A Human Connection: Beating the Odds through Kindness
As women, we tend to underestimate our capabilities when pursuing a professional career. Our self-esteem further diminishes when people belittle our accomplishments because of our gender. However, the key to success doesn't lie in your origin or gender but your strengths. Everyone can reach the same heights and create the human connections necessary to get to the top. Eleanor Foley is an inspirational figure who proves that success is always within reach, no matter the odds.
In this episode, Eleanor Foley describes her challenging journey as a single mother towards professional success. She also reveals the proudest moments in her life as a woman in a male-dominated industry and how trust and a human connection are the keys to success. Before she concludes, she spills her secret to being a successful leader.
Listen to this episode to see how forging real human connections on your journey is the path to success.
Here are three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Discover Eleanor’s proudest moments in her leadership pursuit.
Learn how Eleanor's ability to forge a human connection proved to be the secret to her success.
Know what it takes to thrive as a leader in modern industries.
Resources
Map Out the Life that You Deserve with Angela
Connect with Eleanor: LinkedIn
At Novartis, we are reimagining medicine.
Episode Highlights
[3:39] Eleanor’s Proudest Moments
She believes that every day is made up of really proud moments.
Eleanor takes pride in many things — watching her daughter, for example, or simple achievements.
Eleanor acquired an MBA while being a single mother and a full-time employee.
Her MBA opened many doors that were previously closed — including a job at Microsoft.
Although Eleanor landed a job at Microsoft, her sense of achievement came not from the job but from completing her MBA.
[7:59] Conversations on Perseverance
On April 1, Eleanor was burnt out, almost reaching the point of fatigue while still having to submit her thesis.
Like a Phoenix, it's okay to fall as long as you rise again afterwards.
Find the ‘spark’ somewhere within you and ignite it.
Even though you have the best support system, it’s still useless if you don’t believe that you can do it.
Removing an element of perfection is crucial to getting the job done.
[11:19] The ‘Unbossed’ Culture
Eleanor works for Novartis, where they practice unbossed culture.
In an unbossed culture, employees don't have to ask for permission to do anything. Everyone is 100% accountable for their actions and the results thereof.
Employees, therefore, have significantly more freedom and agency in how they operate.
The culture is results-driven while providing you with the autonomy of work-life balance.
[13:52] The Essence of Trust in Work
Novartis has an efficient and effective professional culture because of trust.
Employers and employees both have to earn each other's trust.
Work quality will increase when there's a human connection between employers and employees.
The value of trust is magnified when we focus on the person behind the work rather than the job itself.
Employers need to remember that employees want to do the best for the company as much as they do.
[16:12] Eleanor’s Road to Full-time in Novartis
All of Eleanor's work-from-home experiences revolved around trust.
At Novartis, Eleanor was impressed with the way employees and employers treat and interact with each other.
Over 1 weekend 90,000 people in Novartis had to start working virtually because of the shut downs caused by COVID, yet the company still trusts their employees to fulfil their jobs.
[17:58] The Trusted Advisor Role
Everything starts within yourself.
Being an advisor requires two things: that you are well-versed in your subject matter and that your advice is reliable and beneficial.
Giving trustworthy advice also builds reputation; consequently, being a trusted advisor also translates into leadership skills.
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