Mona School of Business and Management (MSBM) hosted a virtual Student Enrichment Session focused on “Networking in the Digital Age” which featured a conversation with Nikkia Reveillac, Netflix Consumer Insights Director on October 28, 2021, as part of the school’s strategy to provide students with opportunities to be inspired by outstanding Business leaders during their educational journey.
“Ms. Reveillac is a visionary, thought leader and change agent in the arenas of innovation, marketing strategy, organizational design and team culture enhancement. Over the course of a diverse career as a leader in the sectors of arts and entertainment, consumer packaged goods and technology - most recently as Head of Research at Twitter - she has leveraged an open growth mind-set, a pioneering attitude, and a proven-ability to develop high-functioning teams to shape business thinking and decision-making in ways that unlock pathways to growth,” as expressed in her professional profile.
Having grown up in Trinidad & Tobago, lived in the United States of America, Spain, Mexico and Switzerland, and led teams across North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, Nikkia believes that her cultural background has allowed her to bring empathy and develop a deep connection with people which has resulted in her ability to excel on her career path.
In a presentation which took the form of a conversation with MSBM’s Executive Director, Dr. David McBean, Ms. Reveillac reflected on the role networking played during her professional journey. She expressed that having moved to the United States, she had to rely on her resume and grades to at least be contacted for a job interview. She reminisced on moments where she searched the newspapers and saw job postings that matched her qualifications, however, she still experienced numerous rejections. On the other hand, these experiences fueled her desire to master the art of networking, which resulted in her developing her creative letter writing skills. It was with the understanding that she had nothing to lose that also helped her to explore different ways of attracting the attention of employers.
Speaking directly to the students, Ms. Reveillac noted that there are several pitfalls and traps that people fall into when networking. “Not knowing your audience is a common pitfall. There is generational and industry nuisance so being able to discern what is culturally appropriate is also important,” she highlighted. She also expressed that another pitfall is the belief of being entitled to a response from business executives. “The need to know where people are at in their career and the need to show empathy and understanding is what makes you stand out rather than this need to feel like you are owed a response,” she added.
The virtual audience of approximately 100 persons who joined Zoom engaged in a very spirited question and answer session which followed the conversation. During this segment, Ms. Reveillac provided insights on overcoming shyness, the fear of rejection and empathy.
This student enrichment session is part of the continuation of several held by MSBM as part of its role in empowering students through personal development.