Becoming - The Blog

Becoming Interview: Marijo Bos, Truth Seeker, Connector, and Motivator

 

 

This week, Marijo Bos is in the hot seat!  I first met Marijo while I worked for Mercer (www.mercer.com) and she worked for Oliver Wyman (www.oliverwyman.com).   

 

 

Marijo is currently leading and building Bos Advisors in collaboration with a network of expert advisors around the world.  Together, they serve global clients, supporting them in the discovery, design and development of programs to overcome the barriers to leadership and organizational success.  Their focus is on inspiring positive impact which can be leveraged across the organization.  Their goal is to support leaders in making this a reality.

 

Marijo is also a Current Board Member for one of the largest and most dynamic business networks, European Professional Women's Network. With a presence in 17 cities across Europe and 13 countries, it is a cross-cultural high impact organization. She is also the founding President in Spain and dedicates significant time and energy to building awareness and engagement on the topic of women's progress in business in Spain.

 

Brian:  Tell us about a cool project you are currently working on.


Marijo:  Bos Advisors is working with a client on assessing Inclusion IQ in specific markets.  This is a progressive assignment and we’re excited and hopeful to support this organization across multiple cultures.  Inclusion IQ in this case refers to having a complete understanding, embracing and acting upon the power and benefits of gender balanced teams across all levels of an organization through programs, initiatives and communication. This is a progressive assignment and we're excited and hopeful to support this organization across markets. I’m also really enjoying the ongoing work I’m doing on Difficult Conversations in emerging markets.

 

Brian:  How would you describe yourself?  What words would you use?  What is your brand? 

 

 

Marijo:  Inventive, truth seeker --connector, motivator.  My brand is about pushing progress and not being satisfied with anything less than excellence. 

 

 

Brian:  What are you passionate about? What type of work makes you jump out of bed in the morning and/or stay up late at night?

 

 

Marijo:  I’m passionate about getting others to be passionate, no matter if it’s about advancing your communication skills as a leader, igniting high performance teams, pushing progress in gender inclusion or inspiring young people to take control of their careers from the start.  I’m also passionate about exploring and connecting with new cultures and am an adventure seeker…this really gets me out of bed!   My last trips to Sudan and Serbia satisfied those passions.

 

 

Brian:  What is your source of inspiration?  What drives you forward?

 

 

Marijo:  My source of inspiration is making a difference, a positive impact in other people’s lives.  When someone follows up after a program, sharing the difference a topic made in their lives, professional or personal, it makes me want to do more and more.

 

 

Brian:  How do you see yourself evolving, or "becoming", in the next year?  In the next 3 years?

 

 

Marijo:  I see my practice getting more connected to experts around the world so we can collaborate on exciting projects together.  I would like to write a book and tap into my experiences across 17 different cultures on various topics of leadership.  Maybe in 2010 I’ll find the time, energy and focus to do so.

 

 

Marijo, thank you for taking time to talk with us!

 

Want to connect with Marijo?  Contact her via www.bosadvisors.com.

 

 

Are you becoming, or do you know someone who is becoming?  I am always looking for the next becoming interview! 

Becoming You: Taking a Personal Inventory - Reduce Stress

 

As the new year has now arrived, it is an ideal time to take a personal inventory, which can help you unleash the best within and around you and reach a more balanced life.  The steps are as follows.

 

 

1. Develop a brand for yourself.
2. Identify your support network.
3. Reduce stress.
4. Find peace and happiness.
5. Share your inventory.

 

 

We covered steps one and two in previous posts. 

 

 

• Information about the first step, as well as background information about taking a personal inventory, is at http://brianfishbone.typepad.com/becoming-the-blog/2009/11/becoming-you-taking-a-personal-inventory-step-1-develop-a-personal-brand-for-yourself.html.

 

 

• Information about the second step is at http://brianfishbone.typepad.com/becoming-the-blog/2009/12/becoming-you-taking-a-personal-inventory-step-2-identify-your-support-network.html.

 

Without further ado, here is step 3!

 

 

TAKING A PERSONAL INVENTORY – STEP 3

Reduce Stress

 

 

As the creator of the seminar Increasing Human Effectiveness Bob Moawad (may he rest in peace), used to say, the only people without stress are in a cemetery.  So, we need to find ways to better manage it while we are on this side of the asphalt. 

 

 

I think the most useful advice I have received about reducing stress came from my meditation coach Dagmar Garetzki.  I took an adult learning course about mindfulness meditation with her about six years ago.  I will never forget her two wisest points:

 

 

• Fire the judge!  There is a voice, a kind of judge that resides in our minds.  He or she often tells us what we have done wrong, how we have failed, etc. – stories which involve negative self-talk and emotions.  You can’t ignore the judge completely, but you can take away some of his or her power by letting go of him or her.

 

 

• Hire the compassionate observer!  The compassionate observer simply observes negative thoughts as they come to mind and does not allow them to take control.  So, the next time you hear the judge telling you about that deadline you missed, instead of getting upset about it, just casually observe the negative thought and call it what is – just a passing negative thought.

 

 

In fact, why don’t you try this new approach to stress reduction right now!  Find a quiet area in your home or office and sit on a hard-backed chair in an upright position.  Then, sit still and breathe deeply for two minutes.  You may choose to close your eyes or leave them open.

 

 

I bet this was really hard.  The first time I did it – it was excruciating.  I could not tune out my thoughts (i.e. the judge). 

 

 

Here are some reflective questions to help you learn from this exercise.

 

 

• What were some of the thoughts that came into your mind?

 

• What types of thoughts were they?

 

• How did you react to the thoughts?

 

 

If you liked this activity, I encourage you to keep doing it and increase your sitting time by one minute each time.  By the end of my time with Dagmar, I could sit mindfully for 30 minutes at a time!

 

 

Here are some closing thoughts and questions about mindfulness sitting and stress reduction.

 

 

• Avoid emotional hijacking – the compassionate observer allows you to be in control!

 

 

• When a negative or stressful thought enters your mind, hold it for one or two seconds, take a deep breath, and then release the thought as you exhale.

 

 

• What can I let go of at this moment to be at peace?

 

 

• Will this bother me in 10 years?

 

 

I hope this third installment of Taking a Personal Inventory has been helpful.  If you’re inspired, I welcome you to post some comments here.  You can also feel free to reach out to me if you need any help. 

 

 

 

Here’s to taking your personal inventory – good luck with it! 

 

Becoming You: Sneak Preview of Semiannual Inspiration

 

 

This week, I offer a sneak preview of my January 2010 semiannual inspiration message titled “Changing for the Better”.  Here are some tidbits to get your started.

 

 

Sometimes change begins with looking in the mirror.  Quiet your mind, and be with yourself.  Then, ask this question - are you changing for the better? 

 

 

 

 

I have seen momentous changes in myself and others in 2009.  Some have been rejuvenating; some have been brutally difficult; yet all of them have been powerful. 

 

 

In 2009, did you change for the better?  Why or why not?

In 2010 will you change for the better?  Why or why not?

 

 

To read the entire message, complete with additional thought-provoking questions, stories, and insights about change, please visit  http://brianfishbone.typepad.com/becoming-the-blog/semiannual-inspirational-messages.html.

 

 

And if you would like to receive the messages directly before they are posted on this blog, please contact me, and I will add you to the email distribution list for them.

 

 

Please remember that you are opening a new decade this year.  That only happens once every 10 years – so be sure to make it count.

 

Becoming Interview: Shelly Korn, Global Self-Empowerment

This week, Shelly Korn is in the hot seat!  I met Shelly via a LinkedIn group I created for expat and Korean professionals in Korea, and she and I have been friends ever since.  Her journey is a fascinating one, from Israel and South Africa to Korea.  Read on!

 

 

 

Shelly is currently HR Director Asia Pacific of MindsGroup (http://www.mindsgroup.biz/index.php).  With seventeen years of International Human Resources Management (IHRM.) experience in Europe, Southern Africa and the Middle East, Shelly has lived in 4 countries and speaks 3 languages.  A Middlesex University Graduate (U.K), Shelly also has a BA in H.R.M & Marketing with honors in Training & Development and an MA in HRM.   Shelly is also a qualified trainer and coach, has owned her own HR consultancy, and has vast experience in setting up HR business partnerships in both the private and the public sectors.  She regularly partners with corporations, NGOs, and NPOs from the following industries: automotive, aviation, banking, chemical, education, electronics, food & beverage, health, hospitality, manufacturing, media, pharmaceutical, retail, security and defence, services, social welfare, telecommunication, and tourism.  She also specializes in HR integration and effectiveness, IHRM, and global talent development.

 

Brian:  Tell us about a cool project you are currently working on.


Shelly:  When I started practicing HR in Korea I quickly came to realise that there is no HR Industry body (such as SHRM in the US, or the CIPD in UK) to guide practitioners on HR standards and best-practices.  I also learnt that in Korea it is still impossible to get a degree purely in HR; one can only take few HR courses as part of other management degrees. I saw a real need to help HR practitioners minimize the gap between global and local HR practices. Together with the European Chamber of Commerce (EUCCK), we’ve started lobbying the Korean government on the need to support foreign investment companies in their HR challenges as well as develop local HR talent through the prioritisation of industry-based learning.

 

With support from important parties such as the Ministry of Labour (MoL) and Seoul National University (SNU), this October we proudly launched the pilot of the first HR industry-based course in Korea. We have collaborated with high-calibre HR leaders from Korea and other countries to create a practical outcome-based learning experience. Following adult education and life-long-learning principles, Korean students can for the first time enjoy a unique blend of learning that covers knowledge of international HR best practice with a lot of practical application and mentoring on important HR issues such as talent management and employee engagement.

 

It has been such a humbling experience to see my dream of running an HR education initiative slowly take form and become a reality. It provided me with the opportunity to work with a group of inspiring HR visionaries who stand at the forefront of HR Transformation in the country. I was also able to get a real insight into International HRM practices in Korea, and better understand what difficulties Korean HR practitioners face on a day-to-day basis.

 

The pilot will end in March 2010, and we are hoping to offer two new industry courses next year: one for HR leaders and the other for HR practitioners. I am truly honoured to work side by side with a body like the EUCCK who really cares about the development of the HR community in Korea.

 

 

Brian:  How would you describe yourself?  What words would you use?  What is your brand? 

 

 

Shelly:  I am a big advocate of self-empowerment: born severely dyslexic I was able to overcome my disability and obtain three degrees while studying in a foreign country and in a foreign language. I was able to do so because I thoroughly believe that you have to do things for yourself and not rely on others. I don’t spend time blaming anyone for the problems I encounter, and I don’t expect anyone to solve them for me. I believe my life will be what I will make of it, and knowing that inspires me to excel, exceed, and better myself everyday with everything I do.    

 

 

Brian:  What are you passionate about? What type of work makes you jump out of bed in the morning and/or stay up late at night?

 

 

Shelly:  I have a real passion for change, the new and the different. I have a reputation for working in unstructured environments where it’s necessary to create something out of nothing - designing systems, structures, and processes where none existed before.

I love making the abstract practical and appealing, I thrive on simplifying complex information and truly enjoy helping people and organisations embrace the unknown and work with the uncertainties they face. 

 

 

Brian:  What is your source of inspiration?  What drives you forward?

 

 

Shelly:  I find the elderly to be an incredible source of inspiration in my life. We tend to forget about the golden generation, those who have already reached the summit. I find the elderly to be courageous and outrageous in the most subtle and unexpected ways. It takes guts to wake up every morning and go about your day when you know that things will not necessarily get better. It takes agility and resourcefulness to continue to smile in the face of loneliness, to survive unkindness, and overcome ingratitude. To remain hopeful when you know no one is looking for your input, and to remind yourself that you are important, even though no one has told you so in a while. 

 

 

I wish we’d spend more time and effort helping our parents’ parents, supporting their needs, and learning from their wisdom. I make it a point to work with, volunteer, and live side by side with the elderly: they have shaped my life and made me who I am today, and remain my greatest source of inspiration. 

 

 

Brian:  How do you see yourself evolving, or "becoming", in the next year?  In the next 3 years?

 

 

Shelly:  In the next few months, at the age of 37 I will finally become a mother for the first time. Reconnecting with the concept of development and growth in its original form, I wanted to offer myself the same opportunities I hope to offer my child: the joy of discovery and exploration. This is why I’ve decided that this is the right time to take a break from work (or at least slow down) and pursue my dream of PhD studies. I’m hoping it will allow me to reconnect with the old in new ways, to be reminded of what I have forgotten, and to explore what has yet to be explored.

 

 

Shelly, thank you for taking time to talk with us!

Want to connect with Shelly?  Contact her at shelly@mindsgroup.biz.

 

 

Are you becoming, or do you know someone who is becoming?  I am always looking for the next becoming interview!