What I'm Doing On My Sabbatical

There is a reason I’ve chosen not to (entirely) spend my sabbatical sitting around making music, drinking whisky (Woodford Reserve, ideally), and smoking cigars (whatever I can get my hands on).

I have worked seventy-five hour weeks through much of my twenty-three years in the workforce, and the last 15 years have been particularly intense, setting up flagship stores around the world for Abercrombie & Fitch, and then building my business' Osborne Holdings & Eyes To The Front.

Today I’m in the fortunate position today where there is no impetus on me to be hustling and finding work. 

So I’ve chosen to use this time to put together the Osborne Holdings Junior Advisory Board.

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I believe that the insight gained from exposure to strategic decisions, real-world business challenges, and industry experts can be instrumental in kickstarting a career and moulding the minds of future industry leaders.

I have good reason to believe this: people entering the workforce for the first time are (usually) at peak neuroplasticity (pre-25 years old); their ability to learn is as great as it will ever be.

In most cases, however, it takes years, sometimes decades, of hard (often grunt) work to gain access to the room where industry leaders operate and strategic decisions are made. 

Most professionals don’t find themselves in “the room” until they’re well into their thirties, well beyond this time of optimal learning capacity. 

But what if we could get fresh graduates and those entering the workforce a seat in this room right off the bat? 

Imagine if you could marry this heightened learning capacity with exposure to the real-world business challenges, industry experts and networking opportunities that are usually only available to those well into their career? 

Imagine the effect that this could have on the trajectory of someone’s career? 

This is why I’m not (entirely) spending my sabbatical on the porch with a drink in my hand.

Giving You A Seat In The Room: High-Level Insight and Experience

Having been in “the room” myself on many occasions, I am in an incredibly fortunate position. I have the ability and the connections to create these opportunities for those entering the workforce for the first time.

I’ve put together the Junior Advisory Board to give those entering the job market the opportunity to jumpstart their professional careers. 

Each month we will be joined on a call by a guest from one of the companies we have had the pleasure of working with over the years.

In this time the client or partner will present the Board with one of the unique business or marketing challenges that they are facing. The Junior Board will, in turn, discuss this challenge and collaborate to produce a set of recommendations and insights for the client.

The Junior Board’s role may range from making recommendations about a company’s outreach and marketing materials as they expand into new markets, to hands-on experience with a company’s app, helping them better understand and refine their user experience.  

This is a truly unique experience for early-on professionals to be privy to the strategic considerations and challenges faced by decision-makers at the top of their companies. 

A Unique Networking Opportunity

The Junior Board is not just about giving early-on professionals exposure to real-world business challenges.

It is also a unique networking opportunity, giving early professionals face time with industry experts and fast-growing startups. This has the potential to result in employment and additional work opportunities when skill sets align with needs.

Beyond this, the Junior Advisory Board will also bring together like-minded and ambitious budding professionals with diverse skill sets and experiences. There is an equal place for business students on the board as there is for writers, graphic designers and other creatives, as well as engineers, analysts and other traditionally left-brain fields. 

For entrepreneurs starting out, or creatives attempting to build a client base, these kinds of connections can provide tremendous value. 

Personal Branding and Career Guidance

In my career, I’ve put over two hundred early professionals through a range of management training programs and hired many, many more. 

I don’t just have experience in this mentorship role, I embrace it. I am passionate about it.

Being a part of the Junior Advisory Board means having access to my guidance and support as you enter the job market and begin your career. 

I will not only be offering Linkedin profile and personal branding guidance to Board Members, but I will also make myself available to support them in current and future career endeavours where possible.

This may be as simple as job application guidance, or as hands-on as simulating a job interview. 

Applications Now Open For The Osborne Holdings Junior Advisory Board

I’ve learned a lot in my career. 

I know what it’s like to be entering the job market for the first time. 

I know what it’s like to be fresh out of school and entering the workforce full of piss and vinegar only to find that you’re burying your face in excel sheets and doing data entry for ten hours a day (you know, all those tasks that will be taken over by AI in a few short years).

I spent years getting my hands dirty in these highly tactical roles. I know what it’s like to be hungry for knowledge, ready to work and ready to learn. I also know what it’s like to have to hustle your way into the room in order to gain access to the strategic perspective.

Understanding strategic perspective, and possessing the insight necessary to understand strategic considerations early on will enable you to go above and beyond these roles. When people executing on tactical responsibilities understand the strategic thinking behind their work, they are better placed to make decisions should they find themselves without all the information they need.

I’ve created the Junior Advisory Board to give those entering the workforce, ready to learn and hungry for knowledge, the opportunity to satisfy that hunger. 

The Junior Advisory Board is looking for fresh graduates, students, or those entering the workforce for the first time from all different backgrounds and walks of life. 

English students, business students, graphic designers, copywriters, coders: all are welcome.

I am opening the door into the proverbial room for those who are ready to get involved. 

The question is: do you want a seat?