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...
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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
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...
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...
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 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...
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
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...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jul 4, 20235 min read
Demystifying Calibrations and Overcoming Biases in Employee Performance Reviews
Are you feeling anxious and apprehensive about performance reviews? Do you find yourself surrounded by uncertainties and unknowns during...
Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jun 25, 20234 min read
How to Manage Low Performers
Have you ever found yourself in the daunting position of having to manage an employee who consistently falls short of expectations? Does...
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
Jun 13, 20238 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...
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