management 3/4

The Career Kaleidoscope & the Art of Portfolio Diversification (a.k.a. Musings on Portfolio Careers)

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

Dec 6, 20236 min read

End of Year Strategic Planning and OKRs

As the year winds down, I've noticed that many of my coachees, each a highly successful, accomplished, and driven leader, are feeling the...

Turmoil and Triumph at OpenAI: Leadership Lessons on How to Use Influence

Merve Kagitci Hokamp

Nov 27, 20235 min read

Turmoil and Triumph at OpenAI: Leadership Lessons on How to Use Influence

In my role as a coach for executives and business owners, I frequently address the dilemma of earning respect and loyalty from one's...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp

Nov 11, 20234 min read

My Biggest Hiring Mistake

At a certain juncture in my management career, I made a hiring mistake that remains etched in my memory. It was the initial phase of my...

Embracing the Learning Rollercoaster: From Frustration to Mastery

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....

Navigating Toxic Workplaces: A New Manager's Story of Transformation

Merve Kagitci Hokamp

Oct 22, 20237 min read

Navigating Toxic Workplaces: A New Manager's Story of Transformation

When my coachee, a talented tech professional with a stellar track record, stepped into her new role as a manager at the global tech...

The Journey of Successful Female Leaders: Balancing Work and Motherhood

Merve Kagitci Hokamp

Oct 15, 20235 min read

The Journey of Successful Female Leaders: Balancing Work and Motherhood

Last week, I engaged in separate, insightful conversations with three accomplished female leaders during coaching sessions. Despite their...

Accelerating your Career: The Dynamic Duo of Mentors and Sponsors

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...

What you should do NOW, if your career goal is to become a people manager

Merve Kagitci Hokamp

Oct 1, 20238 min read

What you should do NOW, if your career goal is to become a people manager

I regularly meet with and coach early-career professionals who aspire to step into people management roles. It's inspiring to see them...

From IC to Manager: Showcasing Your Leadership Potential on Your CV

Merve Kagitci Hokamp

Sep 27, 20234 min read

From IC to Manager: Showcasing Your Leadership Potential on Your CV

Last week I wrote about 10 Common Pitfalls Individual Contributors Must Avoid in Management Job Interviews and received some great...

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...

The Asshole Genius: Exploring the Myth of the Artistic Temperament

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....

Thriving in the Age of Transformation: Why Middle Managers Are the Heartbeat of Organizations

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...

Inside the Mind of Venture Capitalists: What VCs Look for When Evaluating Startup Opportunities

Merve Kagitci Hokamp

Jul 17, 20236 min read

Inside the Mind of Venture Capitalists: What VCs Look for When Evaluating Startup Opportunities

In the ever-changing world shaped by the Covid-19 pandemic, entrepreneurship has emerged as a powerful force, igniting the dreams of...

Leaders Don't Climb to the Top, They are Carried to the Top: Tour de France & Thoughts on Leadership

Merve Kagitci Hokamp

Jul 12, 20235 min read

Leaders Don't Climb to the Top, They are Carried to the Top: Tour de France & Thoughts on Leadership

Over the past 10+ days, we have been biting our nails watching Tour de France unfold. Thanks to my husband who is an avid cyclist, I've...

From Novice to Ninja: 10 Common Mistakes New People Managers Make and How to Avoid them

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...

Managers’ Dilemma: People Manager or Individual Contributor?

Merve Kagitci Hokamp

Jun 13, 20234 min read

Managers’ Dilemma: People Manager or Individual Contributor?

Bob, a talented individual contributor, has recently been promoted to his first people manager role. As he takes the reins of his new...

Navigating the B2B vs. B2C Conundrum: Insights for Start-up Founders

Merve Kagitci Hokamp

Jun 4, 202311 min read

Navigating the B2B vs. B2C Conundrum: Insights for Start-up Founders

Are you a startup founder asking yourself this question: Should my business target businesses or direct consumers? If your answer is...

The Value of Value: How Charging for My Yoga Classes Transformed the Experience

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...

Getting your First 100 Customers Part V: Perfect your Customer Service

Merve Kagitci Hokamp

May 14, 202310 min read

Getting your First 100 Customers Part V: Perfect your Customer Service

I have been writing about how to get your first 100 customers the last four weeks. So far during this beautiful journey, we covered:...

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