Strands of Genius: Why Parents Can’t Have It All, The importance of your SHED, Why I (still) love the US
Guest curated by Chloe Mathieu Phillips
Each year we aim to highlight 50 creative thinkers that have inspired us by giving them the opportunity to guest curate this newsletter, Strands of Genius. This edition is guest curated by Chloe Mathieu Phillips, Director of Social Strategy and Activation at The Social Element
:: A BIT MORE ABOUT GUEST CURATOR, CHLOE MATHIEU PHILLIPS::
LOCATION: London, UK
PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: The Social Element
Hey there, I’m Chloe. While some people run ultra-marathons, I like to uproot my entire life and move to a different country as soon as I feel comfortable somewhere. I love the challenge of settling down, finding my locals, getting to a point where I can greet people by their name as I walk through my neighborhood. My latest record for achieving this is 6 months, in central London.
The two jobs that had the most influence on me are jobs I accepted thinking “I have no idea what I’m doing, let’s just see and check in in 2 years”. That’s how I spent 5 years building the most magical, eclectic team at 360i, and how I started at The Social Element, where I am now doing the same, but on an even scarier, yet amazing, global scale. Talk to me about managing multicultural teams.
I’ve always been an advocate for remote work, yet as I age I find that I do my best work when I’m surrounded by people who help me cover the walls with my best handwriting. Empathy is my superpower, and it’s also my worst enemy. Also, I have two kids, one geriatric dog, and I can go on for hours about how my partner and I used to take turns with our professional ambition, and how we’re now trying to go for it both at the same time, while also being super present at home.
Editor’s Note (Rosie): Chloe and I met during our 360i days, where our shared passion for non-traditional ways of connecting brands and consumers merged. Chloe is one of those women who leads with a calm head and a warm heart. I've always admired her energy because she's enthusiastic but as far as I've seen - never frantic! And she brings her human-ness to work. It should be a given that we all do that, but it's not, and so very noticeable when it does happen. Thanks so much for being here and sharing today, Chloe! We hope to hug it out IRL again soon :)
:: THE LINKS ::
WHY PARENTS CAN’T HAVE IT ALL
A lot of the debate about mothers in the workplace, or in society, should really be about parents. I find the idea that we should give mothers more support inherently limiting. What about fathers who also want to be present? And how are mothers supposed to grow as individuals if no one is accommodating fathering? My partner quit his job when our first daughter was born. He did that because he wanted to be present, and 10 days of paternity leave didn't cut it. He ended up spending 2 years at home with her, and it was easier to tell people that he needed to take a break from an overly demanding job than to explain that he wanted to parent. People just didn't get it. They also didn't get why I was letting him quit his well paid job so I could go spend all day away from my baby! This article made me feel seen, and brought answers, and a model. (The Atlantic)
THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR SHED
Last June, I said no to a business lunch in Milan. I KNOW. In MILAN. A few days before the trip, I woke up at 4 AM, ridden with anxiety, and wrote an email to our Managing Director on my phone, explaining that it was simply too much. I’d taken on a massive new team, I’d just come back from a week long business trip, and it was also my children’s year end recital at school. It took all my small change to be honest - to say that my health, and my values, were telling me that this was not right. She called at 8 AM on the next morning: “Thank you for keeping us honest, and aligned on what matters most”. She recently quoted this Ellie Norman piece to me: “keep your SHED in check – sleep, hydration, exercise, and diet”. The advice itself is great, but the main point here is that my direct manager is the one who encouraged it, and that makes ALL the difference. I roll my eyes when it’s on Goop, but the message it sends when senior leaders genuinely care about their teams and respect their boundaries is extremely powerful. Also, if you don't know Ellie, check her out. She's a badass, and I rarely use that word. (The Drum)
WHY I (STILL) LOVE THE US
As a Canadian who married an American and who had children on each side of the border, I’ve had my fair share of experiences with immigration forms, processes, and policies. Immigration and otherness are so politicised right now, we often overlook all the ways in which it’s been enriching our lives for centuries, and how magical living with immigration can be. This piece puts the most joyful, awesome spin on it: an Indian-American family, road-tripping around Texas, eating Czech American pastries in gas stations, Indian restaurants, and BBQ joints. It’s a fun reminder of that there are some pretty awesome things about America. (Bonappetit)
Looking for more from Chloe Mathieu Phillips? Those enrolled in The School of Stolen Genius will receive a deep dive from her in their inbox shortly! You can access all our expert interviews for SOSG here.
:: AND NOW… SOME FAST FAVORITES ::
:: Game :: Uno and I have been in an exclusive relationship since 1986, the jury's still out on whether that's good or bad for me.
:: City :: I dream of a city where I can go on jungle runs after work like my friend Julie does in Hong Kong, where the equilibrium between career opportunities and personal life is as amazing as it is in London, and where people have the storytelling skills of New Yorkers. Throw in a “Montreal in early June” vibe and Vienna’s new wine scene, and that’s my ideal city.
:: Book :: L'art des listes has been the bible to my personal retreats for over a decade - it is disarmingly simple.
:: Podcast :: Oliver Burkeman's series on Waking Up, Sam Smith's Mindfulness app
:: Album :: Malajube's Trompe-l'oeil
:: MOTHERS::
There's a way to do this with kindness.
Chloe
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