HOT TELECOM insight
Stop talking and start acting
Stop talking and start acting
How many times have we heard, ‘What can operators do to transform the industry?’. However almost never do we ask, ‘What can I do to transform the industry?’. To create a meaningful transformational wave, I truly believe that each and every one of us must play our part, stop talking and start acting. And the hard truth is that if people are not acting on their own beliefs they probably are not that genuine.
For example, let’s stop complaining about the fact that there are not enough women in our industry and let each of us take the necessary steps to change that. We cannot wait for our companies to change or for others to find a solution. It is each of our responsibility to make it happen, now. If each of us would do one positive action a day to encourage a more diversified and inclusive work environment, it would not take long for our whole industry to be completely transformed.
Ask not what your industry can do for you – ask what you can do for your industry
I personally try to lead by example and therefore try to play my part by focusing on encouraging more young minds (including young women) to play an active part in creating the future. Young people are fearless, brave, spontaneous and dynamic. They have the ideas, the creativity and great energy to shape a better world. The Zellenials (Gen Z and Millennials) are full of hope and through innovation and imagination, they are problem solvers and have great potential to generate a positive change. As a result, I believe they are the perfect catalysts to make change happen and speed up innovation, as they are the future.
I have recently taken the necessary steps to harness this power by creating a number of initiatives. One is called ‘The Inclusion hub’ and aims at encouraging the new
generations to join and thrive in our industry. Our main objectives are to connect, highlight and encourage young minds, so that in turn they can help us create the future with a fresh pair of eyes.
As part of this initiative, we organize what we like to call ‘Junior Top Dogs mentoring and networking cocktail’, as well as Junior Top Dogs round tables, which bring together new industry recruits (a.k.a. junior top dogs) and CEOs (a.k.a. top dogs). The objective is to create connections, share ideas and trigger a new movement, so that the young and young-at-heart can inspire and learn from each other to create a future that represents all of our dreams. Everyone leaves these event energized, hopeful and eager to accelerate this intergenerational cooperative spirit.
I am also leading the PTC Beyond initiative, a working group which is part of the PTC Advisory Council. This working group is composed of young leaders who are passionate about encouraging the new generation to join the PTC (Pacific Telecommunications Council), as well as our industry. To that effect, the PTC launched a By One Get One Free (BOGO) offer, to encourage companies to bring their young recruits to PTC’23. Additionally, the PTC Beyond group is working hard to deliver an action packed program for new recruits who will join PTC’23. This includes young people panels, round table discussion, networking events with CEOs and much more.
Through these fun initiatives have learned one important lesson: when you take the time to give back you receive much more in return. May it be by meeting new inspiring young people, by learning from them or by seeing the world in a positive way you never thought possible before. It is a win-win proposition.
Let’s create the future together one action at a time
Now in case you are not sure where you can start, here are some examples of concrete and simple actions you can take on a daily basis to make a difference “
Educate #1
Evangelize our great industry and all the opportunities it can offer to the young people around you.
#2 Support
Make yourself available to the young minds in your organization. Either to help them with their business challenges or just life in general. Be a go-to-person for support.
#3
Empower
Empower the young people in your team to make a difference. Include them in decision making, in innovation, give them projects to lead. They will surprise you with their creativity.
#5
Cooperate
Cooperate with like-minded people trying to do good to accelerate the diversity and inclusion wave.
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#4
Highlight
Give women and young people in your team a voice and highlight their success. Either internally within your company or within the industry as a whole.
#6
Share
Share your expertise, time and creativity to encourage and support the young generation and also convince more people to take action.
#7
Champion
Empower young minds in your organization to become champions and inspire others to join our industry and thrive.
Connect #9
Help young people to connect and network, within your organization and the industry. Empower them to create their own support network.
#8 Be inspired
Take time to learn from the young generation and listen to their ideas. They have a lot to teach us also about how to look at the future with a fresh pair of eyes.
#10 Be passionate
Be passionate about creating the future one action at a time, together. As with passion you can achieve anything.
If each of us took one of these actions every day or even every week, just imagine how different our industry would become.
So the answer to ‘How can I transform the industry’ is simple: One concrete action at a time, not tomorrow, but today.
About the author
Isabelle has worked for 30 years in the telecoms industry. Her personal expertise ranges from Int’l Wholesale through to Business Strategy, and Marketing, along with extensive research and global consulting experience.
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She has been working with many of the world’s telecom service providers to help them define their transformation strategy and has written multiple articles and speaks at conferences on this topic.
She is also passionate about encouraging the involvement of young people and women in technology and science and conducts multiple panels and interviews with leading women and young rising stars globally.
Isabelle Paradis President, HOT TELECOM