5 Minutes With Stephanie Aiuto

#TeamMindshare believes in Speed, Teamwork and Provocation. 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. Hear from Stephanie on how she's adapted, what her biggest learning is and how she stays inspired.

Biggest learning from your career

The biggest thing I’ve learned from my career is that there is very little that a positive attitude and sheer will can’t solve. Whether it is motivating a team through projects with high expectations and quick deadlines, convincing clients of their own business needs, or jumping into an unknown opportunity that might seem “scary” at first, if you meet it head on with positivity and a “can do” attitude, you will turn those challenges into wins. The more wins you collect, the more momentum you have to face the next unknown.

One word to describe the last year?

Resilient.

With all the ups and downs since the pandemic started, and the ever changing environments/circumstances around how we do our work, it is our resilience that keeps us going with the determination to grow and be better versions of ourselves.

Best advice you gave about hybrid working?

When working from home it is really easy to sit down at the beginning of your work day and then suddenly realize it is 9pm and you haven’t moved from your seat. Make sure you prioritize your health, set reminders to get lunch or just stand up and walk away from your computer for five minutes every now and then. Even when you have an entire day of back to back meetings, take some of them while standing.

How have you stayed inspired?

No matter how busy I am I make sure I set aside time to devote to my hobbies. For example, every week I set aside time to go to my workshop where I forge knives and swords. The blacksmithing works out any pent up frustration I might have as a nice cathartic exercise, while the artistry of the knife making process exercises my creativity. This keeps me in balance to approach my work in a calm fashion, ready to creatively problem solve whatever comes my way.

What do you love about living in New York?

There is so much to love about living in New York between the culture (theater, museums, concerts, etc.)  and the food. There is literally always something to do no matter who you are and what you enjoy. And even if you don’t feel like going out, you can get almost anything delivered right to your door, even if it is 2:30am.  However, the best part about living in NYC is the exposure to so many people from all walks of life, yet even among everyone’s differences there is always something that unites us. No matter who you are or what your background is, every New Yorker has this special mixture of grit, strength, and drive to “make it”, and that is an unspoken bond that we all share.

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