Rica Facundo
Polymath. Hybrid. T-shaped.
I grew up wanting to be a journalist, but life had other plans for me. Since those early, starry eyed days of my youth, I stumbled into the world advertising, social media, branding and research, constantly looking for an industry to belong in and a career path that was ‘perfect for me.’ Looking back I realised this was futile thinking. In each of those chapters I simply explored a different version of me, acting out the same plot in a different setting. However, two things were constant: a love of storytelling and culture.
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I would have never gone on my incredible career journey if I never left my comfort zone and dared to think that there was more to my destiny than my childhood answer to ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’
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The truth is that no matter how much we want to control our destiny, life is not linear, it’s dynamic. Just because you side-step or take an alternative path along the way, it doesn’t mean you are not fulfilling your potential in some way. That's because sometimes growth is not just a movement forward, but sideways. Hence the inspiration behind the name.
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If there’s anything my experience has taught me is that there’s no such thing as a prescribed career path, especially now when the world today is constantly changing and brimming with infinite possibilities. It needs polymaths, hybrids, T-shaped talent – people who can navigate the chaos and adapt themselves to constantly changing circumstances.
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Looking back I realised I've been advocating this mindset for awhile now - from spearheading internship programs, working with IAS and EDB for the UPSTARTS program and speaking at Spikes Marketing Academy. Heck it was even my storyline for my submission to Campaign Asia's Young Achiever of the Year category, which I was nominated for back in 2016. This project is the next evolution of that. My mission is to help people rewrite the rules of their career and prepare themselves to thrive in this uncertain but exciting future ahead.
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Will you rise sideways with me?
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For a more formal about me, visit my LinkedIn. Or see what I’m up to on Instagram.