Work, Art, and Amore: Leadership Lessons from the Streets of Rome
I recently spent four unforgettable days in Rome with my book club, where we soaked up art, history, and pasta in every possible form....
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Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Oct 149 min read
Why Professionals Are Leaving Dublin: My Personal Take After 12 Years
A large majority of my clients are expats from all around the world—some living in Dublin, others considering relocating here. It’s...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Sep 237 min read
How to Lead Effectively Across Cultures: Lessons in Power Distance and Directness
When a Chinese-American coachee recently shared her experience with the communication style differences between herself and her new...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jul 165 min read
Entitlement vs. Self-Drivenness: How Leaders Can Build a Culture of Ownership
Not long ago, a coachee of mine, let's call her Jane, found herself grappling with a perplexing issue. Jane had built a vibrant and...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jul 85 min read
Friendships, Work, and the Wheel of Life: A Journey Towards Connection
I am spending most of the summer in Turkey again this year. We just arrived a couple of days ago, and it feels great to be back....
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jul 17 min read
The Science of Incentives and Why America Loves Tipping
We recently watched the first episode of the last season of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," which sparked a heated debate among friends from...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jun 185 min read
Navigating Career Change as an Expat: Embracing the Challenges and Opportunities
Moving to a new country can be an exhilarating yet daunting experience, especially when your career trajectory is impacted by the move....
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
May 286 min read
The End of the 9-5: Embracing a Flexible Work Future
The traditional 9-5, five-days-a-week corporate office environment is a relic of the past, and I, for one, am never going back. This...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Nov 19, 20237 min read
Roots and Routes: Musings on the Concept of 'Home'
I've been thinking a lot about the concept of 'home' and what it signifies, as of late. A Turkish language podcast called 'Bir Gidene...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jun 20, 202316 min read
From Novice to Ninja: 10 Common Mistakes New People Managers Make and How to Avoid them
I was both excited and nervous when I landed my first job as a people manager at Google. I had gotten promoted in my sales job but there...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
May 29, 20236 min read
The Value of Value: How Charging for My Yoga Classes Transformed the Experience
One of the best things about working at Google is being able to curate and offer your knowledge and skills as part of a program branded...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Apr 2, 20239 min read
Pizza or Pasta? How to Turn Constructive Customer Feedback into an Opportunity to Grow and Thrive
Recently, I noticed some red flags at my daughter’s childcare center - more of some of the worrisome signs that had already presented...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Feb 26, 202312 min read
Business Across Cultures: Personal Space, Enchiladas and Golden Silence
I was reminded of an odd and funny experience from my college days, when I was standing in front of a what was meant to be a linear queue...
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