Exploring Career Challenges

After spending three decades in the aerospace industry, I’ve seen firsthand how crucial it is for different sectors to learn from each other. We no longer can afford to stay stuck in our own bubbles. Take the aerospace industry, for example. They’ve been looking at how car manufacturers automate their factories to improve their own processes. And those racing teams? Their ability to prototype quickly and develop at a breakneck pace is something we can all learn from to speed up our product development. It’s all about breaking down those silos and embracing new ideas from wherever we can find them. When I was leading the Scorpion Jet program, our rapid development – less than two years to develop a new aircraft – caught the attention of a company known for razors and electric shavers. They reached out to us, intrigued by our ability to iterate so quickly, telling me "you developed a new jet faster than we can develop new razors..." They wanted to learn how we managed to streamline our processes. It was quite an unexpected and fascinating experience that underscored the value of looking beyond one’s own industry can lead to significant improvements and efficiencies, even in fields as seemingly unrelated as aerospace and consumer electronics. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s more important than ever for industries to break out of their silos and look to other sectors for fresh ideas and processes. This kind of cross-industry learning not only fosters innovation but also helps stay competitive in a rapidly changing market. For instance, the aerospace industry has been taking cues from car manufacturers to improve factory automation. And the automotive companies are adopting aerospace processes for systems engineering. Meanwhile, both sectors are picking up tips from tech giants like Apple and Google to boost their electronics and software development. And at Siemens, we partner with racing teams. Why? Because their knack for rapid prototyping and fast-paced development is something we can all learn from to speed up our product development cycles. This cross-pollination of ideas is crucial as industries evolve and integrate more advanced technologies. By exploring best practices from other industries, companies can find innovative new ways to improve their processes and products. After all, how can someone think outside the box, if they are only looking in the box? If you are interested in learning more, I suggest checking out this article by my colleagues Todd Tuthill and Nand Kochhar where they take a closer look at how cross-industry learning are key to developing advanced air mobility solutions. https://lnkd.in/dK3U6pJf

Are you worried that building your personal brand might ruffle feathers at work? It's a common concern. I was just speaking with someone who felt stuck – she wanted to establish herself as a thought leader, but she knew her employer wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about it. Understandably, companies can feel hesitant about personal branding if you’re not in a top-tier role. Questions may arise: Why is this person in the spotlight? Will they represent us well, or are they simply building their brand to move on? But here’s the thing: you can build your brand strategically without creating friction: ✳ Collaborate, don’t clash Find ways to align your goals with the company’s. For example, if your organization wants visibility in your field, you can propose speaking engagements or articles in industry publications – activities that highlight both you and the company positively. Team up with the communications team to ensure everyone feels supported. ✳ Leverage your company’s brand power Take full advantage of your employer’s credibility. Networking becomes easier when people are excited to meet you because of where you work. This brand association can help expand your connections without stepping on any toes. ✳ Know when to dial back Building a public-facing brand inside a company sometimes means a slower pace. Keep your activities relevant and aligned with the organization’s goals, and consider pacing things until you’re at a level where it feels more natural. Personal branding isn’t just about personal gain; it’s a way to create lasting impact and build confidence in your professional identity, all while contributing value to your current role. 

Women get unfairly passed over for promotions. This leads to a tough choice: Play the game to move up or try to change the game and risk not advancing as quickly. Here are my thoughts as a leader who has seen this many times. As a man, my ability to advise women on navigating these challenges is limited, but to ignore the situation would be worse. I will offer what I can. Women are passed over for reasons including: 1. Conscious Bias- Not believing that women can hold leadership positions or that men are inherently more fit to lead. 2. Unconscious Bias- Promote or invest in the growth of men over women without realizing it. 3. Gender roles- Often bearing more responsibilities relating to the home and childcare. This slows career advancement. 4. Hidden Expectations- As a society, we look up to folks with deep voices and larger physical stature. These reasons present women with the dilemma of conforming to the game or trying to change it. Conforming to the game looks like interrupting others, prioritizing career over home life/child care, talking sports, or drinking as a way to “fit in”, etc. Of course, plenty of women enjoy sports and drinking. That is not what I am talking about. I am talking about doing it as a way to conform to an archetype that you see being rewarded. The other option is challenging the system and advocating for fair treatment. The advantage of this is that it helps to change things for the better. The disadvantage is that it may hurt your own chances for rapid growth. The truth is I do not know of many cases where a woman who challenges the game moves up as quickly as the one who plays it. So, some things that women can do to avoid this double bind are: 1. Seek companies with more women in leadership. 2. Work for other women when possible, and learn from how they lead (“playing the game” vs. being engaged in changing it? Both can be learned from). 3. Work for companies/people who advocate for women. As men, we can: 1. Acknowledge and confront our biases, conscious and unconscious. 2. Fight for women and realize that their journey has been different from ours. 3. Refuse to tolerate misogynistic behavior. Finally, another thing that we as men can do is refrain from engaging in “whataboutism” when we are engaged in these discussions. Yes, some women try to use their gender to manipulate. However, the vast majority of women do not do this. Yes, some women falsely claim harassment or are looking to find offense anywhere they can. This is extremely rare and these few do not invalidate the needs of the rest. Yes, some women cover up for, perpetuate, or look the other way in cases of bad male behavior. These instances do not invalidate the larger problem. So, in this discussion and others, don’t throw out these points to distract from the real conversation. I welcome all comments discussing this topic seriously. Any comments that are intentionally offensive or antagonistic will be deleted.

I've coached executives across five continents, and here's the brutal truth: The professionals getting promoted aren't necessarily the smartest—they're the fastest learners. While everyone else is consuming content passively, top performers have cracked the code on accelerated learning. They don't just read about strategy—they can teach it back to you in 60 seconds. ✅ The Harvard Business Review's latest research confirms what I see daily: Professionals who can learn and apply new concepts 10x faster than their peers become indispensable in half the time. Here's the framework that separates rapid learners from information collectors: • Explain like you're 5 → Simplify complex concepts into basic terms • Visualize the process → Create mental maps of how things work • Break it into chunks → Divide big concepts into 3-5 digestible parts • Find the patterns → Extract rules and formulas you can apply elsewhere • Relate to real life → Connect every concept to situations you encounter daily • Use analogies → Compare new ideas to familiar concepts you already know • Break the myths → Identify 3 misconceptions and learn the truth behind them • Ask the critical "why" → Understand impacts & consequences, not just facts • Teach it back → Explain the concept to someone who knows nothing about it • Challenge it → Question common assumptions and identify potential mistakes • Simulate practice → Create scenarios to apply the knowledge immediately • Turn it into stories → Transform concepts into brain-friendly narratives While your peers are still highlighting PDF articles and saving LinkedIn posts they'll never revisit, you could be mastering new skills, solving complex problems, and positioning yourself as the go-to expert in your field. The professionals who master rapid learning don't just advance faster—they become irreplaceable. Coaching can help; let's chat. #coachingtips #careeradvice #professionaldevelopment

If you’re in your 40s and feeling invisible, irrelevant, or replaceable… You’re not alone. And you’re not done. Yet it is a double whammy: We’re going to live longer — and yet, many are getting fired earlier. Careers are ending in the 40s. At a time when responsibilities are at their peak — EMIs, school fees, aging parents, health bills. And the harsh truth? No one’s hiring you unless you’re cheap or niche. I quit the corporate world at 50 — by choice. It’s been 10 years now of walking a different path. Of chasing dreams, reinventing, stumbling, learning, and helping others do the same. So if you’ve been laid off ( at any age) — or fear that pink slip is near — here’s what I’ve learned. Take what makes sense. Leave the rest. 1. Reinvent Your Thinking — Start Thinking Like a Creator Don’t chase a job. Start creating value. Even if you are in a job,consult, teach, write, coach, or freelance — you’re building. A one-person business is still a business. Be a Risk Taker - No Job is Safe. 2. Sell Your Story, Not Just Your Skills Your experience is not a liability. It’s a brand. Learn to tell your story. What you stand for. Why it matters. Storytelling and marketing are not optional anymore — they are survival skills. 3. Embrace AI — Before It Replaces You AI won’t replace people who use it smartly. Just need to be open. And a fundamental shift - stay Curious, be a lifelong learner. 4. Build a Financial Safety Net Before freedom, comes the cushion: • Emergency fund (12 months) • Medical and term insurance • Reduce lifestyle costs • Start building small passive income streams And stop competing/ comparing. Each journey is unique. 5. Find a Support System Reinvention is hard. Doing it alone is harder. Find people who get it. Share learnings. Collaborate. Be vulnerable. Even one supportive conversation a week can give you energy to keep going. 6. Find a Good Mentor I wish I had one when I started. A mentor can be your mirror when you’re doubting yourself. A pillar when your own voice gives up. Someone who has walked the path and can hold space for you when you feel lost. Don’t underestimate what a good mentor can do. It could change everything. 7. Build Inner Strength There will be fear, silence, rejection. That’s when inner work begins: Journaling. Reflection. Mindfulness. When the outer path is uncertain — the inner path is what holds you. 8. Take Charge of Your Health You can’t build your second act if your body is breaking down. • Focus on habits, not willpower • Move daily — I found cycling, you’ll find your thing • Calm your mind — even 10 minutes of meditation helps • Don’t do it alone — community matters here too Final Thought A wave may knock you down. But it can also carry you somewhere new — if you learn to float. Don’t let a layoff define your end. Let it become your turning point. The second act is calling. And this time, you get to write it your way. #FireUp.

𝗟𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗳𝗳𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄. If you still have your job, that’s a blessing. But don’t put all your eggs in one basket. 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟵–𝟱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂. If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend building an 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱: 📌One that reflects your values 📌What you stand for and 📌Your personal story When you have a strong personal brand, you’re not just waiting for opportunities... they start chasing you. One of the best decisions I made was building my personal brand while I still had a 9–5 job. I simply started showing up online... sharing what I knew and being honest about my journey. And when I relocated to the UK with no job lined up, my personal brand showed up for me. 📌It became something I could fall back on 📌It gave me options 📌It opened doors Best investment of my time... no regrets! So if you're reading this and thinking, “I’ll start someday”… Remember: time waits for no one. Start now...even if it’s just one post a week. You’ll thank yourself later. 🔁 If this resonates, feel free to repost...someone in your network might need it today. Follow Chekwube Uchea for real, honest conversations and practical guidance on: • Navigating career transitions. • Building a personal brand that opens doors. • Showing up authentically, especially as a black immigrant or underrepresented voice. #ChekwubeUchea #PersonalBranding #Layoffs #CareerTips #BuildInPublic

I wake up every day expecting to lose my job. This minimizes my stress 12 years ago, I did lose my job. At the time, my wife had only a graduate student stipend, and we were living in Cambridge, MA - an expensive place to be caught off guard. I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t know what to do. That experience changed me. I vowed that I would never allow myself to be blindsided by job loss again. The hard truth is this: any company will cut you tomorrow without hesitation if it reduces expenses or ensures business health for leadership. It’s painful, but the sooner we accept this reality, the better prepared we can be. What surprises me most is how many people treat career preparedness as a reactive effort. Networking, building relationships, and monitoring open roles shouldn’t be things you do only after you’ve lost your job. By then, it’s often too late. This is why I usually speak to those in our community who’ve already lost their jobs. But today, my message is also for those who still have them. If you don’t already, I strongly encourage you to adopt this mindset: Assume that every day could be the day you lose your job. This is not a gimmick - this is how I think, sincerely. Expect it to happen. It won’t make the pain disappear, but it will reduce the sting when it does. Ask yourself - if it happened, am I ready? Here are a few critical questions to guide your preparedness: Do I have a plan for six months, one year, or 18 months from now? Have I built real, sincere relationships that would enable me to reach out for support and advice? Do I have a wide list of companies and individuals I could tap if I had to make a change? Am I regularly reviewing roles to stay informed about what’s out there or to spot better opportunities than my current one? Companies can get rid of you at any moment without regret. Don’t you deserve to do everything possible to prioritize your wellbeing - without regret? For me, preparation is non-negotiable. Beyond my day-to-day responsibilities, I maintain a list of relationships - friends, acquaintances, and potential collaborators - and I dedicate time to nurture those connections. This isn’t transactional. It’s about real people I care about and making sure they know I’m there for them too. I also keep an active, evolving list of organizations where I believe I could thrive if needed. Networking and career preparedness aren’t activities to save for a rainy day. They’re lifelong habits, essential for navigating inevitable change. I’ve met incredible, accomplished people who’ve lost jobs unexpectedly. I know I could be next - just like anyone else. But I’ve vowed to always be ready, and I urge you to do the same. Start now - when your company cuts you, it might be too late. If I ever reach out to you, I hope you’ll have an active A/B/C list ready to go, especially if you’re still employed. I credit this approach with having experienced unemployment only once in 42 years and I want it to help you too.

Missing out on opportunities? 🤔 A strong personal brand can make all the difference. I quit my job at 27 with no backup plan. My mentor advised me to gain corporate experience first, but I took the risk anyway. Eight years later, I’ve presented to over 700 professionals, teaching them how to grow their businesses. Through this whole journey, here’s what I learned about personal branding: 1. Personal branding is your invisible but key asset. → Think of it as your secret weapon. It might seem intangible, but trust me, it’s powerful. → Every like, share, and conversation you engage in? They’re all building your reputation. This reputation is like invisible currency that’s going to open doors for you in the future. → Your brand is always evolving, showing off your growth and accomplishments. 2. Personal branding is amplification → No more shouting into the void. With a strong personal brand, you amplify your voice so much more effectively. → No more feeling like you're not being heard. Your brand helps you stand out above the noise. → It helps you attract collaborators, clients, and opportunities that resonate with your unique talents and passions. 3. Personal branding is difficult → I won't sugarcoat it – building your brand takes some serious effort. But here's the thing: the payoff is absolutely worth it. → Embrace the grind. It’s part of the journey and each step helps you sharpen your skills and discover your niche. → Before you know it, you’ll be a beacon in your field, someone others look up to and want to connect with. Don't let the difficulty discourage you! Remember, building your brand is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the process, learn from your stumbles, and celebrate every milestone along the way. What steps are you taking today to build your personal brand? Let's talk about it! P.s. ✍🏻 I am Benjamin Loh, CSP, a strategic growth coach and consultant who has taught over 65,000 leaders in over 20 global cities and constructed some of the leading icons (TOT, Award Winners) in the financial industry in Asia through the power of authentic storytelling and authority building. 💪 Follow me for personal brand and growth insights. #topofmind #millennials #business

“Michelle, can you take the minutes?” Years ago, I was in a meeting with senior executives when my boss turned to me and asked me to take the minutes. My response? “Why? Just because I’ve got a vagina?” Now, was that the most strategic way to handle it? Probably not. Did it get my point across? Absolutely. This moment highlighted a more significant issue: women being assigned non-promotable tasks that do nothing to advance their careers. Taking minutes, organising meetings, and onboarding new employees are essential tasks, but they become career roadblocks when they are disproportionately assigned to women. Managers, ask yourselves: • Who is being asked to take on these tasks in your team? • Are these responsibilities shared fairly? • Are you unintentionally reinforcing gendered expectations at work? Women, next time this happens, try: • “I’ve taken the minutes the last few times. Let’s rotate this responsibility.” • “This task should be shared fairly. Who hasn’t done it yet?” • “I’d like to contribute to the discussion, not just document it.” #WomenAtWork #CareerAdvice #GenderEquity #LeadToSoar

In today's fast-paced world, where change is the only constant, our approach to career development needs a major upgrade. This is my goal for 2024. Gone are the days when learning was merely a step to doing a job; today, learning IS the job. I recently came across a thought-provoking piece in the Harvard Business Review that perfectly captures this sentiment. It emphasizes the need to make learning a part of our daily routine, a concept championed by influential leaders like Reid Hoffman and Satya Nadella. They advocate for becoming "infinite learners" - those who continuously engage in the cycle of learning, unlearning, and relearning, standing out as true innovators in any field. To revolutionize your career, consider these three dynamic strategies: (1) Cultivate a Learning Culture at Work: - Network with professionals from diverse fields and roles. Regularly schedule "curiosity coffees" to broaden your perspective. - Be experimental. Apply new techniques in everyday tasks and document the outcomes. Remember, every experiment, successful or not, is a step towards progress. - Promote skill-sharing within your team. Exchange expertise with colleagues, enriching everyone involved. (2) Perfect the Art of Unlearning: - Surround yourself with people who question your viewpoints. Engage in dialogues that expand your thinking. - Reevaluate and challenge your routine work practices. This might unlock unexpected opportunities. - Drive innovation by asking, "How might we?" to discover creative solutions. (3) Commit to Continuous Relearning: - Leverage your strengths in new contexts to foster growth. - Actively seek diverse feedback for insights on areas to relearn and adapt. - Cultivate resilience by acknowledging daily accomplishments, however small. These accumulate into significant triumphs. In addition to these strategies, investing in professional development courses, like those offered by Talent Garden and Hyper Island, can significantly amplify your learning journey. Our platforms provide tailored learning experiences, keeping you abreast with the latest industry trends and skills. The future of work is uncertain, but by embracing a cycle of learning, unlearning, and relearning, we can better prepare ourselves to grasp emerging opportunities and tackle challenges head-on. #CareerGrowth #LearningMindset #FutureOfWork #InnovativeThinking #ContinuousLearning #ProfessionalDevelopment