! #JopwellTalks #DiversityEquityandInclusion #RepresentationMatters

Any other agency friends coming? We've just joined Alliance of Independent Agencies - how could we not with a conference like this! The blurb: FOH2023 reinforces the mantra: "Happy Agencies are Successful Agencies". Dive deep into transformative insights from industry leaders, explore the tangible link between happiness & agency success, and boost your team's morale and performance. Right up our street! #FOH2023 #IndependentAgencies #Networking

Company values go beyond shaping operations and fostering team and client happiness—they can drive societal change. By integrating our core principles into every decision, we not only enhance our workplace but also contribute to a greater good. Our commitment reflects our belief that business success and social responsibility go hand in hand. As a member of Organ Symphony Health we strive to create a lasting impact, not just within our walls, but in the world around us. #CompanyValues #SocialImpact #Leadership

#WomenOnBoards AT&T #MaggieWilderotter John Stankey Lots to say about last week in Dallas ~ Will start w Maggie’s fireside chat, up close with John Stankey, CEO, AT&T Maggie’s board expertise spans holding positions on 51 corporate Boards to date, 36 public, 7 currently, & she started when she was 28 yrs. She is the most connected executive I have ever known, but not in the way of digital social media. John sat on the AT&T Board since 2003 in various sr leadership roles, witnessing 4 ceo transitions & working under 2 CEO’s before he became CEO. He has 38 yrs with AT&T which is not the norm in todays typical board room, to walk in knowing his board & certainly knowing the critical aspects of his company. He coached us that the Boards biggest job & highest risk decision is to hire/fire the CEO. John illuminated how in your career you will have a certain % of luck 🍀& timing ⏱️. You cannot control this. You can control doing great work! Adding value. Being a big contributor to your team’s success. Remaining engaged and engaging others. And prepare yourself to be ready when you are tapped. He encourages his board to work beyond the CEO & be involved w the Sr. Leadership Team. Assess talent. Without the CEO there. He expressed that jobs today are more challenging than ever. There are fewer well rounded executives with general management & actual #operational expertise which is needed in the C-Suite & on Boards. (Good news for those of you who hold the screwdrivers, wrenches & glue). There are emerging fields that dictate new expertise be added in the boardroom including #cybersecurity & #generativeai. John stayed w us through dinner, as if it was the most important part of his day while we knew he had pressing responsibilities waiting. Some CEO’s are like Rockstars. John is a Rockstar. (So is Maggie. More on that to follow.) I am proud to work at Webhelp where we consistently pave the way for women to be recognized & gain greater responsibility. It was an honor to host the toast at dinner. 🍷🍾 Join Us. ❌⭕️ Hilary

✨ Our People is Our Priority ✨ We recently held our department townhall where we celebrated what we were grateful for last year, and we dreamed up what we hope to achieve for this year. While we were proud of all the things we managed to accomplish, what stood out most clearly was that people felt safe, heard, included, motivated, and empowered to be their best selves. People felt supported and trusted by their leaders and peers to collaborate, innovate, and elevate. Servant Leadership is a phrase / buzzword that could very easily be simply quoted or misused for window dressing. But we really embrace it. In our department, leaders eat last. The leaders' job is to support the team, not to breathe down their necks. Of course it could be challenging if our stakeholders do not understand or buy in to our philosophy. For example, they could hypothetically insist on only speaking to the "high ranking boss" even though the "rankless team member" may actually have the better answers to their query. Some reframing is required. It's a long game, and there will be short term pain. The other day, I listened to an interview on Simon Sinek 's podcast "A Bit of Optimism". He was speaking with Walmart CEO Doug McMillon on Walmart's "People First" philosophy. I'm inspired by this company - this for-profit organization - for having the conviction to prioritize their people ("associates"). The most interesting intervention quoted was their initiative on wage investment (salary increases across the board) which hurt their share price short-term, but ultimately increased the company market cap long-term. Not all organizations can afford similar interventions. As long as the intention exists to prioritize people, then we will do the right thing. Invest in developing people. Provide a safe and inclusive work culture. Really care about every individual. Between saving the people or saving the numbers, always choose saving the people. We can all do the right thing within whatever sphere of influence we have authority over. If nothing else, 2 words -- Be Kind! Link to podcast: https://lnkd.in/gQxpYMQX #townhall #peoplefirst #people #leaderseatlast #engagement #culture #organisationalculture #simonsinek #servantleadership #walmart

"If you truly value your culture, you have to actively invest in it. Otherwise, its like building a house on sand." - Jamie Berger, Founder & CEO, C&J Catering Embracing The Path of Servant Leadership Ensuring mission alignment throughout a company isn’t always easy though. When the pandemic hit, C&J’s sales came to a grinding halt in a matter of weeks and they were forced to reduce their staff. As demand returned to normal, they had to scale up quickly to rebuild. Jamie recalls that amid this transition, C&J faced staffing challenges, performance issues, and a slew of operational headaches. As the team put out fire after fire, culture fell to the wayside. These challenges were not at all reflective of the type of company Jamie desired or envisioned. She realized, “We have got to put the brakes on, because we aren’t doing a good job of making sure that the people we’re bringing in are clear on who we are as a company.” Jamie knew she needed help. When Jamie reconnected with former colleague and friend, Ray Chung, Rising Sun’s senior consultant, she shared the challenges C&J was facing. She was drawn to Rising Sun’s focus on servant leadership and how the team could help her develop a plan to move forward. Continue Reading: https://lnkd.in/eC8-6mBZ #servantleadership #culturematters #organizationalhealth

Over the past four weeks, I've interviewed four leaders with three inspirational traits in common. It's been fascinating, so here's some reflections: The leaders in question: - Sir John Hegarty (Co-Founder of BBH London and The Business of Creativity) - Ellie Norman (CCO of Manchester United) - Joanna Lane (CPO/ex-CMO of Tony's Chocolonely) - Mark Barry (VP of Sales/MD of EMEA for HubSpot) And the three traits: 😊 Positivity It was remarkable how each described challenging opportunities as an opportunity for growth - enjoying this and assuming a good outcome. Mark's quote was my favourite: "We have to believe our best days are ahead of us" This positivity felt in built to their characters. But, having been exposed to it, I'm now questioning myself - how can I approach this with a glass half full mentality? 🪟 Clarity Each of them had a clear outlook on: - Who they're doing things for (customers) - What the strategy is - The message they're trying to get across - Their viewpoint on the world (Sir John - creativity), (Ellie - simplicity) - And how they'll communicate the results Every one of them was effortless in communicating these things. Clearly, strategy works best when it's internalised: not sat on a sheet of paper. 💪 Fearlessness All placed marketing in context as important, but not saving lives. This enabled them to keep pushing barriers and operating from a place of fearlessness (to use Sir John's word). - This enabled someone like Joanna to not fear Tony's being combative with other brands if they weren't doing good for the world. - This enabled Sir John to create some of the work he did. - And, this enabled someone like Ellie to drown out some of the noise when she has 1.1 billion fans to speak to every day in her role. 🍕 Takeaways I wouldn't say these traits come naturally to me - but being shown them with words and actions by people I admire makes me want to take them on for myself. The positivity one in particular... I've been walking around feeling a bit lighter in the world since speaking with each. That's a gift. Positivity, clarity and fearlessness. There is a lot we can learn from those three things from these four amazing people :) I hope you have a lovely day! ✌️✌️

🌟 Leadership Insight: Building a Culture of Care & Loyalty 🌟 As leaders, our foremost responsibility isn't just to lead, but to care. In a world where everyone is striving to be heard and valued, creating an environment of care isn't just beneficial – it's essential. 🌱 Nurture, Don’t Just Manage: When we nurture our teams, acknowledging their struggles and celebrating their successes, we don't just manage people – we uplift them. 💼 The Loyalty Connection: Loyalty isn't a given; it's earned. And how do we earn it? By showing our teams that they are more than just cogs in the organizational machine. They are valued individuals whose well-being is our priority. 🤝 Beyond the Workplace: This culture of care transcends beyond work hours. It builds a community where every member feels seen, heard, and appreciated. This isn't just about improving productivity; it's about enhancing lives. 🔥 Lasting Impact: Remember, the way we treat our team members is how they'll treat our customers, and ultimately, how they'll perceive our brand. A leader’s true legacy is the culture they leave behind. 🌍 Together, We Thrive: Let's pledge to build workplaces where care is foundational, loyalty is mutual, and success is shared. Together, we can change the world from our offices outward. #KempSolutions #Leadership #TeamCare #OrganizationalCulture #Loyalty #BuildingResilience #EmpathyInLeadership