Tell me about a time when you were asked to do something you had never done before. How did you react? What did you learn?
Let’s talk about soft skills. "Over 60% of hiring managers agree, that screening for soft skills is difficult. When asked to prioritize some of the most important soft skills recruiters look for during interviews include, Adaptability, Culture Fit, Collaboration, Leadership, Growth Potential, and Prioritization. Considering my career has been full of successes and failures, I thought I’d share some notable highlights and learnings here.
Adaptability
In November 2021 returning to New York, following remote work and layoffs, I joined FENDI, as a Luxury Client Advisor, tasked to lead Omnisales at FENDI. Re-opening Fendi Hudson Yards boutique, I focused on listening and learning, quickly adapting to a retail work environment delivering over 260 new clients, $2.7M in sales, and identifying client needs and market trends, exceeding my sales goals by 136%. However, before joining Fendi, I spent 3 months consulting with Triplemint / The Agency, applying to full-time jobs, traveling, and healing from the pandemic and a breakup. I returned to New York City sofa surfing, and returned to the basics of hospitality, serving tables at Nizza and Marseille in Hell’s Kitchen. Working for minimum wage and tips was something I never thought I’d have to do again after earning my Bachelor’s Degree and earning 6-figures working in tech. It was a humbling experience. I punched the clock daily, praying for tips and hoping my circumstances would change. Exhausted, I reminded myself that the sweat, sore feet, and food-stained shirts were only temporary. This experience strengthened my relationship-building skills, bonding with Sy Ramon the General Manager, the servers, and bussers with big dreams, who supported me. This experience serves as a reminder that no job is too small and that great teams working together can surprise and delight your customer. Marseille holds a special place in my heart, the catalyst that pushed me into luxury hospitality and sales. The luxury of working in advertising technology, and relocating from San Francisco and New York honed my resilience, grit, and ability to adapt transferable skills to new industries.
Culture Fit
Cultural fit and inclusion are paramount to ensuring every employee feels valued. In 2019, a desire to create a real sense of belonging at work, drove me to earn my Diversity & Inclusion Certification at eCornell University while leading marketing initiatives at Compass. I reveled in supporting logo creation, events, and content strategy for Agents of Color, and OUT at Compass affinity groups. Working cross-functionally in both corporate and retail work environments, I understand the importance of equity over equality, recognizing that people may need different resources to have an equal chance at success. In my retail experience, I have witnessed and reported instances of racial bias, bullying, intimidation, and harassment, understanding firsthand the damaging effects these behaviors have on individuals and teams. As a neurodivergent with ADHD, I've experienced the anxiety of rejection dysphoria and the challenges of feeling misunderstood. Leaders can create a safer and more inclusive workplace by implementing bias training, fostering open communication, offering mental health support, and providing accommodations tailored to individual needs, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Building on this Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training after the 2020 Pandemic, I noticed a wave of depression and anxiety throughout my organization.
I learned about Mental Health First Aid certification courses at FENDI / LMVH and gained confidence in knowing how to help when someone is suffering. I learned tips for managing my own mental health challenges and identified the IMPACT of these mental health challenges on the well-being of working adults. Remember, before hiring for “Culture Fit ” we all have unconscious and conscious biases, these filter our perceptions of the world around us. In the face of biases or discrimination, we can make it our business to support each other, holding ourselves accountable to make every voice at the table feel heard, valued, and appreciated. Kindness is key, lead with empathy.
Collaboration
Collaboration is a cornerstone of my success, seamlessly integrating efforts across sales, marketing, finance, operations, and development to achieve outstanding business results. At Compass, my favorite mission statement was “Collaborate without Ego,” a recipe for massive growth and innovation.
In 2018, Soft-Bank Venture backed a $600M investment and discovered the power of injecting capital into high-growth tech startups, we also listened to our customers and learned from these growth pains. At Compass, I embraced our mission, consistently applying this ethos in my interactions with clients and colleagues to foster a cooperative and productive environment. “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Leading a company to an IPO took years, millions of dollars, and the collaborative work of thousands of agents and employees. At Compass, I successfully managed design projects with a 95% on-time delivery for key advertising plans and coached over 130 direct sales agents on strategic brand marketing, listing strategies, and sales.
My mother has worked as a Special Education Teacher for over 30 years, I know collaboration increases learning retention and leads to better understanding. Mirror neurons are activated when people participate, in this process they tend to retain information more effectively. Collaborative learning can create safe spaces for people to ask and answer questions, leading to diverse ideas and creative solutions. Successful collaboration at FENDI required building relationships with Store Managers, Operational Support, Buyers, CRM, HR, Finance, and Compliance, showcasing my ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams to achieve business goals and deliver luxury experiences. Employees want to feel connected, empowered, and inspired, having a friend or mentor at work has tremendous effects on production and performance. “Cigna Healthcare's Loneliness Index estimates that employers lose $154 billion a year due to absenteeism, a figure that could be improved upon if everyone from trainees to the C-suite felt they had someone to lean on.”
As a neurodivergent with ADHD, having someone work beside me helps me tap into my strengths and focus. Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says, “Sometimes it’s just hard for one person to be a unicorn.” Former Compass COO, Maelle Gavet writes in her WallStreet Journal Best Seller, “Trampled by Unicorns: Big Tech's Empathy Problem and How to Fix It,” Empathetic leadership not only enhances teamwork but also builds trust and loyalty, essential ingredients for sustainable success in the fast-paced world of big tech and corporate work.
Bridging my real estate and fashion, I collaborated with Samuel Johnson, Retail Director at Eleventy Milano, and Compass real-estate client, Linette Semino to organize an exclusive in-store shopping event. The goal was to introduce the brand to luxury clients at the Madison Avenue Flagship, highlighting the brand story and smart luxury. This event exemplified cross-functional teamwork resulting in over 40 new clients connecting, a remarkable success, as reflected in Samuel Johnson's feedback:
Leadership
Leadership in the workplace involves fostering an environment where growth and innovation are encouraged. It was becoming a yoga teacher, where I learned to hone my skills in giving clear instructions and constructive feedback, creating a supportive atmosphere for learning. At Fendi, I led by example consistently setting the bar regionally for luxury service, style, and clientelling. My proud moment at Compass was leading the team to ideate "Compass Curated," a prestigious collection of luxury listings. This initiative resulted in a dedicated email newsletter reaching thousands of real estate agents and luxury clients and culminated in a quarterly magazine distributed on newsstands and private jet lounges. “Helping People Find Their Place in the World,” I coached over 130 direct sales agents and colleagues on strategic brand marketing, campaign measurement, listing strategies, and sales, all reflecting my adaptability to lead, mentor, and drive performance within a team. This was no easy feat, managing dynamic and passionate personalities, I leaned into listening with a servant’s heart, truly trying to understand the life and business of a New York City real estate agent. Showing up as a leader is also rooted in my early career, The Fish Philosophy,
Be There: Yoga and meditation train your brain to be more mindful, too many times we’re so distracted by our own lives that we forget to be present for our clients and colleagues. Open body language and non-verbal queues indicate you are listening and respect the people you’re working with.
Choose Your Attitude: Be aware when it counts. Our thoughts and words have power, taking time to make conscious choices about our day, empowers us and creates an infectious atmosphere, influencing the energy and people around us.
Play: Being open to possibilities can only happen when colleagues and clients feel safe, playing not only boosts team morale and stress reduction. Furthermore, play and playfulness are often expressed through risk-taking, storytelling, and physical activities, which Penn State studies show lead to cognitive gains.
Make Their Day: Engage without attacking. It starts with a smile, Focus on creating positive interactions that leave clients and colleagues feeling valued by greeting people warmly and authentically: making them feel welcome as soon as they enter. Listen and watch actively: Pay attention to clients’ needs and preferences without interrupting. (This is a hard one for ADHD professionals, but it just takes practice). Listening shows respect and helps you in understand how best to assist them and then provide tailored recommendations or solutions based on their preferences. Solution selling focuses on presenting a product or service as the solution to a prospect's identified problems. It starts with listening to the problem and working toward the solution, and it emphasizes tailoring the solution to each prospect's unique needs and situation. In luxury, solution selling can also involve helping prospects imagine product features and value the history, craftsmanship, and savoir-faire beyond the transaction. If issues arise, address them calmly and constructively. Apologize when necessary and seek solutions that leave customers feeling appreciated and heard.
Finally, expressing a sincere thank you can leave a lasting positive impression.
Growth Potential
Everybody has the potential to increase their abilities, and all they need are the right skills and opportunities. In the workplace, growth potential means employees can go beyond their current position if given a chance. My journey reflects this belief—transitioning from leading the innovative Compass marketing strategies, to becoming a top seller at Fendi, “Exceeding Expectations” in my annual review. I excelled in brand storytelling and sales leadership and utilized platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and Growing with Google to pursue professional development. Pivoting to new industries has allowed me to explore diverse interests gain a unique perspective and break free from stagnant routines, demonstrating that growth is limitless!
As business theorist Arie de Geus stated, “The ability to learn faster than your competitors may be the only sustainable competitive advantage.” By fostering an environment where continuous learning and development are prioritized, companies can ensure that their employees are not just keeping up with change, but leading it. Choose your attitude, and learn new skills even when your strength is powerful. Remember, in 2016 Hastings Entertainment filed bankruptcy after Netflix shifted from DVDs to streaming in 2007. In a constantly changing world, adaptability and growth potential in the workplace are more crucial than ever!
Prioritization
Organizational skill isn't just about juggling tasks—it's about handling multiple priorities with finesse. It means knowing what needs your attention first, which can turn chaos into order, lower stress, and lead to successful outcomes. For instance, at Fendi; I exceeded my sales quota by prioritizing social selling, product training, and clientelling. To adapt to changing business demands during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, our leadership team at Compass shifted to remote work, pivoting our real estate marketing strategies to digital, showcasing adaptability in prioritizing innovation and impactful actions for business success.
My career journey reflects these qualities: from achieving substantial sales growth at Fendi by swiftly adapting to retail demands post-pandemic to advocating for Diversity & Inclusion at Compass through leadership in affinity groups. These experiences highlight my leadership style—empathetic, adaptable, and focused on fostering growth and innovation in diverse environments. Hiring for Marketing and Sales Leadership, I would love to connect and share experiences!
