Frank Cooper III’s Post

It has indeed been an incredible journey at VISA, a truly people's company. The leadership principles here make it one of the best places to be heard, recognized and offer ample opportunities for growth. Every person I work with is curious to learn and transfer their knowledge. Out of all the mind blowing experiences I've had here I would like to list a few: 1. I came up with a startup idea that could make use of VISA's rich experience in the market and help people reach their financial goals in an engaging way. I really believed in my idea and wanted to reach out to the top management. I thought to myself why not pitch it to the highest authority and see where it goes. I was very hesitant at first but gathered courage to draft that mail and send it. To my surprise, our CEO Ryan McInerney responded and also directed me to the right people where the idea could take its correct course of action. It almost felt surreal to me. The leaders here indeed walk the talk. Fortunate to be learning everyday from such authentic leaders. 2. I was assigned a project that involves technologies that are different from my expertise. It was exciting to me and came with its own learning curve. My Team Lead Anto Jacob taught me how to actually learn something and get good at it from scratch. Having patience with so much knowledge in your head is an art which very few people have, and he's one of them. Gracefully transitioning me into a master of my work and being a mentor throughout I feel grateful to be a part of his team. 3. The Employee Resource Groups host various events at Visa. From tech conferences, interesting workshops to socializing events, makes us look up to going office everyday. Being a part of these events has built my leadership, collaboration and networking skills to the next level. One year milestone completed. Nothing but grateful. 💫

We all want to be included but wouldn't it be amazing if we felt like we belonged & Isn't belonging greater than inclusion? Belonging goes beyond just being included; it's about feeling valued and accepted for who you are. Diversity in teams brings a wealth of perspectives and experiences that drive innovation and creativity. Similarly, kindness truly is a universal language that transcends barriers. It's a good way to embrace diversity in the workplace. We've seen odd teams of all kinds in the workplace. The world is full of diversity of people from different ethnicities, nations and genders. Many organization thrives with teams of different nationalities, religions, races, cultures, countries, etc. But, somehow we ALL get it when it comes to animals. We can learn collaboration and team spirit from animals. In a time when the world seems to getting more divided every day, how about we appreciate oneness. Join me as we start Monday Motivated by 7 pm GMT Link in the comment. Happy Monday Motivated. #diversity #inclusion #teamwork #innovation #creativity #kingShaba ♻️Repost PS: If you or anyone in your world has been thinking about or actively trying to get a UK Global Talent Visa, I’m happy to meet and discuss my process. Wishing you a motivated week - Follow Okare

Trust is the cornerstone of any successful team. Without it, we might find ourselves in ditches. Can we trust our team on this kind of terrain? Though, when we work together towards a shared vision and trust each other's strengths and abilities, we can achieve remarkable success. As a leader, it's important to guide the team with inspiration and wisdom, and celebrate the effort and love poured into the work. With a diverse and supportive crew, navigating through challenges becomes an adventure. Communication is key to ironing out any differences, and turning challenges into stepping stones is what makes every stone smooth. Let's remember that teamwork is essential, and with deep trust, we can do so much more together. However, If we can't have deep trust, we might need to consider changing the team. #teamwork #deepTrust #sharedvision #kingShaba ♻️Repost PS: If you or anyone in your world has been thinking about or actively trying to get a Global Talent Visa, I’m happy to meet and discuss my process. Wishing you a great start to the week - Follow Okare

Soft skills in the globalized context 🤔 As so many of us work remotely or in hybrid, in an international company or at least a couple of foreigners on our teams, what are the soft skills adapted to this reality? Well, nothing new for the skills themselves: ✅ Active listening ✅ Giving and receiving constructive feedback ✅ Collaboration and asking for help ✅ Self-leadership and reliance ✅ Growth mindset What makes things different is the context. 👉 Different cultures have different understanding of what's candid, open and vulnerable. 👉 People across the globe have grown up either in collaborative cultures or the ones where you have to figure it out alone. 👉 Many of us see growth, career, success and failure based on what was common and acceptable in the environments we grew up in. How does your team approach these questions? Curious to learn about your practices for this ⬇️ #deib #immigration #internationalteam #inclusion #softskills 📷 Pic taken at a friend's place who loved Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Curious to learn about other cultures?   Four ways culturally intelligent people learn about other cultures.   1 They prioritize the individual   It’s great to learn about the history, traditions and rituals of a country, but these can be superficial or even controversial. What is traditional in one part of the country or with one ethnic group may be ridiculous of offensive with another.   More importantly, history and traditions will not help you understand how to communicate with the individuals you work with. Depending on her mood, my daughter will tell you she’s Russian – however she’s not lived in Russian for 26 years, so understanding Russian history, traditions and rituals will not help you work more effectively with her at all.   Take time to understand what is important to the individuals you’re working with – even if you have only a short time or the collaboration is a short term one. Investing in people is never a waste of effort.   2 They listen more than they speak   Very similar to point one. You can’t learn anything by talking (well, you might learn about the patience and tolerance of the people you’re talking at!) – when you stop and listen, really listen, you start learning. How people talk about themselves and their work, tells you what’s important to them. You can start to infer how they interpret the world around them and their default thinking patterns by listening to how they describe their challenges and interactions.   3 They pause before judgement   This is the hardest one. When someone misunderstands you, for some reason it most often causes adrenalin to start bubbling away. If they persistently push against what you’re comfortable with, adrenalin will eventually boil over into an unguarded reaction of irritation, frustration or something worse.   But we need to train ourselves to defuse that adrenalin and consider that the mismatch is one of styles and assumptions. We must learn to put on a cultural lens that allows us to see what’s happening below the surface   4 They treat culture as an essential factor in effective collaboration   If you treat culture as a problem – something that makes life harder – then it’s much harder to motivate yourself or others to learn about another culture. After all, your life was simple till this other culture came along!   But if you can see that cultural difference is essential in effective decision making by giving you wider perspectives, fundamental to collaboration by adding depth to your thinking processes and a non-negotiable for making sure that each team member is able to be themself and contribute fully – then there is an incentive to consider the value of difference.   Learning about other cultures is quite simple really – which isn’t to say it’s easy! But if you can invest in trying these four tactics, you’ll notice the difference very quickly!

Cultural sensitivity. It's the ability to interact, & collaborate effectively with individuals from different cultures and beliefs. Do you dream of leading a global business someday? You'll need this skill. It will make it easy for you to inspire, engage, and motivate a diverse workforce. You develop this skill by leaving your comfort zone to learn from other cultures. Those of us who live in global cities have the best chance to acquire this crucial skill. It also comes to you naturally when you travel and immerse yourself in other cultures. You want to become non-judgemental & develop empathy? Travel more if you can afford it. It will definitely change your life and career. Living in London did it for me. How are you developing your cultural sensitivity? #culture #diversity #business

Leveraging Cultural Appreciation for Professional Growth As we conclude another enriching day at #RideForUnity, we reflect on the immense value that cultural appreciation brings to professional and personal development. Understanding and embracing diverse cultures broadens our perspectives and enhances our ability to connect in a globalized business environment. How have your cultural experiences shaped your professional outlook and practices? Discuss below and share how cultural appreciation has enriched your career and workplace. Fatima Reyadh Faisal Al Nuaimi Sheikha Sareh Ameri Daniel Bernard Herbert Lang #CulturalDiversity #ProfessionalGrowth

•Traveling isn't just about exploring new places; ~ it's also an incredible opportunity for personal and professional growth. • Whether it's learning a new language ~Connecting with new people. ~Immersing yourself in a different culture. ~ Gaining valuable insights from diverse perspectives. ~There's always something to discover while on the move. •Together through connecting, we can create a mutual interest as well as foster meaningful collaborations #networking #learning #Development

It’s no secret that the skills instilled in professional athletes are transferable to the workplace. And with the Olympics Opening Ceremony kicking off today, savvy employers will be eyeing future potential talent. Companies like EY and Visa are among them. Both have extensive athlete programs that welcome this talent into their workforces. For them, tapping top athlete talent and helping them transition seamlessly into corporate workplaces once they’ve retired from professional sports, is a no-brainer. Athletes are disciplined, collaborative and deadline-driven. They usually have excellent time management, public speaking and interpersonal skills that lend themselves to a successful career. 

Transitioning between countries isn't merely a change of scenery—it's a journey of personal and professional growth. As individuals navigate the complexities of cross-continental careers, success hinges on a foundation of adaptability and resilience. From embracing diversity to cultivating patience, the journey toward cross-cultural success is guided by four key pillars: 🌟 Embracing Diversity: Successful cross-cultural professionals embrace diversity in all its forms, recognizing the value of different perspectives and experiences. By fostering an inclusive mindset, they create environments where individuals from diverse backgrounds feel valued and empowered. 🌟 Cultivating Patience: Patience is essential when navigating the challenges of cross-cultural transitions. From language barriers to cultural differences, successful professionals understand the importance of taking the time to understand and adapt to new environments. 🌟 Building Relationships: Building strong relationships across cultures is critical for success in cross-continental careers. Effective communication, empathy, and cultural sensitivity are essential for forging meaningful connections and collaborating effectively with colleagues from diverse backgrounds. 🌟 Fostering Adaptability and Resilience: Perhaps most importantly, successful cross-cultural professionals are adaptable and resilient in the face of change and adversity. They embrace new experiences with an open mind, learn from challenges, and bounce back stronger than ever. Together, let's cultivate a global mindset and embrace the opportunities that come with navigating diverse cultural landscapes. #CrossCulturalSuccess #Adaptability #Resilience