We asked three business experts for their best career advice and this is what they said
By Edaein OConnell
19th Feb 2019
19th Feb 2019
Juggling all aspects of your life can prove extremely difficult, particularly your career. This isn’t surprising, given how much there is to think about when it comes to the world of work. Your mind is racing between productivity, confidence, staying on top of goals and overcoming obstacles. It can be a minefield.
Thankfully, however, we recently sat down with three of the brightest names in Irish business to discuss all things career focused.
Related: Mark Rogers talks career, setting goals
and finding a work/life balance
Head of Marketing at Benefit Cosmetics, Mark Rogers; owner of Style Savvy, Laura Jordan; and Director of Stillwater Communications, Natasha Fennell, are all at the very top of their chosen industries. It goes without saying that they know a thing or two about business, so we thought they were the best people to ask.
From career advice, to setting goals, to networking – they have covered it all.
Not only this, we are delighted to welcome all three of these inspirational individuals to the Westbury Hotel on February 25 for our first Young Businesswomen’s Forum of 2019. All three will be on-hand to discuss the art of confidence, self-care, and dressing for success.
Get your tickets here.
Tips on getting into business…
“My number one piece of advice is to understand the business from the bottom up. Also, when starting out, take every bit of experience you can.” – Mark Rogers
“Stubbornness and an over-active imagination in terms of where you believe your business can go. You don’t need to tell people what you intend to do if you don’t want to, but if you don’t admit it to yourself, you don’t give it the potential to become reality.” – Laura Jordan
“When we have a busy week ahead at Stillwater Communications, we apply our Three P’s Rule: Plan every day, maintain Perspective and always be Positive.” – Natasha Fennell
On the best piece of advice they’ve ever received…
“When it comes to obstacles there is always another way!” – Mark
“Believe in yourself or no one else will. That’s the sentence I have to reinforce regularly, as it can be tough and tiring to keep in mind when you’re tired or frustrated.” – Laura
On goals and staying productive…
“Goals in business are extremely important for two reasons: to be able to understand when something hasn’t worked and is a waste of your time, and secondly, so you can pop the champagne and celebrate the things you did really well.
“I think in the workplace we are really good at setting goals that are achievable and working out a plan on how we are going to get there. We also review those goals regularly to make sure we bring it in. Why? Because that’s what we are bonused on. I think everyone should take a similar approach to personal goals. Make them achievable, measurable and decide what your bonus is going to be!” – Mark
“Lists, lists, lists. Prioritise your tasks and see your workload from the client’s perspective. Myself and my colleagues take two hours of quiet time every morning and we find this to be really beneficial in getting through our workload. It’s so easy to be distracted and derailed, but staying focused and continuously prioritising are fundamental to being productive.” – Natasha
On networking…
“It is absolutely crucial. Networking has afforded me the biggest opportunities of my career. Asking questions of the people sitting beside you at networking events – even speaking about your work in social settings – can lead to business opportunities. You do need to be ‘always on’ in this regard and it can seem tiring, but it is almost always worth it.” – Laura
“I think networking is really important. It serves different purposes at different points in your career. To star out networking is about finding mentors, experience and guidance to get your foot in the door.
As you progress networking becomes about furthering those relationships for potential collaboration or to gain expertise from someone who works in that field. Networking also becomes a great way to meet like-minded people in the same field so you can have a good vent about the industry too which we all need.” – Mark
On having confidence in business…
“The two key ingredients to our approach at Stillwater are storytelling and confidence. Essentially, we help people tell their story with confidence. Despite the proliferation of technology in our everyday lives, human interaction is still the most powerful way to communicate. I’m always trying to build people’s capacity, thereby increasing their confidence.” – Natasha
“In business, you need a strong understanding of who you are and what you want to achieve. Then you need to be extremely tenacious. There will be plenty of setbacks and it’s not easy to break in, but if you have a good idea of where you want to be and you keep focused on getting there (by constantly self-assessing; listening to and welcoming feedback), then I truly believe you will make it.” – Mark
On overcoming obstacles…
“If an obstacle lands in your way then find a completely different way to come at it. When an obstacle is too big or you can’t find a way around it, then bring in another brain. Ask someone you know and trust to lend their ear and talk it out.” –Mark
“A glass ceiling, for example, is really just an obstacle put in our way to prevent us from getting where we want to be. Everyone has their own glass ceiling and everyone has two choices, to succumb to it, or to find a way around it. There are two main areas to work on: Firstly, to develop skills relevant to progress, then to hone our key personal traits and how we use them.” – Natasha
Want to hear more from our speakers?
Join us from 6:30 pm on February 25 for delicious canapés and bubbles, as you discover tips and tricks for getting your act together for 2019, from the inside out.
Not only this, but all attendees will walk away with a luxury gift bag that includes amazing treats from Bioderma, ALFAPARF Milano, Betty & Biddy, Hazel Mountain Chocolate, and Zeba Hair Salon.
Get your tickets here.
WHEN Monday, February 25
Champagne & canapés from 6:30pm
WHERE The Westbury Hotel, Dublin 2
TICKETS €45
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