Reflecting on an incredible experience at Start Strong+!

Background

At the start of June 2024, I had the privilege of joining nearly 2,300 fellow Aspirers and Aspire MBAs in Seattle for a transformative 3-day event organized by the Microsoft Aspire team. It was truly inspiring to connect with my peers from around the world and dive into sessions dedicated to learning, development, and building our leadership skills.

One highlight for me was participating in the Deer track, where we explored many sessions, had lots of learnings and made some meaningful connections with fellow Aspires. In this article, I'll be sharing some of the interesting sessions held over there and my experience.

Unlocking Confidence

The “Unlocking Confidence” session, led by Gemma Hunt & Stewart Bewley , was a transformative journey into self-awareness and empowerment. The session introduced the concept of a Gremlin, a metaphor for our inner critic, and encouraged us to personify it, leading to an insightful self-reflection. We were guided to identify three common accusations our ‘Gremlin’ throws at us, bringing our insecurities to light. The turning point was when we flipped these accusations into three positive affirmations about ourselves, effectively boosting our confidence.

The session concluded with a commitment to a concrete action to tackle our ‘Gremlin’, symbolizing our dedication to personal growth. This session was not just informative, but a powerful tool for self-discovery, providing practical strategies to combat negativity and enhance self-confidence. The key takeaway was the empowering realization that we have the power to control our thoughts and shape our reality, a valuable lesson for my professional journey.

Make more time. Get more done.

The “Make more time. Get more done.” session, led by Jason Moore , was a comprehensive guide to enhancing productivity. The session began with an introduction to the Eisenhower Matrix, a prioritization tool that helps in organizing tasks based on their urgency and importance. Jason then delved into productivity strategies, emphasizing the significance of understanding one’s chronotype whether one is an early riser or a night owl to align tasks with natural energy levels.

The session also addressed common disruptors at work, both at home and in the office, and suggested mitigation strategies such as using noise-cancelling headphones and establishing ‘do not disturb’ periods. A notable highlight was the strategy offered for managing disruptive requests from bosses, advocating for the use of “yes, if” to negotiate manageable conditions. This session was a valuable resource, providing practical techniques to optimize productivity and manage time effectively.

Tune In The Elements to Active Listening

The “Tune In The Elements to Active Listening” session, which was also conducted by Gemma Hunt & Stewart Bewley , was an enlightening exploration of communication and listening skills. The team emphasized the importance of active listening skills, highlighting that effective receiving can add value to conversations and enhance understanding. The significance of being present and connecting with others through listening was discussed, which can transform relationships and work success. Feedback from the exercise on bad listening revealed participants’ self-awareness about their listening habits and the impact on conversations. This aligns with the broader theme of adopting a growth mindset for personal and professional development.

The team also covered tips for presenting well on camera, including wardrobe choices, makeup use, and the importance of body language. These tips are aimed at enhancing professional presence in virtual meetings. The session concluded with the introduction of the ACE and TAPES models for effective listening. The session was a valuable resource, providing practical techniques to enhance communication and listening skills.

Best next chapter

The “Best Next Chapter” session, led by Jason Gray & Caity Torres , was a transformative experience designed to empower participants to envision and shape their future. The session focused on aspirations and goals for the next two years, facilitated through dynamic discussions and activities. The session introduced a design thinking strategy named “Best Next Chapter” to help participants explore their future possibilities, emphasizing curiosity, discussion, and experimentation. A “reality check” activity allowed participants to assess their current state in various life dimensions, such as personal growth & development, personal & professional relationships, enjoyment at life & work, and physical & emotional health.

This activity highlighted the importance of self-awareness in personal growth and future planning. Participants were guided to explore two futures: “status quo” and “no barriers,” encouraging them to think both realistically and aspirationally about their future. The session culminated with participants developing prototypes of their futures, translating their aspirations into actionable plans, demonstrating the practical application of the session’s concepts. The session was a valuable resource, providing practical techniques to enhance personal growth and future planning.

The secrets to outstanding achievement

The “The Secrets to Outstanding Achievement” session, led by Jason Moore , was an enlightening experience that provided valuable insights into personal development and emotional intelligence. The session was structured around a deck of cards with four categories: Energizers, Triggers, Strategy, and Emotions. Jason introduced the WOOP principle, which stands for Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, and Plan. This principle encourages participants to first envision their wishes and the best outcomes, then identify any existing obstacles, and finally, devise a plan to overcome these obstacles. The session delved deeper into understanding triggers, the emotions they evoke, and our reactions to them.

Jason explained the “Press Pause Habit Formula” that goes as follows: When I encounter a trigger, I implement a strategy, and I feel certain emotions. This formula encourages participants to write down their triggers, think about strategies to help you press pause and get back on track, and note down the emotions felt during the activity. This process of mental rehearsal helps to rewire our neural pathways, making it easier to activate these desired emotions in real situations. The session was a practical guide to understanding and managing our emotions for personal growth and achievement.

Last but not the least, we were delighted and astonished when Oz Pearlman , the renowned mentalist, made a surprise appearance at our event, mesmerising us all with his incredible magic tricks.

Final thoughts

Some of the other Gems dropped by Amy Hood and other speakers are as follows:

Ask for help. It gives others their time to shine. If you fail, it is not your individual failure. It is your first attempt and your chance to learn.

Someone gets the best of you, someone gets the rest of you.

Life is not about obtaining perfection. It is about balancing oneself at all times.

Achieve authentic success - Find what makes you passionate enough to do it even if you’re not paid!

Last but certainly not least, a big thank you to my managers, Meera Kannan Vivek Adholia , for constantly supporting me throughout my first year at Microsoft and for encouraging me to participate in the Start Strong+ event! Grateful for such personalized development opportunities provided through the support of Microsoft and the chance to network with so many talented individuals in the global Microsoft Aspire community.