I laughed when I got to the awesome partThank you all so much!!
I have so much to share, but it’s been overwhelming! I’m finding it hard to process.
It’s only been announced within the Partnership right now and the congratulations are pouring in. I swear that yesterday was a sunny halcyon day just for me because today it’s been hailing!!
I’ve had such a difficult few months in the lead-up to it. There have been incessant deadlines, but I needed to prepare piles of documentation in relation to the evidence for my promotion. I’ve been working without a single day off for a month now, and I have dark circles under my eyes!! Everyone was really supportive except my old boss who isn’t a bad guy but he never sees talent in anyone and he’s really held me (and others) back. But I have a lot of champions now, and he basically just got in line with the wave of support, albeit being quite challenging and grumpy whenever he had a chance. He’s been very depressing and made me doubt myself a lot through all this.
The day before my panel interview, one of the founding partners told me: ‘you’ll be great; you don’t need to speak for 10 minutes as your timed introduction. All you need to do is get up and say “I’m passionate, I’m systematic, I bring people together, I’m cutting edge in my thinking and I have integrity. I’m Dawn. I welcome any questions you have for me”.’ I blinked at him, and said, “I’m not sure that’s quite what the panel interviewers have in mind for the timed introduction. I have 10 minutes”. He thought about it and added “you could also say I’m collaborative”I mean it’s lovely he had that much faith in me, but honestly, what advice!!
My CEO has been lovely, bless her. She said she wanted to do lunch a couple of weeks ago, and I was a bit nervous. She’s always 10 steps ahead of me in her thinking so I always feel like ‘what am I about to walk into?!’ And she did give me some really challenging feedback. She said I’ll be on the Board one day (which is the most senior tranche of Partners - most people don’t make it). But I have to change, she said. Listen more, and be vulnerable, because I am too self-reliant and she’s worried that I won’t let people in, and how can I lead a company if I don’t let people in?
Later she messaged me saying that she knows how hard it is to be vulnerable at work when I haven’t felt like anyone has my back, but that she and everyone is now there to support me through my career. She also said that she hoped she wasn’t too direct during our lunch, but that opening up would make me a stronger leader. She repeated that her and the wider team are on my side, and that I can rely on her if I ever need it. And she added, “Thank you for being awesome.”
(Yes, she said awesome. No she’s not American)
Notwithstanding the reassurance, I’ve been feeling quite overwhelmed by all the feedback coming out of this process, and from my CEO, and I just feel pretty uncertain about the things I thought I was good at and it turns out I’m not so good... isn’t planning continual self-improvement, and then failing in your good intentions ALL the time, absolutely exhausting?!
And then I had the panel interview which was horribly hard, but I made it...
So now you’re all up to speed. Thank you my friends
No idea how to celebrate... I’m much too tired and happy
because I was about to write that you don't even realize how awesome you are and that is one of the things I like so much about you! Stay sweet but don't doubt you can do it. You have proven yourself over and over, and you will find success even if there are imperfect times because you are resilient!It made me so happy that I'm included in the bunch that's been encouraging you! We live such different lives, and I love that too. It must have been awful to work under your old boss. I love how your CEO cheers you on and pushes you in the best way.
ETA: What a cute new pink bag! And the ear ring jackets are beautiful! Mr_Dawn is so sweet to you!
Last edited:
This fits: Chanel zippy coin purse, lipstick, foundation compact, tissues, perfume, antibac hand gel. That’s all I need if I’m out and about.
and it must feel amazing to see how it's been worth it! I hope this promotion is a great joy in your life & your future! 
thank you sweetie
