Memoirs of an Intern

So sitting here in my normal chair, surrounded by the orange and yellow walls to which I’ve grown quite accustomed, I’ve realized a few things. First, that I need a chair with a proper back in order to do any decent work. I don’t know how John and Theran can operate in stools all day. Second, how much that working with Floricane has done for me.

Coming in, I had a vague idea of what duties might await me, while the specifics kept me on edge. What if I messed up? Truth is, John would probably laugh at me, and Caroline would give me some sort of reassurance. The laid back approach of the team here definitely saved my frail college student ego from getting shattered by the reality of the working world, and for that I am grateful.

In some ways, Floricane and I are in similar positions. We are both growing and figuring out our place in Richmond (me especially, being a Baltimore county native. I know where nothing is around here). But as I make my way from college student, to Randolph-Macon graduate, to job-hungry young adult, I’m definitely going to be reflecting on my experience as an intern. The way the team approaches organizational change, leadership, and strategic planning is something that I can take with me anywhere I choose to go.

I won’t say Floricane changed my life (John might laugh at me again), but I will say that I had a fantastic time here in 1E. 

Floricane and the Blue Sky Fund Are a Natural Fit

The founders of Floricane and the Blue Sky Fund met at a Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce event in 2006. Blue Sky’s Lawson Wijesoorija made John’s “business crush” list. 

Floricane has worked with Blue Sky before, but we’re stoked to be helping the nonprofit dream big about its opportunity to expose urban youth to the outdoors. At the center of this process – two back-to-back days with their board and staff to dream big, plan big and anchor everything to actionable plans.

Investing in Ideas with the Virginia Bankers Association

When the Virginia Bankers Association (VBA) wanted to add some energy and dimension to their strategic planning process, their CEO reflected on his experience at an association CEO retreat last fall. Floricane’s John Sarvay facilitated the two-day retreat, and Bruce liked John’s approach.

Fast forward four months and we’re starting on the first phase of a five month strategic planning process with the VBA. We’ll wrap up the process as we engage the staff in an implementation exercise at their annual retreat in May.

Get to Know the Team: Shamoniki!

To kick off 2015, we'll be featuring one member of the Floricane team on our blog each week, using a questionnaire that really asks the tough questions.

This week: Shamoniki (pronounced like Shaw-Monique) Ellison! Having joined the team in April of 2014, Shamoniki has served as our Administrative Coordinator and office manager. Her infectious laugh brightens up our office space, which makes sense because she's a big fan of improv and sketch comedy. Check out a show at Coalition Theatre on the weekends and you just might see her. Now that I've built her up as a jokester, let's see how she answered these questions:

Do you want to rock n’ roll all night or party everyday?
Rock and Roll all night

Which President would you most like to have a drink with, past or present?
Bill Clinton

Pie or Cake or Neither?
Cake. It has layers.

What is your idea of happiness?
Vacation

Who are your favorite writers?
Kurt Vonnegut, Nikki Giovanni, Charles Bukowski

What is your motto?
Can’t stop. Won’t Stop

If we looked at your Facebook page, what might surprise us? 
That I really do Love Improv.

And lastly, what are the things that excite you most about Floricane, its clients and the community in 2015? 
I am most excited to meet clients that I have not met before.  Especially those whose names I come across constantly.  Also Tilted-- I heard it was a lots of fun this past year.

Year Two with VCU

One of our biggest projects this year is a second phase of work with Virginia Commonwealth University’s Development and Alumni Relations team – more than 170 folks representing every school, college and center at VCU. We dive into the work this week with a kick-off session, and then shift gears into leadership, team and individual effectiveness training. This is one of those great projects where we can pull our whole team together to deliver training, coaching and organizational change consulting.

We’re still waiting on the basketball tickets…

Finding Nine Minutes for Your Employees

I was soaking on a recent blog post at a website for deliberate mothers. Obviously, it made me think about the importance of being an intentional manager.

The post in question wisely suggested that micromanaging your children as they get older is no longer necessary. (Managers, review your developmental notes from Situational Leadership.) No, there are nine moments, Amy Makechnie says, that are most impactful on your children:

·      the first three minutes–right after they wake up

·      the three minutes after they come home from school

·      the last three minutes of the day–before they go to bed 

All of us are pressed for time -- moms and managers alike. We do our best, Makechnie says, with the time we are allotted.

I’ve tried paying attention to these nine minutes with my own children. It’s amazing how impactful it is for me to set aside my laptop early in the morning, lift Thea into my lap for a snuggle, and ask her about the day that lies ahead. It’s impactful for me, and it appears to have an impact on her.

 Translate this to the workplace.

 What would it look like for a manager to spend three minutes at the start of an employee’s day; three minutes when they return from an important meeting or engagement; three minutes before the day ends?

Pretty amazing, I bet.

Taking a Global View with ChildFund, International

Our third significant engagement with ChildFund, International, is focused on working with the global nonprofit’s senior leadership. In addition to some serious organizational effectiveness work – strengthening alignment and work flow between key teams – we’re unleashing the leadership coaching power of Debra Saneda! Seriously, this is the sort of work we have a deep passion to deliver – having an opportunity to help an organization deliver on a mission centered around child development is big.

Roll the Credits with the Byrd Theatre Foundation

(source)

We spent an evening last fall dreaming about the future with the Byrd Theatre Foundation. Over the next four months, we’re building a strategic plan to make those dreams a reality.

The exciting thing about our work with the Byrd Theatre Foundation has everything to do with the ubiquitous nature of the iconic building the foundation supports. Engaging in a conversation that dreams big about what the Byrd Theatre can become – that dreams beyond its status as the perfect college date night – is going to be fun.