Guess what we had in the office today? Baby possum!
0 Comments Published by Svetlana Zhukova on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at 12:20 PM.
Our executive PA works as a vet assistant on the weekends (great combination, isn't it :)), and recently she has got into her home care a baby possum. She (possum) got orphaned, and Kathryn will take care of her for the next couple of months, until the possum is grown up enough to join other possums that will be freed into the wild.
The baby animal is so cute, she is very small, and has big eye - like a mice, but with longer legs, doens't sound too attractive, but that baby possum is so cute. She has a warm water bottles underneath, to keep as if its mom is near, its seriously small animal, sleeps all the time.
How cool is this, having a baby possum sitting in a bag next to a PA's desk, in the office of a media company - viva Australia :)
The baby animal is so cute, she is very small, and has big eye - like a mice, but with longer legs, doens't sound too attractive, but that baby possum is so cute. She has a warm water bottles underneath, to keep as if its mom is near, its seriously small animal, sleeps all the time.
How cool is this, having a baby possum sitting in a bag next to a PA's desk, in the office of a media company - viva Australia :)
several thoughts, in no particular order, that occupied my mind recently
I've just finished a book, The Kite Runner - one of most powerful and moving books I've ever read. I could even sleep one night, after getting through the first third of the book, co-living those emotions. The book is about life of a family in Afghanistan, starting in 1970s and finishing in 2002. This is how I best take in the history and point of views - not through publicists' articles but through stories of people.
The thought is going through my mind after reading this book, which is about dramatic life of an Afghani boy - I'm so lucky, among may be several percent of the world's population. I was never starving (even there were times when the food was basic, oh those 1990s in post-USSR), I was living in a safe place (Belarus isn't the most exciting place but it's safe), i haven't had major tragedies around me. I have never experienced war, I have higher education, my parents are great support and I even have never even heard them swearing (but did my father keep the discipline, yes he did :) I can travel, don't have liabilities, not abused and I am not discriminated (if you don't count visa processes).
How much depends on the place you are born in, your skin colour, your sex, your parents. All the things you don't have control of...
I was thinking to write recently a blog post, about inspiration at my work. It is even saved as a draft in the blog. It was about how great my work is - I work in marketing communications, managing projects with suppliers and internal stakeholders, working with creative agencies. I design stands and invitations, release corporate brochures and multimedia promotions, manage online space of my company. I put together presentations and strategies and post-implementation reports (yes, i actually enjoy it :) I go to cultural events because my company sponsors many arts organizations and I manage events & promotions.
But then, when I was about to write that - my manager (great person, one of best and most positive people I've ever met) said she is going to the UK with her partner and is leaving. And later, when the new manager started, my boss, marketing director, announced he is also going to Europe with his partner and would be leaving in several months.
It made me very sad - the environment I enjoyed at work was one of main reasons I decided to stay with the company. It's like my family - I associate my life in Australia with my marketing team, as they were the people I spent most of my day (working 8hrs), and it's a good part of the day. So seeing them go is like seeing my life here changing to be something different... (which is philosophically isn't a bad thing). But fair enough, the main reason I stayed with the company is the experience I'm getting there - the new job role is great and gets me towards where I want to go in my marketing career, I'll be working on very exciting (and challenging, which is always good) projects.
And with the changing team, changing role - it's indeed a new start. It's a more mature attitude towards the job, when I want to develop particular skills while still being passionate about what I do, it's about getting out of the comfort zone to be a better professional and, well, person. Just need to keep this all in mind while getting my teeth into the business of tasks to do :)
I'm so lucky to live in Australia, this country rocks. It's not only well and has high living standards. It's safe, I feel more so than Europe; people are friendly - a surfer on the beach helped us to put a kayak on top of the car easily mastering the knots; when someone exits the lift you are entering, and your eyes cross - the person would usually smile. Australians are not only well-mannered (mostly) but are humourous (oh, famous Australian humor!), welcoming and enjoy their life and usually let others do the same (I found Europeans colder and more pessimistic - oh opposite chaotic if you think south of Europe :)
And the place itself - there is everything here, mountains with snow and beaches with great water and sand; palm trees and pines. In one day, you can go from the seaside into the wine hills. Sun is out most of days, the sky is blue, and it's great climate.
And Sydney... I travel across the bridge to work every day, and still can't get enough of the beautiful Sydney Harbour. There is something magical in those glowing with lights skyscrapers of city centre reflecting in the harbour waters. Sandstone historical buildings (well, architectural history goes like 100 years back at most), modern building, futuristic and classic street sculptures. Busy crossroads and parks, and quite alleyways. Music festivals and open air cinemas, endless cafes and restaurants, and great food. There is something for everyone here, and I must say, Sydney came the closest to my favorite place of all the cities I've been to.
I've just finished a book, The Kite Runner - one of most powerful and moving books I've ever read. I could even sleep one night, after getting through the first third of the book, co-living those emotions. The book is about life of a family in Afghanistan, starting in 1970s and finishing in 2002. This is how I best take in the history and point of views - not through publicists' articles but through stories of people.
The thought is going through my mind after reading this book, which is about dramatic life of an Afghani boy - I'm so lucky, among may be several percent of the world's population. I was never starving (even there were times when the food was basic, oh those 1990s in post-USSR), I was living in a safe place (Belarus isn't the most exciting place but it's safe), i haven't had major tragedies around me. I have never experienced war, I have higher education, my parents are great support and I even have never even heard them swearing (but did my father keep the discipline, yes he did :) I can travel, don't have liabilities, not abused and I am not discriminated (if you don't count visa processes).
How much depends on the place you are born in, your skin colour, your sex, your parents. All the things you don't have control of...
I was thinking to write recently a blog post, about inspiration at my work. It is even saved as a draft in the blog. It was about how great my work is - I work in marketing communications, managing projects with suppliers and internal stakeholders, working with creative agencies. I design stands and invitations, release corporate brochures and multimedia promotions, manage online space of my company. I put together presentations and strategies and post-implementation reports (yes, i actually enjoy it :) I go to cultural events because my company sponsors many arts organizations and I manage events & promotions.
But then, when I was about to write that - my manager (great person, one of best and most positive people I've ever met) said she is going to the UK with her partner and is leaving. And later, when the new manager started, my boss, marketing director, announced he is also going to Europe with his partner and would be leaving in several months.
It made me very sad - the environment I enjoyed at work was one of main reasons I decided to stay with the company. It's like my family - I associate my life in Australia with my marketing team, as they were the people I spent most of my day (working 8hrs), and it's a good part of the day. So seeing them go is like seeing my life here changing to be something different... (which is philosophically isn't a bad thing). But fair enough, the main reason I stayed with the company is the experience I'm getting there - the new job role is great and gets me towards where I want to go in my marketing career, I'll be working on very exciting (and challenging, which is always good) projects.
And with the changing team, changing role - it's indeed a new start. It's a more mature attitude towards the job, when I want to develop particular skills while still being passionate about what I do, it's about getting out of the comfort zone to be a better professional and, well, person. Just need to keep this all in mind while getting my teeth into the business of tasks to do :)
I'm so lucky to live in Australia, this country rocks. It's not only well and has high living standards. It's safe, I feel more so than Europe; people are friendly - a surfer on the beach helped us to put a kayak on top of the car easily mastering the knots; when someone exits the lift you are entering, and your eyes cross - the person would usually smile. Australians are not only well-mannered (mostly) but are humourous (oh, famous Australian humor!), welcoming and enjoy their life and usually let others do the same (I found Europeans colder and more pessimistic - oh opposite chaotic if you think south of Europe :)
And the place itself - there is everything here, mountains with snow and beaches with great water and sand; palm trees and pines. In one day, you can go from the seaside into the wine hills. Sun is out most of days, the sky is blue, and it's great climate.
And Sydney... I travel across the bridge to work every day, and still can't get enough of the beautiful Sydney Harbour. There is something magical in those glowing with lights skyscrapers of city centre reflecting in the harbour waters. Sandstone historical buildings (well, architectural history goes like 100 years back at most), modern building, futuristic and classic street sculptures. Busy crossroads and parks, and quite alleyways. Music festivals and open air cinemas, endless cafes and restaurants, and great food. There is something for everyone here, and I must say, Sydney came the closest to my favorite place of all the cities I've been to.
Labels: australia, books, career, sydney, the kite runner, thoughts and feelings, work
Well, to keep it nice and short (and yes, this is a post about what's happening in my life recently)
- I turned 25 two weeks ago; first life crisis doesn't seem to happen - lived through it with my friends, most of whom are already beyond that line :) As one of them very wisely put - 25 is an age, when you know that you are still young and life has lots of great things in store in your future, but you also already have some past, and some things will never happen again.
- I'm staying in Australia for at least another year. Yes, I've planned initially to stay for year-year and a half, but falling in love changes plans so much :)
- Karan and I celebrated our half a year together, and all is great and wonderful. it's destiny i think
- I got a promotion at work, and while staying with the same position name (marketing executive), I'm taking on more responsibilities in managing brands and having end to end responsibility etc etc. satisfied :)
- going to Brussles-Amsterdam-home in 3 weeks' time, for a couple of weeks. To see the family and for the AI reunion and to see my friends. hate bureaucracy with visas and the expensiveness of tickets, but am getting excited about the trip! would be two years since i saw all my european friends, and my parents have 30th wedding anniversary. I'm so looking forward!
will be back on air soon...
- I turned 25 two weeks ago; first life crisis doesn't seem to happen - lived through it with my friends, most of whom are already beyond that line :) As one of them very wisely put - 25 is an age, when you know that you are still young and life has lots of great things in store in your future, but you also already have some past, and some things will never happen again.
- I'm staying in Australia for at least another year. Yes, I've planned initially to stay for year-year and a half, but falling in love changes plans so much :)
- Karan and I celebrated our half a year together, and all is great and wonderful. it's destiny i think
- I got a promotion at work, and while staying with the same position name (marketing executive), I'm taking on more responsibilities in managing brands and having end to end responsibility etc etc. satisfied :)
- going to Brussles-Amsterdam-home in 3 weeks' time, for a couple of weeks. To see the family and for the AI reunion and to see my friends. hate bureaucracy with visas and the expensiveness of tickets, but am getting excited about the trip! would be two years since i saw all my european friends, and my parents have 30th wedding anniversary. I'm so looking forward!
will be back on air soon...
yes, finally I'm writing about my work!..
Can't believe it is already a month and several days as I'm here. Time flies too fast!
What I'm actually doing here: my internship is for one year in an Australian company called ADSHEL. They are the biggest operator of street furniture advertising (media space provider) in Australia and New Zealand. Basic idea is that the company tenders for agreements with councils, under which Adshel supplies free bus shelters and get in return the right to sell advertising space in side panels of shelters. Coverage is really impressive, they have even panels in Tasmania! In addition, the company has panels in shopping centres across the country, and operates advertising sites in Sydney International airport.
I am the marketing executive in the company, and there are 6 other people working in the marketing department with me. Overall there are about 50 people in our Sydney office. My job includes:
Overall - my experience in Adshel is AMAZING.
It's most of all because of the company culture. It is totally is the one as we envision in AIESEC company culture should be - flat enough structure, feeling of belonging, openness, focus on achievement rather than competition, striving for excellence combined with great fun spirit and human approach. I can so easily relate myself to company's values (which are very much related to those we have in AIESEC), it makes the whole integration process much easier. Plus the company is keen on green initiatives (to stabilize the impact we do by producing shelters). Examples are introducing bus shelters with solar power, reducing water usage in cleaning of shelters' procedures, paper recycling in the office etc. I'm so glad I can work in a company and be true to my sustainable living principles!
In addition, my integration process is great. I had 2 weeks induction plan (!), with meetings with all departments, role clarifications etc. I was given lots of trust and responsibility for my work since the first week, and I really appreciate it, and do my best to stand up to the standard set :)
A couple of quotes from my company:
CEO, Steve McCarthy:
Marketing director, Anthony Xydis:
In general my marketing director is a cool guy, for what he has as best part of him - it's a combination of Brodie and Dey - mega mix :)
And this is my marketing team (left to right):
Well, this is my work, this is my life, and I enjoy it.
Watch this space for more insights :)
Can't believe it is already a month and several days as I'm here. Time flies too fast!
What I'm actually doing here: my internship is for one year in an Australian company called ADSHEL. They are the biggest operator of street furniture advertising (media space provider) in Australia and New Zealand. Basic idea is that the company tenders for agreements with councils, under which Adshel supplies free bus shelters and get in return the right to sell advertising space in side panels of shelters. Coverage is really impressive, they have even panels in Tasmania! In addition, the company has panels in shopping centres across the country, and operates advertising sites in Sydney International airport.
I am the marketing executive in the company, and there are 6 other people working in the marketing department with me. Overall there are about 50 people in our Sydney office. My job includes:
- working on organizing marketing events and promotions (lots of it is corporate entertainment),
- marketing communications (for example we'll be launching a new kind of product line soon, and I will be working on marcomm materials for that)
- I do internal marketing too, like producing internal newsletter and other stuff;
- participating in a web re-launch project (sounds familiar, isn't it :)
- managing charity advertising campaigns with Adshel
- organizing professional photo shots of our special advertising campaigns (where there is some special creative execution)
- organizing an annual national sales and marketing conference in October
Overall - my experience in Adshel is AMAZING.
It's most of all because of the company culture. It is totally is the one as we envision in AIESEC company culture should be - flat enough structure, feeling of belonging, openness, focus on achievement rather than competition, striving for excellence combined with great fun spirit and human approach. I can so easily relate myself to company's values (which are very much related to those we have in AIESEC), it makes the whole integration process much easier. Plus the company is keen on green initiatives (to stabilize the impact we do by producing shelters). Examples are introducing bus shelters with solar power, reducing water usage in cleaning of shelters' procedures, paper recycling in the office etc. I'm so glad I can work in a company and be true to my sustainable living principles!
In addition, my integration process is great. I had 2 weeks induction plan (!), with meetings with all departments, role clarifications etc. I was given lots of trust and responsibility for my work since the first week, and I really appreciate it, and do my best to stand up to the standard set :)
A couple of quotes from my company:
CEO, Steve McCarthy:
"My main job here as CEO is to recruit good people and to create environment where they can perform and develop" (culture of excellence, anyone?)On that line - Adshel was featured in 2006 in one of studies on cultural transformation as a great example. Actually the story is, after the speech the CEO of Adshel had about company's transformation, at one of conferences - a girl from MC Australia who was at that conference also, approached him and said, we have to talk with you about a partnership. This is how I appeared here :) (I'm the first trainee Adshel has, so bear a responsibility!)
Marketing director, Anthony Xydis:
"I believe that all good things you do return to you at the end; now we took you for an internship, you being the right person in the right place, to give you a possibility you wouldn't have had otherwise; and who knows, when in the future you are the director of the company, you take trainees also"I think it's great, this is why all companies should take trainees :) mind the piece about right person with right skills in the right place!
In general my marketing director is a cool guy, for what he has as best part of him - it's a combination of Brodie and Dey - mega mix :)
And this is my marketing team (left to right):
- Leanne, marketing coordinator, Chinese origin
- Anthony, mark director, Greek origin
- Nick, New Zealand mark manager, New Zealand origin
- Edwina, research manager, Australian origin (however may be something else..)
- Marc (on the front), mark executive, half-Croatian origin
- me, Russian origin :)
- Marie, marketing manager, Italian origin (my direct manager - mostly due to her and her patience I have the opportunity to do all the things I do in Adshel :)
- Aaron, technology and innovation manager, New Zealand origin
Well, this is my work, this is my life, and I enjoy it.
Watch this space for more insights :)
Labels: AIESEC, culture, internship, sydney, work
