Deepa Prusty

WHAT NEW SKILLS HAVE YOU DEVELOPED AT FOCUSU?

The answer to this most definitely will be speaking in front of large audience. While, I know that I am just beginning and that I sometimes still get nervous and have butterflies in the stomach right before a workshop, I still feel that I have developed a lot of confidence to engage a large audience.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO CHOOSE FOCUSU?

Everyone is very warm and friendly here. Even while I was an associate, I felt like I was a part of the team. In fact, I remember one particular instance that touched me deeply. I was tagged for a workshop as an associate on the day of my anniversary and my sister called me to wish me. We were still prepping up for the workshop. I picked up the phone and in a hush hush voice I thanked my sister and ended the call. One of the FocusU members heard that I was thanking someone and guessed that it must be either my anniversary or my birthday. He pestered me to tell him why I was saying a thank you and I told him. The entire team wished me. Soon the workshop started, and we all got busy with our responsibilities of the workshop. After the workshop, as we were just about to leave, I see the surprize. There is a cake waiting for me that reads a message – happy anniversary Deepa! I was speechless for a while. I was extremely happy that in the middle of a workshop, someone arranged for a cake, especially for someone who isn’t a regular employee.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE FOCUSU CULTURE?

Collaborative and not competitive. While, everyone is encouraged to take on additional responsibilities that enables them to advance their careers and grow as an individual, I have so far not seen anybody demonstrating toxic competitiveness. I see a culture where everyone helps everyone, and in the process everyone grows. People share feedback from a place of positive intent that only reinforces collaboration and growth.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT WORKING HERE?

The work that I do. I have always had a love for training/ facilitation for as long as I can remember. This company only makes me get better at it, this being our core job. I have seen/ known very few companies that share feedback so often (almost every day in the form of check outs and more). The fact that feedback is not only tied to performance appraisals has changed my perspective to feedback to view it as an opportunity to improve and not as something that is most often superficial. The CHOPS culture which is not just something that is printed on the walls and the website but lived every day.