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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 17, 20247 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 11, 20248 min read


Management Decision-Making: Mastering the Art and Science
The role of a manager fundamentally revolves around a continuous cycle of decision-making. Whether it’s exchanging information, analyzing...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jan 28, 20249 min read


Maximizing Productivity for Leaders: Top Tips for Effective Time Management
Leaders face unique challenges in managing their time due to their dual role of personal productivity and team oversight. Here's how to...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jan 15, 20242 min read


How to Manage your Boss for People Managers
I have been working with a coachee - we will call him, John - a new people manager with a decade of experience in tech as an individual...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Jan 8, 20248 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 14, 20238 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
Dec 6, 20236 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 27, 20235 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 11, 20234 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...

Merve Kagitci Hokamp
Oct 15, 20235 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
Oct 8, 20236 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
Oct 1, 20238 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 27, 20234 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 16, 20236 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 10, 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 12, 20235 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


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


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
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