My Journey at H Connect International

When I joined H Connect International 9 months back, I was a 19-year-old, fresh out of college – with big dreams but no proper direction.

Coming into my first corporate experience, I was more nervous than excited because when I got this job as a Marketing Communications Associate, multiple people warned me that I might be too young and inexperienced to stomach the fast-paced and sometimes cut-throat world of corporate.

Naturally, I clocked in to work the first day, doubtful, nervous, and with no expectations whatsoever. ?

A lot has changed since.

As I started working, I came to realize one of two things: Either H Connect International was an exception to the rule, or everyone’s warnings were completely far-fetched. Or both.

From day one, I have had the guidance and tools needed to slowly grow into my role. With time, I was given complete agency and ownership of my tasks and my role expanded with new opportunities always sent my way.

This directly ties into the environment and culture at H Connect International – a culture that uplifts you, regardless of whether you are a newbie or at the top of the ladder, a culture that promotes experimentation and failure, a culture that lets you, be you.

The confidence I saw around me helped build confidence within me, so I could fully embrace all the opportunities I was offered that were beyond my role – compering internal events, working directly with business unit leads and occasionally the CEO, participating in external events like the Great HR Debate by CIPM, and being a part of external workshops and seminars led by industry leaders.

The most recent of these opportunities was at the Women-Friendly Workplace Awards organized by Satyn magazine, together with AICPA & CIMA. I was part of the team that had worked on the application for this award – an initiative close to my heart, having grown up amidst the traditions of the South and strong opinions on the need to empower and educate young women.

We won the category “Empowering Gen Z Females with Leadership Opportunities”. Given our relatively small company size and the number of years in business, this award is an ode to the meaningful impact we continue to make, and as a GenZ, growing and learning at HCI, this award resonated on a personal level.

As I continue to learn and progress in my role at HCI, my goal is to understand the nuances of marketing better, so I can pinpoint the area where my skills and interests align best.

It’s truly amazing how much you can do in the right environment and with the right mentorship.