Lenore MacAdam’s Post

Last year as I penned down my ninth work anniversary, little did I predict it would mark the beginning of a transformative chapter to a post Waterfield Advisors era for myself. Since then, a myriad of experiences have unfolded, guiding me towards an “entrepreneurial odyssey” fuelled by the learnings accumulated over two decades. My journey commences with a profound understanding of what not to do, focusing on the essence of building a place where passions come alive. Building a Legacy for all: Central to this pursuit is a commitment to agendas moving beyond a self-centric mindset and championing the ethos of collective advancement. Building an organisation that blends individual identities into the cultural fabric which lives beyond one’s legacy! Culture and Values: At its core lies a culture built on the foundation of meritocracy and integrity, uniting diverse talents in a harmonious collaboration. My aspiration is to foster an environment where the defined culture serves as the compass, guiding us unwaveringly through turbulent times anchored on the bedrock of values so essential to who we are. Future Leaders: Also integral to this vision is the cultivation of future leaders empowered with the trust and autonomy to shape legacies beyond our individual capacities. Embracing the art of delegation and valuing diverse perspectives are pivotal lessons in nurturing enduring relationships. Learning Forever: The spirit of selfless dedication to creating value for others underscores our collective endeavour, with an unwavering commitment to continuous improvement fuelled by constructive feedback. In expressing my gratitude, I extend heartfelt appreciation to all who have contributed to this journey, acknowledging the invaluable influence of those who have shaped my evolution. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) Standard Chartered Clariden Leu Credit Suisse Waterfield Advisors Rajshree Bakshi Deepak Khullar Sonnal Ladvvaa Arati Bhat Deepak Mungla Leena Walia-Thomas Senthil Kumar @shiv khazanchi Bala Swaminathan Zubin Dabu Sharad Mendon Siddharth Jhunjhunwala Bikram Sen Firdaus Rana Sarosh Khatib Partha Chatterjee @Joginder Kumar Zulfiquar Memon Vir Chopra Rakesh Malhotra Ashvin Gidwani Viji Srinivasan

Celebrating Our Everyday Heroes 🌟 Today, we want to take a moment to celebrate some very special people in our company — the ones who often work quietly behind the scenes but whose impact is felt everywhere. Imagine how powerful it is to work in a place where everyone feels appreciated, no matter their role or title. It’s a place where people are motivated not just by their paycheck but by the feeling that they are part of something bigger, that their work is making a difference. That’s the kind of culture we should all strive to build — one where recognition is not just a formality but a heartfelt expression of gratitude. Recognition isn’t just about giving credit where it’s due — it’s about truly seeing and appreciating the individuals who make our company what it is. When we take the time to acknowledge the efforts of our non-management team members, we’re not just boosting morale; we’re showing them that their contributions matter, that they are valued, and that they are essential to our success. So, here’s to the people who show up every day with dedication and drive, who put their heart into their work, and who help us achieve our goals. Your efforts might not always be in the spotlight, but they are deeply valued and appreciated. Thank you for everything you do. 💙👏 Let’s continue to celebrate each other and make our workplace a place where everyone’s contributions are recognized and cherished. Image: Team Hilton Alpharetta Atlanta #EverydayHeroes #TeamAppreciation #Gratitude #HumanConnection

Reflecting on past achievements can be a truly humbling experience. 🏆 Two years ago, I was honored to receive the "Best Team Award" in my previous organization. Today, I stumbled upon this accolade once more, and it brought a smile to my face. 🌟 It's a reminder that hard work and dedication never go unnoticed, even if time has passed. 🕰️ This journey has multiple facets - from the sense of pride in personal accomplishments to the gratitude for the amazing team that made it possible. 🙏 But here's a thought-provoking question for all of us: How often do we pause to appreciate our past achievements and the people who contributed to them? 🤔 #Reflections #HardWorkPaysOff #TeamWork #Achievements #Gratitude #TimelessSuccess #AchievementUnlocked #HardWorkMatters #TeamSuccess #GratitudeJourney #TimelessRecognition #ReflectAndThrive

I was caught in the recognition trap. A year on and I thought I’d let go of these feelings, but all it took was an online search and all the feelings came flooding back. For more than 5 years I’d busted a gut building this initiative and there was no reference to me anywhere. No recognition of the effort I’d put in. - sleepless nights to secure the funding. - postponing my honeymoon for a week to get the bid in. - organising socials in my spare time to encourage the team to bond. - fighting the system to set up a structure that had a chance of delivering. - working hard to break down boundaries to get collaboration across disciplines. I’d committed so much of my life to getting the initiative off the ground and now I’d moved on you couldn’t even tell I’d been involved. But is that why I did it? Did I do it for the recognition? No. I did it because I knew it could make a difference. I believed in it and it felt like the right thing to do. Deep down I knew that many of the people that mattered did recognise my involvement. I knew that there were lives I’d made a difference to. Another 5 years later and the people involved have no clue who I am and what my role was, but it’s amazing to see the ripples are still going! It’s lovely to have other people shouting about how amazing you are, but you don’t need it to know you’re doing a good job. Take a moment to see the difference you’ve made and give yourself the recognition you deserve. #recognition #makeadifference

When it comes to growing in your career or contributing to an organization, it's important to demonstrate tangible results. Show that you've made a positive impact and made the place better than when you joined. That's how recognition often comes your way. 🌟 #CareerGrowth #Contribution

This week marked my 40th birthday 🎂 Although I am no longer eligible for the 40 under 40 awards 😎 👋 I wouldn't go back in time if you paid me. I have learned a few helpful nuggets in my career journey, which began when I was 15 with some Nike and Adidas gigs 👟 . Nothing earth-shattering, but here we go… Orchid in the desert 🌸 - I used to mistake impostor syndrome for staying in spaces and places that didn't allow me to grow and prosper. We go through too much to get roles ever to be impostors. So, focus on creating a sense of belonging and being honest with yourself about whether you have a growth path and can thrive in your environment. Goal Digging - I learned not to cling too tightly to specific goals or accomplishments, which has caused me to overlook other opportunities or life-changing experiences that I never imagined or considered. Careers are not always linear, and sometimes strong goals might become hindrances. What if you are fantastic at something you have never tried? Careers do not happen in isolation; thus, sometimes, it is essential to make the best career shift for your life stage. Be Present - I am no longer waiting for the future to happen. Life is beautiful right now; if not, how can I change that? Innovation can occur in the present. You can unlock more solutions if you are present and truly listen to your clients, colleagues, and team. Do brave things in the present and remain curious. Heal and Let Go - We all might carry professional trauma that affects how we lead, mentor, or make daily decisions. We may develop biases towards opportunities, people, and industries. However, it really is just work. Keep the lessons and let go of the pain. Be your own biggest advocate, but maintain a capacity for kindness and generosity. Be Authentic - Pretending to be someone else for eight to ten hours is exhausting. Preserve the energy you need for your personal life or the parts of you that are only for the people you love, but wear bright colors, show pictures of your kids, share your interests, and be yourself while being awesome at your role. Acknowledge the beauty of diverse thoughts, perspectives, and experiences. Being yourself is a unique trademark no one can own – so be you. 

I’m not normally one to celebrate my own achievements, but a few weeks ago I shared a LinkedIn post that had two sentences on it— “You’re so lucky” and “Damn, you worked hard.” The first statement was crossed out, the latter was an afterthought. I truly believe that if you put in the work, you will be rewarded. I’ve recently been reflecting on the rewards we sometimes take advantage of receiving. It’s not always in trophies. It’s not always monetary value, or shout outs from the team or recognition every other day. Sometimes it’s in the small things. It’s a room of people you respect in the highest regard telling you that you led a great call. It’s a mentor saying “wow, you’ve come so far since we started working together!” It’s someone on your team coming to you for questions and thanking you for being an open ear. It’s collaborating and thinking outside of the box with a teammate, and finding a solution that felt nearly impossible. It’s your manager trusting you and leaning on you to help when things get hard. It’s realizing you’ve found your niche and that your competitive nature thrives on contributing to a winning outcome on a project. It’s recognizing the pride you get to have in representing a company you admire and love so much. Or, “geeking out” as some of my colleagues say when introducing me. And finally, it’s realizing that it’s okay to be proud of the work you put in and those big and little rewards. It's being proud of who you are nearly five years in comparison to the new hire you once were. 2019 version of me wouldn't even recognize myself in 2024. I am so grateful for the opportunities and friendships I have been presented since joining the Venminder team in 2019. I hope in 2024 I remember to reflect on those moments of gratitude often, if not every day. Take the opportunity, ask the question. Introduce yourself to the thought leader or SME. It pays off…. (In this case, it paid off with 3-peat back to back Sales Support of the Year awards) 😉

This past weekend marked my 10-year work anniversary with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. I’ve been fortunate to work with some really outstanding people and am truly grateful for this time. Not sure where the time went, but it sure does fly. I thought I would take a moment to reflect on what I had done over the last decade with the Fed and thought it would be fun to share some pieces of advice that I’ve learned and found helpful over the years. 1.      Transformational changes take time with any large organization, learn to celebrate all of the small wins along the way. 2.      Venture outside of your comfort zone, that’s when you really start learning and seeing what you’re capable of doing. Don’t limit yourself to what you know. 3.      Continue to build and grow your professional network, you’d be shocked at how many exciting opportunities your colleagues might present to you that you may not have known existed. 4.      Seek mentorship from those that you wish to become – you’d be surprised how often those individuals would happily be that mentor. 5.      Be willing to fail and fail fast, it only allows you to learn and pivot faster toward success. 6.      Praise those around you, and praise loudly. You’d be amazed by how much that changes your work culture and those around you, and good “luck” always seems to follow. 7.      Welcome any and all feedback, learn to manage your emotions on how the feedback may be delivered and instead focus on the value and growth opportunities of what is being shared. 8.      Always do what you promise to do, actions will always speak louder than words. 9.      Speak up and be comfortable sharing your thoughts and ideas, you never know when your idea is exactly the thing that is needed in your organization. 10.  And lastly, be patient with yourself and those around you. While important, it is still only a job, make sure your priorities are still with your family and friends first. Anyways, that’s enough of my hallmark moment as I reflect back on this past decade. Let me know if you have any pieces of advice that I can use for my next ten years! Time to get back to it! #boardofgovernors #federalreserve #decade #10yearworkanniversary

Upon reflection on the last year, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the amazing experience it has been, a rollercoaster of highs and lows that has molded me on personal and professional fronts. The successes fueled motivation, and the challenges fostered resilience. I want to express heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been part of this journey, whether through collaboration, support, or shared experiences. Your contributions have been invaluable, and I am truly grateful for the connections forged and lessons learned. We found resilience in the face of difficulty, and we rejoiced with one another when we achieved accomplishment. All experiences, whether good or bad, have paved the way for personal development. Looking ahead, I am excited about the limitless possibilities the coming year holds. Armed with the lessons of the past, I am ready to tackle new challenges, embrace opportunities, and strive for even greater heights. Let us continue this journey together, sharing insights, supporting one another, and celebrating the successes that lie ahead. Here's to another year of growth, resilience, and collective achievement! 🌟 #NewYear #Gratitude #Reflections #NewBeginnings #Resilience #Teamwork

Reflecting on the year Part 2: Gratitude. 12 questions to ask yourself. 1. What are the three accomplishments I am most proud of from this year? 2. Who are the individuals who had a significant positive impact on my life this year, and why? 3. What unexpected events or surprises enriched my life this year? 4. What strengths and talents am I most thankful for, and how did they benefit me? 5. What are the most valuable lessons I've learned this year? 6. In what moments did I feel most alive and fulfilled this year? And what was I doing when I felt that? 7. What relationships have I developed or strengthened this year? 8. What professional successes am I most grateful for? 9. Which personal achievements brought me the most joy? 10. What challenges forced me to grow and in what ways? 11. How has my perspective or mindset improved this year? 12. What opportunities am I grateful for having, even if they didn't turn out as planned?