Oakley’s Post

☺️Do you Personally Brand Yourself? It is important to focus on building and maintaining our character rather than striving for a good reputation, because our character is the foundation of who we are Our character reflects the values that we espouse and uphold, whether through our speech or actions. It impacts how we interact with others in both social and professional settings, as well as how we treat ourselves Moreover, it dictates the level of respect we show to others and ourselves A strong character can help us make decisions #personalbranding

☺️Do you Personally Brand Yourself? It is important to focus on building and maintaining our character rather than striving for a good reputation, because our character is the foundation of who we are Our character reflects the values that we espouse and uphold, whether through our speech or actions. It impacts how we interact with others in both social and professional settings, as well as how we treat ourselves Moreover, it dictates the level of respect we show to others and ourselves A strong character can help us make decisions #personalbranding

Still feeling the feels after this week at GRAIL's Black History Month panel, curated by our BIG (Black and Brown Influencers at GRAIL) employee resource group Anwell Wilbekin & Rich S.T Gilliam. The topic, "The Power of Influence - Navigating Paths, Redefining Narratives," sparked engaging conversations and invaluable takeaways. Thank you to our amazing panelist who brought there full selves Nadine Rusczek (Peters) Dwayne Cook Shardaé Holmes Key insights from the discussion include the importance of responsiveness, bringing our best selves to the table, and standing up for what we believe in. Being reliable and passionate about our endeavors and most importantly being FEARLESS were also highlighted as essential elements in navigating our paths and reshaping narratives. One crucial takeaway emphasized during the discussion was the power of authenticity. Being authentically yourself emerged as a superpower, empowering individuals to fearlessly embrace their unique identities and perspectives. Creating an environment where individuals feel empowered to be fearless in their pursuits and authentic in their expressions remains a priority at GRAIL. Together, let's continue to leverage the power of influence to drive positive change and amplify diverse voices. 💪🏿📚 #BlackHistoryMonth #PowerofInfluence #Authenticity #DiversityandInclusion #culture #culturematters

🌈 What does Pride Month mean to you? 🌈 Head of Administration, Hannah Carton shares her experience and pride in her journey so far. Read the full article here - https://lnkd.in/ehijtWNj Then let us know how you feel about Pride Month 🌈 #PrideMonth #Pride #IronMillBlog #WeekendReading

One benefit of clarifying your core process (which is basically how you do things) is that you can include important but easily overlooked things that contribute to your success and well being. The item that is coming up the most is celebrating or honoring ourselves. We know this is crucial but it’s easy to forget. The 5th step of my process is growth and to be growth includes evaluation, celebration, revision. That way, whenever talk about my goals, process or efforts I remember to celebrate myself and others. We don’t need parades for making a phone call but if you do something important you it’s worthy of some celebration.

How are you celebrating Black Excellence this month? Happy Black History Month! This month, I plan on using my social media platforms to spotlight some important Black authors, speakers, and podcast hosts. From articles to novels to podcasts, there are an infinite number of Black storytellers out there who need to be celebrated today, this month, and every day. I understand that the issue is far more complex than reading a few books on anti-racism, sharing quotes from Black leaders on social, and donating to grassroots organizations and charities to support BIPOC. While these acts are a start, they sometimes do not equate to long-term impact. I hope that this Black History Month, we will all be more conscientious about the content we engage with and our conversations, especially if these actions do not align with our everyday actions. The impact and influence of Black history, Black culture, and Black people transcend one month, and it's important to honour and acknowledge this beyond times of turmoil and beyond February. A few years ago, I had the immense pleasure of interviewing Khalilah Lyons, MHRIR, PHR, HCS, SWP for my podcast. She's a fantastic DEI leader, co-founder of Candidly Connecting, LLC and creator of The B List, a simple, anytime, anywhere blueprint for those ready to navigate day-to-day experiences to live with full purpose, plenty, and personal freedom. With decades of experience in the corporate world, she has devoted herself to the advocacy of the underrepresented and elevating the untapped talent in women. Khalilah's mission is to curate beautifully messy stories that shift perspective, create empathy and ignite change by sharing the nuanced experiences of people we wouldn't normally connect with. Get to know her and her work here: https://lnkd.in/g4fwgcMX #blackhistorymonth #dei

Hey y'all! Happy Monday! As we step into this week, I want us to dive into a conversation that's both timely and timeless—emotional safety in our workplaces, now through the lens of Black History Month. It's a moment for us to reflect on how far we've come and the journey ahead to create spaces where everyone feels seen, heard, and genuinely valued. Imagine a workplace where EVERY employee's background, experiences, and contributions are not just acknowledged but celebrated. Where emotional safety forms the foundation of every interaction, allowing trust and meaningful connections to flourish. This is the kind of environment that not only uplifts Black employees but strengthens the entire organizational culture. So.... How is your organization making strides towards this goal? What practices have you found effective in nurturing an inclusive and emotionally safe workplace? Share your stories and insights. Let's inspire each other to build more compassionate, understanding, and inclusive spaces. Looking forward to your thoughts!! #professionalwellness #blackhistorymonth #trust #relationships #leadershipdevelopment #emotionalsafety #workplacewellbeing #workplaceculture

When I worked at Wieden + Kennedy we were told we were there to create the greatest work of our life. And whilst I fundamentally believe that’s an incredible way to inspire and motivate, it has its dark side, too. I believe that in advertising there are two Gods we worship, the God of Creativity and the God of Commerce. And you can’t worship two Gods at the same time. No matter how hard you try. Because a war can’t be fought on too many fronts. And you can’t polish a turd if you don’t have any polish. Sometimes you need to swallow your pride and worship the God of Commerce. To keep the lights on. To feed the family. And live to fight another day. The day when you WILL create the greatest work of your life. 👇 ——— 🐂 Ready To Eliminate Your Subconscious Bullshit Once And For All? 🎯 DM me for details. 🔔 Or FOLLOW ME for more content like this every single day. #pressureproofcreative #sustainablehighperformance #mattfollows #subconsciousbullshitelimination #identityoptimisation #creativeathletes #pressureproofleaders #pressureproofceo #ppcmattfollows #creativeleadershipcoach

Honesty hour, anyone? As someone who’s routinely left jobs because I felt my work and opinions were overlooked when I hardly shared those thoughts with my leaders, speaking up to leadership is a big new step to me. Being an openly gay Black man in the workforce makes that sharing a little more… pretentious, at times, because if I am too forward, I can be perceived as the angry black man; if I’m too fiesty, I’m considered pushy or catty; If I say nothing, it’s received as pouty or aggressive silence. IF YOU’RE LIKE ME - willing to leave before trying to navigate the delicate landscape of professional politics - I encourage you to speak up for yourself. Say the thing that makes you uncomfortable, talk to your colleagues when they rub you wrong, and ask your leadership for the specific things you feel you need as support. LEADERS of someone like me, understand that your direct report isn’t coming to you to tattle; they’re trying to tell you they’re unhappy. Make time to listen to them and help them identify a path to getting unstuck. Your response could make the difference between whether you’re celebrating that employee’s next work anniversary or hiring another.

Today, can you try, try to celebrate someone. Celebrate someone’s joy Celebrate someone’s life Celebrate someone’s achievements Celebrate someone’s rebirth Celebrate someone’s promotion Anything. You can celebrate yourself too. But try celebrating someone else, try celebrating your enemies, try celebrating people who disturb you. Try. And see what comes up for you. Individual experiences will differ. Whatever experiences you may have from this exercise, it’s uniquely yours. And in them, are lessons specifically for you. Only for you to realise.