Estrella Serrato’s Post

Did you know that 85% of high achievers attribute their success to their network? It's not just about who you know, but who you surround yourself with. I've found that being immersed in a circle of doers is like having a personal growth accelerator. These are the people who aren't just talking about their goals – they're out there making them happen. What are the perks? ✅Inspiration: Watching passionate people take action is infectious. It sparks your own drive and creativity. ✅Knowledge: Learning from their experiences, mistakes, and successes is a priceless education. ✅Accountability: Knowing others are working towards their goals pushes you to stay committed to yours. ✅Opportunities: Doers often create new paths and are more likely to include you in their journey. Analyze the 5 people you spend most of your time with because your environment and company define you later on. Surround yourself with the right people. Remember, your network is your net worth. Invest in relationships with people who inspire and challenge you. P.S. Look around and analyze your group. Are you in the right group?

As this year draws to a close, I've been looking back and realizing how much I've learned and accomplished, both in my work and personal life. Professionally, it's been a whirlwind of learning and multitasking. I had the privilege of not just managing but excelling in two distinct roles at my workplace while also orchestrating three highly successful high-level events. The joy of training two new colleagues and engaging in over 10 online courses has been immensely rewarding. Attending conferences, networking events, and even landing an article publication in the Business and Finance Times newspaper have been highlights that fueled my professional fire. On the personal front, I found immense fulfillment in coordinating the Admins Meet & Mingle event and steering the Administrative Professionals Virtual Summit to success. The experience of facilitating a career mastermind and a LinkedIn profile optimization workshop was equally enriching. Growing my LinkedIn connections and followers from less than 4000 to over 10,000 was a testament to the power of networking and engagement. Editing seven new books for an author and delving into several leadership and mindset books added depth to my personal growth. And most excitingly, completing the manuscript of my debut book—set to launch in the upcoming year—feels like the culmination of a lifelong dream. I share this not to boast but to inspire you to look back at your own year. Take a moment to jot down what you've achieved—big or small. Maybe it's a project at work, a new skill learned, a book read, or a personal goal reached. Reflecting on these moments of growth is a wonderful way to appreciate your journey. Let's celebrate our wins, however small they may seem, and embrace the lessons they've brought. To God be the glory! What one word will you use to describe this year? P.S: Cheers to recognizing our achievements and stepping into the new year with renewed enthusiasm and purpose!

Two weeks into my new role in a new industry, I thought I'd share an update. It goes without saying that the environment is very different. And that's a welcome change from the typically negative and toxic world of law enforcement. I will preface the following by declaring myself an extrovert, so this doesn't apply to everyone. Now for my two week takeaways: 1: Getting to know people is exciting. I've been setting up chats and coffee meetings to introduce myself around the company and I've met some very welcoming, knowledgeable, and helpful people. After working with the same (+/-) teams for a couple of decades, it's refreshing to see new faces and learn about their roles and experience. 2: Embrace what you don't know. Sitting in on meetings, I feel like I was dropped in a foreign country with no guide, but it doesn't worry me - I've made the jump from unit to unit and started from scratch several times before and I always excelled. Keep your mind open and absorb everything you can. Relish in knowing there is so much to learn. Let that excite you instead of becoming an obstacle to growth. 3: If you were in leadership roles before and are now entry-level, it can be tough to change your mindset. However, even as a rookie, you can employ your experience and demonstrate leadership abilities in whatever role you take. Offer to help. Learn by immersing yourself in the work. All those years of building success maps for your team have led you to build one for yourself. Plan what success looks like and plot the steps you'll take to achieve it. Don't be afraid to start over. This is an exciting time full of new challenges and opportunities.

Dear fellow young professionals, I am thrilled to celebrate my recent achievement with all of you. Throughout my journey, I have experienced remarkable personal growth and transformation, particularly in the areas of communication and problem-solving skills. I firmly believe that these skills are essential for success in both personal and professional endeavors. Communication is the cornerstone of effective collaboration and understanding. I've learned that active listening, empathy, and clarity are vital components of meaningful interactions. By honing my communication skills, I've been able to build stronger relationships, resolve conflicts more effectively, and convey my ideas with confidence. Problem-solving skills have proven to be invaluable in navigating the challenges and complexities of the professional world. I've learned to approach problems with a proactive mindset, breaking them down into manageable tasks and seeking innovative solutions. Embracing a growth mindset has empowered me to view setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth, ultimately leading to greater resilience and success. To all the young professionals out there, I encourage you to believe in your abilities and embrace continuous learning. Emulate the qualities of curiosity, perseverance, and adaptability. Embrace challenges as stepping stones to personal growth and seize every opportunity to expand your knowledge and skills. Remember, success is not defined by a single achievement but by the journey itself. Embrace the process, celebrate your progress, and stay committed to your personal and professional development. Together, we can create a future filled with endless possibilities. Wishing you all the best on your own transformative journeys! With warm regards, Widad Faisal Fono

I had a great opportunity today to speak to the amazing Matt Burton one of our Directors in UK Corporate about some thought-provoking conversations, insights and career development tips. It also gave me a chance to think about some of the challenges I’ve overcome, whilst sharing views on how to establish and build a positive personal brand. It was nice to reflect on my personal life as a reminder of where I started, remembering just how much I’ve achieved and realising I still haven’t tapped into my full potential. Matt has been delivering ‘Mentor Mondays’ over the years and it’s so popular that I’m grateful I got the chance to appear with him today to share how you can be successful. I hope our colleagues had some take aways from today’s session, here’s a recap:- Believe in Yourself. You can achieve anything in life. There are no limitations. You haven’t tapped into your potential yet. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone, the job you’re in now was new at some stage. Listen to that voice in your head that’s saying you can’t do it and overcome your fear by doing it anyway. Set up your own development plan with strengths, developments and think about how you can close the gaps. Go where you’ll be valued as an individual. You’re always on track and being moved towards magnificence. Matt Burton I’m ready for the sequel!!! #MentorMondays #BPRG #CareerGoals

"Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, 'We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.'" - Numbers 13:30 This scripture has been on my mind lately, and it resonates deeply with the journey of professional growth and personal development. Whether you're starting a new job, venturing into a completely new field, launching a new business, or scaling an existing one, success requires grit, resilience, and a great mindset. The path forward is often filled with hurdles, but these challenges are not roadblocks; they are stepping stones to success. In both our careers and personal lives, we often face obstacles that seem insurmountable. It's in these moments of adversity that we truly discover our capabilities. Overcoming challenges is how we grow, learn, and ultimately succeed. Here’s how you can take possession of new ventures this week: 1. Believe in Yourself: This is the first step towards transforming challenges into opportunities. When we believe in our abilities, we empower ourselves to take on new responsibilities and venture into uncharted territories. Believe that you can finish that project, submit that proposal, or start something new. 2. Grow: Seek opportunities to learn new skills or sharpen existing ones. In our fast-paced digital age, everything is changing quickly. To carve out your space in any industry, you must be consistently learning and adapting. 3. Collaborate with Others: Don’t go at it alone. Collaborating with others can increase your capacity and provide valuable learning experiences. There's immense value in teamwork and shared knowledge. 4. Inspire Others: In a world constantly striving for more, we often overlook the value we already possess. From where you are, you can help others—perhaps through free CV editing, career coaching, or offering lessons at a small fee. We all have something to give, and this is how we build capacity. Approach every challenge with courage and a mindset geared for success. Believe in your journey, trust in your abilities, and embrace each challenge as an opportunity to shine. Together, we can turn the tides of adversity into waves of triumph. Happy Mondaying!!!! #BelieveInYourself #ProfessionalGrowth #NewOpportunities #OvercomingChallenges #ContinuousLearning #Collaboration #InspireOthers #SuccessJourney

Year in Reflection: Unveiling Growth and Wisdom As we said farewell to another year, I took a moment to reflect on the lessons learned, challenges faced, and growth achieved. Here are three key insights from my year in review that have reshaped my perspective and approach: 1. Embracing Change: This year, more than ever, taught me the power of adaptability. Each change, expected or not, was an opportunity to grow and learn, revealing strengths I didn't know I had. 2. Valuing Connections: The interactions with colleagues, mentors, and friends this year have been invaluable. They've provided support, wisdom, and laughter, reminding me that success is as much about strong relationships as it is about individual achievement. 3. Learning from Setbacks: Each challenge this past year was a lesson in disguise. Instead of dwelling on the setbacks, I chose to learn from them, turning obstacles into stepping stones towards greater success. Reflecting on the past year isn't just about revisiting what we've done; it's about appreciating how far we've come and setting our sights on where we want to go. What do you wish you knew at the start of your career that you know now?

Suggested baseline questions that I've seen be effective regardless of individual and industry: 1. What’s going well for you personally and professionally and how can we leverage it for additional success? 2. Where are your opportunities for improvement personally and professionally and what are you actively doing to address it? 3. What’s going well organizationally and how can we leverage it for additional success? 4. Where are our opportunities for improvement organizationally and what can we actively do to address them? 5. What expectations do you have for yourself in the upcoming month? Here are my expectations for you in the upcoming month. 6. What do you need from me to support you personally and professionally this month?

Inspired by this incredible quote! "Experience is not merely the number of years you spent in a chair, it's about the number of problems you have solved throughout your journey." This quote holds true significance as it reminds us that experience is not solely measured by the time we have spent in a specific role, but rather by the challenges we have overcome and the problems we have successfully tackled. Experience is a culmination of knowledge, skills, and wisdom gained through actively seeking solutions and navigating through obstacles. It is a testament to our adaptability, resilience, and ability to think critically in the face of adversity. Each problem we solve is an opportunity for growth, allowing us to develop innovative strategies, broaden our perspectives, and push the boundaries of what is possible. It is through problem-solving that our expertise deepens and our impact expands. So, let's embrace the power of experience in our professional journeys. Let's seek out challenges, learn from setbacks, and continuously refine our problem-solving abilities. By doing so, we become valuable assets to any organization. #ExperienceMatters #ProblemSolving #ProfessionalGrowth #ContinualLearning

Winners train, losers complain. I saw this on a bumper sticker and it got me thinking how absolutely true it is! I am naturally highly positive and enthusiastic, always counting my blessing and viewing the world from a half full lens. However, in one of those extremely rare depressive occasions, I found myself in a particularly foul mood feeling unaccomplished, under achieving and a couple of other unimpressive antonyms. I dare say that I looked at my peers who have done extremely well themselves scaling career to C suite level, balancing family life plus owing cool properties, cool toys, globe trotting, and going for proper holidays, (Some Kenyans will relate- wink wink!) - basically living “the life” or what we call Kuomoka (Kenyan street lingo for “Making it”)!! Mild envy aside, I fully appreciate that nothing comes easy. It takes hard work meeting opportunity to get there and keep it there. Underscore HARD/ SMART WORK. This was reinforced when I had reconnected with my girlfriend, a high-flying corporate girl. Amazingly, she has been super intentional about growing her career in the last decade or so. Her pursuit for excellence has seen her consistently taking on courses and trainings to upskill and earn certifications, attending professional networking events, getting a personal branding coach, volunteering and serving in different capacities for courses she cares about including professional and work platforms, church events and residential forums. In a nut shell, never letting up on learning opportunities, equally giving of her time and expertise (networking, coaching and mentorship) has literally and figuratively taken her places. What was my refresher lesson you may ask? My key take out- I need to repurpose and reinvent myself.  Chin up, shoulders back, chest out and spring in step, get out of the comfort zone and take up more challenges! I am committing to actively develop skills and knowledge for myself and others and looking to improve capability, capacity and performance. And there are existing platforms to get by including family, community, business, profession take your pick. Meanwhile are you training for success or you are easy with complaining? If you have any paying or volunteer opportunities in my field of expertise- Brand, Marketing and Communication in a sector that is about impact, elevating lives and dignity, hit me up. #everyonehasastory #whatsyourstory #winning #learningneverceases