5 Minutes With Ritu Trivedi

#TeamMindshare believes in Empathy, Energy and Impact. As we adjust to working differently, we're continuing to empower people to challenge the status quo and drive Good Growth for our clients and the industry. Growth isn’t just a flash in the pan, but it’s enduring, diversified, and more sustainable over time. 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.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success. This month, we're proud to highlight members of #TeamMindshare's AAPI community. Hear from Ritu on what her biggest learning is and how she stays inspired, and more.

Biggest learning from your career?

Do what makes you uncomfortable. When we are uncomfortable, we stretch, and we grow! I take that to heart with my team, my clients, my work, and myself. I don’t always end up being successful but I definitely learn and evolve and that to me is the most essential thing!

Throughout my career, I have always sought out team members, clients and employers who not only share that sentiment but also allow me to lean forward. I do my best work when I am challenging myself to push further. I have moved countries, changed roles, jumped from buying to selling and back again and each of these milestones has helped me grow and evolve and made the journey fun!

One word to describe the last year?

Reset. We have had to reset everything in the last 2 years, the way we work, the way we play, our relationships and our lives! A reset was probably necessary, looking back, at the way we were living our lives but it has not been easy! My mantra now is to use this reset to help me really think about how I want to show up at work, for my clients, my teams and most importantly for my family and community.

What is the best advice you can give for hybrid working?

Take a breath. Many of us had natural breaks of commute, talking to colleagues, running to the café during our day and that’s all gone. What has replaced it is back to back meetings. Though we are more productive in the short run, don’t forget burnout is a real thing. I definitely felt that a few different times during the past year. It's important for us as leaders to recognize that, be vulnerable and talk about that with our teams and take action to mitigate that.

Actions can be little actions like taking a walk, closing your eyes and taking a few deep breaths to bigger actions like taking a vacation. Very critical we do this for ourselves and show by example that everyone needs to do the same. There are definite benefits to hybrid working but we are responsible for also keeping ourselves mentally fit!

How have you stayed inspired?

I have made a conscious decision to use the “extra” time I have been given by not commuting and traveling for things that truly fuel me and inspire me. Spending time with family like picking up my kids from school, and going to their games has been so enriching for me. I am also currently doing a Lifehike program with Own The Room that helps with my leadership skills. I am giving back to my community by working with a non-profit Impact 100 and my industry by being on the board of Ad Council and 212.

And lastly, really grateful to be a mentor as part of the McKinsey’s Black and Asian Executives programs. In the past, I never had the time to participate in such a meaningful way with my family or life, and for this I am very thankful!  

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