Choosing Excellence over Mediocrity
Recently, I had the honor of speaking to over 50+ bright students at a prestigious university in Turkey. Amidst their insightful queries...
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Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Mar 177 min read
Peacock vs. Crane: Redefining Success Beyond Visibility at the Workplace
Roughly a dozen years ago, my then-manager complimented my work but noted my career advancement hinged on improving my "visibility."...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Feb 255 min read
The Doer Leader and The Case for Having a Bias for Action
Google's Manager Feedback Survey includes a question about whether a manager has the technical skills necessary for effectively managing...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Feb 177 min read
How to Master Authentic Networking for Leaders
Networking stands as a critical component in a leader's toolkit, playing a key role in the advancement of careers and the success of...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Feb 118 min read
How the SCARF Model Drives High-Performing Teams
Leadership is a journey that begins the moment you step into the professional world, whether you're at the starting line or eyeing the...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Feb 46 min read
Beyond Leadership: The Coaching Mindset for Personal Growth
Are you feeling trapped in the monotony of everyday routines? Do you find yourself yearning for more meaningful growth in your...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jan 216 min read
Leadership Mastery: The Power of Feedback and Feedforward
Effective feedback, along with feedforward, forms the bedrock of successful management. Despite its crucial role, mastering this skill is...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Dec 24, 202310 min read
A Year in Review: Leaving my Corporate Job to Build a Career in Coaching
As we approach the end of another year, it feels like an opportune moment to pause and reflect on my transformative journey of...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Dec 14, 20238 min read
The Career Kaleidoscope & the Art of Portfolio Diversification (a.k.a. Musings on Portfolio Careers)
My upbringing was in a household that lived and breathed the virtues of a stable job, consistency, and diligent work - principles deeply...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Nov 2, 20237 min read
Embracing the Learning Rollercoaster: From Frustration to Mastery
Picture this: You're eager to learn, but feel like you're hitting a wall. Growth? Yes, please—but oh, the dread of starting from scratch....
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Oct 8, 20236 min read
Accelerating your Career: The Dynamic Duo of Mentors and Sponsors
According to Gallup, currently, only 40% of employees report having a mentor in the workplace. Rates are even lower for sponsorship at...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Sep 16, 20236 min read
How to Become a People Manager
Are you a seasoned individual contributor with aspirations to step into a leadership role, but finding the path to climb the corporate...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Sep 10, 20235 min read
The Asshole Genius: Exploring the Myth of the Artistic Temperament
Good (and appropriate) song to listen to while reading this article I recently joined a book club, which was a new experience for me....
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Sep 6, 20235 min read
Thriving in the Age of Transformation: Why Middle Managers Are the Heartbeat of Organizations
I am currently working with a coachee who has been a middle manager in a tech company for 4+ years. The other day, he candidly shared he...
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
May 1, 20236 min read
Getting Your First 100 Customers Part III: Nail your Products
In order to get your first 100 customers, you first need to establish what your business stands for, then do the work to thoroughly...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Apr 11, 202311 min read
What to Look for in a Child Care Center
Last week, I wrote about how to receive feedback triggered by a child care center’s refusal to receive and engage with parental feedback...
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
Mar 20, 202313 min read
Elevating Teams: Mutual Trust, Healthy Conflict, SMART Goals, Collective Vision, Results Focus
I have been partnering with a senior executive who just inherited a team in a big tech company --- we will call her Susan. Susan is an...
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