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Good Bye, Google! It's been real!
Last Friday marked the end of an era for me as I said goodbye to Google. Over the course of an incredible 11 years at Google Ireland,...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Aug 9, 20233 min read


Queuing Across Cultures and Reflections on Cross-Cultural Leadership
We recently took a trip to Kayseri, the vibrant heart of Anatolia filled with culture and authenticity, to visit family. The experience...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jul 26, 20237 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...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jul 17, 20236 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 12, 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
Jul 4, 20235 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 25, 20234 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 20, 202316 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...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jun 13, 20234 min read


Unlocking the Power of the Urgent-Important Matrix: Reclaiming Your Career Aspirations
Do you find yourself getting caught up in the urgency of day-to-day tasks and deprioritizing what is important to you in the long term?...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jun 7, 20238 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...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jun 4, 202311 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 29, 20236 min read


The Go-Go-Go Mindset and Productivity Anxiety
I am writing these lines from a lovely spot in Copenhagen - 20G Cafe, where I paused to take a little break, enjoy a delicious breakfast,...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
May 22, 20236 min read


Getting your First 100 Customers Part V: Perfect your Customer Service
Over the last four weeks, I’ve shared strategies for reaching your first 100 customers. So far, we’ve covered: Establish What Your...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
May 14, 20235 min read


Getting Your First 100 Customers Part IV: Spread the Word by Doubling Down on Marketing
Welcome to Part 4 of the series, "Getting Your First 100 Customers." By now, you’ve: 1. Established what your business stands for 2....

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
May 8, 20237 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
May 1, 20235 min read


Getting Your First 100 Customers Part II: Understand your Potential Customers
Last week in the first article of the five part series , "Getting your First 100 Customers," I explored the critical first step:...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Apr 23, 20237 min read


Getting Your First 100 Customers Part I: Establish What your Business Stands For
How do I get my first 100 customers? Start-up founders and marketers I’ve coached and advised over the years have asked this question...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Apr 18, 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 11, 202311 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
Apr 2, 20239 min read


How to Write a Killer Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Let’s call it what it is. A Curriculum Vitae (a.k.a. Resume) is a sales tool. It’s one of the few ways—arguably the most important...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Mar 25, 20237 min read
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