5 minutes with Ikechi Okoronkwo

#TeamMindshare believes in Speed, Teamwork and Provocation. As we adjust to working differently, we're continuing to empower people to challenge the status quo, through what we call Provocation with Purpose. We’re proud to be unmistakably #TeamMindshare and make it the place where we do the best work of our career, grow and have fun. Hear from Ikechi on how he's adapted, what his biggest learning is and how he keeps being inspired.

Your biggest learning?

Learning how to accept reality has been an important part of how I have found stability and a sense of organization in this new normal.  I’m not trying to retrofit my old life to match my current circumstances. I’m finding reasonable adjustments that work for me based on all available information and constraints.

One word to describe the last few months?

Uncertain. However, in a way that is a signal that I need to take time to analyze the situation and come up with a plan. I don’t see uncertainty as completely negative.  In a way it can be the pathway to resolution.

Best advice you received about working differently? 

The best advice I’ve received is to create space for myself intentionally to build my work/life balance because working from home makes you more accessible throughout the day. Something that is different for me from a work perspective is that my evenings are now sacred and I switch off so I can spend time with my fiancé and get to bed earlier than usual. I do this so that I can wake up and workout the next morning, before starting the work day. I need to remind myself to switch off at the end of the day and constantly remind my team to do the same. We tell our teams every day that their work/life balance is highest priority, so I try to lead by example.

How have you stay inspired?

In my opinion, if you live with intent and make sure that everything you do is congruent with your long term goals, your motivation and inspiration is already built in. It is hard to be inspired if you’re engaging in an activity that doesn’t have a specific purpose for you or your community. So take time to consciously curate what you give attention to by prioritizing things that connect to a larger vision for yourself and it should be easier to stay focused and inspired.

Ikechi was recently honored in Adweek's "Media All-Star" category. Read more about his achievement and terrific leadership on clients’ data strategies, including the development of our Synapse tool.