Clarion Coughlan, Jayne Paterson O’Connell, Justin Blass & Simon Watson
Jayne’s focus has been on her upcoming move to Ireland. Jayne has been actively connecting with people in Ireland and feels incredibly grateful for the kindness and support she has received from friends, colleagues, and even strangers who have offered help with settling down and finding work.
As she gets closer to leaving NZ, Jayne reflects on the need for adventure. It's a mix of emotions — excitement, sadness, fun, and some discomfort all at once. A friend suggested checking out Tim Minchin's performance in Dublin, which coincides with her arrival. It reminded her of a talk by Tim that really resonated with her, and she remembers some key takeaways. These insights reinforce the values behind THEIA and highlight the importance of embracing disruption when we're comfortable. Tim's words are truly inspiring:
"Be pro things! Be Enthusiastic! Learn as much as you can about as much as you can and rejoice in that. Share what you learn and be a teacher. It is okay to not know what you want to do with you life - but you do have go out and discover it…"
Meanwhile, Simon is reflecting on community building and authentic customer acquisition. He is currently experimenting with cultivating a following based on shared interests (guitar playing!) and exploring effective ways to engage those who would benefit from joining the conversation. Additionally, he is deeply immersed in agency project management and change management, delving into these topics extensively.
Clarion, on the other hand, has been focusing on ideas management and exploring different approaches to generate and evaluate product ideas. Ideas hold great value for any organisation, so it is crucial to foster a culture that encourages ideation from every team member. However, ideas can also become overwhelming if product teams are constantly grappling with a massive backlog. Clarion has been devising a process for ideas management using Jira Product Discovery as a tool, all the while prioritising a "culture first" approach.
Justin is currently in transit, making his way back from the States. We're eager to hear all about his reflections and experiences, and we can't wait to share them with you in our upcoming Studio notes. Stay tuned for more updates!