Janika Harris

One of my candidates recently declined an offer because he got a remote role. I was a bit surprised since he never mentioned he was looking for remote so I asked if he had changed his mind recently. He said- Not really. He just didn’t expect to get a remote offer. But when it came, he took it because it would save his commute, time and money. With two small kids, it will make his life easier. He also mentioned that even though the salary was lower, he still chose remote because it offered flexibility. I understood and wished him well. He even referred a friend who lived closer to the office and we’re now interviewing him. When I informed the hiring leader- he was surprised too but explained that the team currently follows a hybrid work structure and making an exception could impact internal consistency. I said- That’s alright. We’ll wish him luck and continue finding someone who’s comfortable with the current setup. Moral of the story: Flexibility isn’t a perk anymore but it’s a priority. Everyone’s situation is different and a little flexibility goes a long way. If you’re only exploring remote roles, I get it but keep your options open. Sometimes the offer you weren’t even expecting turns out to be the right one. Remember, the right role isn’t always the highest paying one but it’s the one that gives you peace. ⚡️Sakshi Srivastava⚡️ #careers #jobseekers #humanresources #talentacquisition

What started as me running out to pick up a few toys to help fill our slightly sad toy drive box turned into something so much bigger. Within minutes, the AMBL/ABL team at GML rallied together with the most overwhelming generosity. A quick, spontaneous collection that transformed what would have been about 10 toys into over 50. It was such a beautiful reminder of the spirit of the season and what can happen when people come together with kindness and purpose. Grateful to everyone who contributed and helped bring some extra holiday cheer to the little ones this Christmas. 🎁✨

Last week I spoke to teens at QRC’s Career Day about creative entrepreneurship in T&T, and I know I didn’t want to give them the “typical talk.” The “I’m a Creative Consultant, and this is how I got here” story. That’s not real. That’s not MY story, and I don’t think it’s most people’s story either. So here’s what I told them instead: Belief in yourself is the single most important thing. You’re going to get a thousand no’s before you get a yes. The journey will have highs and lows, but you have to be willing to take that first step. And then the next one. And the one after that. Even when you can’t see where it’s going. I’ve been Safia Ali the wannabe fashion designer. The wannabe marine biologist. The almost doctor. The stylist. The fashion marketer. My journey has taken me down SO many paths of things I was curious about, and you know what? That’s exactly how it should be. But here’s what really gets me- our education system expects kids to know what they want to do at FIFTEEN YEARS OLD. We’re asking them to choose a path that will determine their happiness for decades. It’s unrealistic. It’s unfair. And it completely ignores curiosity- that innate desire we’re all born with to explore and discover where we fit in this world. Here’s the truth: I’m a fashion and creative consultant with a Master’s in the Business of Fashion, but I was working in this field for YEARS before I had that degree. What got me here (and accepted into my degree program) wasn’t credentials or a perfect plan- it was courage. Taking risks. My makeshift portfolio featuring shoots that my friends and I did after work. I had NO idea what I was doing (sometimes it still feels like I don’t). But I knew I needed to be around people who were better than me and passionate about lifting others up. People who saw this as an ecosystem, not a competition. To the young creatives: you can change your mind ANY time. You don’t have to follow one rigid path. You can have two jobs- one that pays the bills, another that feeds your creative soul. Or you can find the intersection of both. Success looks different to everybody. For me? It’s the simple joy of doing what I love every single day, however that continues to evolve. Fortunately, that means sharing with my ecosystem so I can have the life I always wanted, how cool is that? To the parents with kids who want to do creative things: it’s not an automatic sentence to struggle. Support their curiosity. Let them explore. Most important takeaway? There’s always a way. So many people have accomplished great things simply because they did not give up. In the face of all the unknowns, they persisted. Maybe that sounds airy fairy, but it’s real. Your guiding principle should always be your belief in yourself and your vision. The journey isn’t linear- but that’s what makes it yours. #CreativeEntrepreneurship #TrinidadAndTobago #CareerDay #QRC #BelieveInYourself #CreativeConsulting

The past few weeks have been… a lot. 🏡 We became homeowners and moved from Queens, NY to Cherry Hill, NJ ✍️ I closed out an incredibly meaningful 4 years at Axios HQ 🚀 I started a new role at Prepared, just two weeks before the company was acquired by Axon 🤹 And all of this while juggling the whirlwind of the Jewish holiday season! Leaving Axios HQ was bittersweet. That team shaped me in ways I’m still processing - there’s nothing quite like being in the trenches of a startup with people you genuinely love working alongside. 💙 Now at Prepared, I’ve landed in another big transition. I’m adjusting to the public safety space, and realizing that doing truly life-saving work means engaging with some really complex problems. I feel incredibly fortunate to have landed in the right place at the right time, and I don’t take lightly the responsibility and opportunity that come with it. 🛡️ For now, I’m just trying to take it one step at a time. There's no way out but through, as they say...

September is East and South East Asian (ESEA) Heritage Month - a time to celebrate culture, history and the contributions of the ESEA community. Our ESEA network plays an important role in building inclusion and supporting career development. Being part of the network helps colleagues grow, connect and share perspectives that strengthen how we work with clients across the world. This year, the network is running a mentoring programme, with recently promoted members sharing their stories to inspire and support others on their career journey. #ESEAHeritageMonth