199 - OKRs, Pancake Sprints, & The Power of a 30-60-90 Day Plan: Vanessa Monsequeira (VP of People, Gorilla)
Sep 17, 2024
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Vanessa Monsequeira, VP of People at Gorilla, sheds light on her journey through hyper-growth and the importance of mindset in leadership. She discusses the challenges of scaling operations in tech while balancing quick and mindful decision-making. Her insights on the necessity of unlearning and relearning for effective leadership transitions are eye-opening. Vanessa also shares the value of creating a 30-60-90 day plan and aligning OKRs with business goals, offering practical advice for navigating today’s competitive job market.
Vanessa Monsequeira emphasizes the importance of adaptability in leadership, drawing from her non-linear career path through various industries.
The need for a measured approach in balancing rapid execution with thoughtful planning is highlighted as crucial for effective leadership during hyper-growth.
A positive mindset and building trusting relationships within leadership teams are essential for navigating challenges in today's job market.
Deep dives
Personal Triumphs: A Mother's Journey
The episode highlights a personal story about a 67-year-old mother who recently transitioned back into the workforce after a significant period away. Having previously worked as a teacher and principal, she sought a role in a corporate setting within education and successfully landed a job. Significantly, this new opportunity coincided with her plans for a long holiday, demonstrating resilience against ageism in the job market. This narrative emphasizes the broader theme of diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly regarding age and its importance in fostering a supportive work environment.
Career Pathways: An Unconventional Journey
The guest shares her non-linear career trajectory, which began with studies in science and psychology, leading her to roles that blended human behavior with organizational dynamics. Beginning her career in business psychology, she eventually transitioned into HR roles across various industries. Experiences in consulting firms brought her insights into corporate culture, particularly during periods of organizational transformation. This journey emphasizes the importance of adaptability and finding one's passion within the evolving landscape of work.
Navigating Slow and Fast: A Leadership Challenge
In discussing her initial weeks in a new role, the guest reflects on the balance between rapid execution and thoughtful planning. The attempt to foster a new vision for her team while simultaneously managing urgent company objectives proved challenging. An important lesson learned was the need for a measured approach—sometimes moving deliberately creates better long-term outcomes than rushing into action. This experience serves as a reminder that effective leadership requires pacing and understanding team dynamics to build a sustainable foundation.
Cultivating Healthy Relationships in Leadership
The conversation touches on the significance of building trusting relationships with leadership teams, especially in HR roles. A supportive CEO and executive team created a conducive environment where the guest's ideas around people as a product were welcomed. This fosters collaboration, allowing HR to innovate and align closely with business objectives. Strong leadership relationships not only enhance operational success but also promote a culture where employees feel valued and understood.
The Importance of Mindset in Job Searching
The discussion emphasizes how a positive mindset can significantly impact the job search process, especially in a challenging market. Job seekers are encouraged to focus on building resilience and affirmations while actively networking and customizing applications. With the acknowledgment of collective struggles faced by job seekers, it is advised to cultivate a mindset that embraces adaptability amidst rejection and setbacks. This perspective transforms the job search from a process of desperation to one of empowerment and opportunity.
Vanessa Monsequeira, VP of People at Gorilla, joined us on The Modern People Leader.
We discussed Vanessa’s path to leadership, how to navigate hyper-growth in organizations, and the importance of mindset and unlearning for today’s people leaders.
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(0:02) Introduction and good news stories
(5:28) Vanessa’s career journey and lessons from hyper-growth
(10:21) The role of mindset and resilience in leadership
(14:32) Navigating fast vs. slow decision-making during hyper-growth
(18:47) Gorilla’s core business and the impact of real-time data in energy utilities
(27:53) The challenges of scaling people operations in a tech company
(32:30) Identifying and addressing blind spots in HR leadership
(40:48) The role of unlearning and relearning in leadership transitions
(46:31) OKRs and the process of aligning with business goals
(49:06) Advice for people leaders navigating today’s tough job market