NextGen MENA – Letters from the desk

Dear 20-year-old Suzanne,

In the rather grand scheme of things, where you are right now is just a small chapter.

Jumping into the workforce in your 20’s is going to be fun, exciting, challenging, scary and everything in between. All while figuring out how to be an adult!

Don’t let yourself be overwhelmed when you don’t have all of the answers. Make the time to figure out your long-term career goals, then work towards it and nurture the discipline – to realize them. Your journey may or may not always go according to the five-year and ten-year plans you created. But it will give you a clear set of goals to measure your trajectory against. Don’t be disheartened – people evolve, and plans change.

Your career as a communications professional has been guided by a philosophy – ‘Stay curious to stay relevant’. This means that you are always learning and asking a lot of questions – whether to develop your skillset or understand your client’s objectives better. Don’t be afraid to ask a question, how else, will you learn, grow and consistently deliver the very best work to your clients.

Flash-forward to now. It’s 2021, and we are in the middle of a global pandemic. Lives have been disrupted, the way we work is changing and it has even altered how we engage in our closest relationships.

This brings me to my next point – in times of uncertainty, your reputation is your strongest asset. You cannot control uncertainty but you can control how you respond to it. Many a time, I’ve found inspiration in Rudyard Kipling’s poem, “If,” especially in these lines:

“If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too …”

You will relate to this poem so many times along your journey. It speaks to determination, self-belief, honor and adaptability. These are values that will give you the strength to withstand any storm and respond to it with grace.

As a communications professional, you have a responsibility towards your audience, your employer and your profession. You have the power to motivate people to take a stand, consider an argument, or purchase a product. That is why, it is important to always do your best to make informed choices. It is challenging, requires a high level of self-discipline and determination, but you can absolutely achieve it!

If there is one thing that 2020 taught me, it is that challenges are opportunities dressed badly!

Don’t be afraid! Keep up your spirit, engage with hurdles and move forward with confidence! These are the moments that will shape you forever!

All my love,

Your (wiser) future self