May 17th 2021
When a diverse group of mission driven individuals come together and decide that all that matters is a central purpose - every thought, every action and every communication is geared towards that purpose. This is the team we're building at Cecil.
We are committed to help every member of team Cecil achieve the very best of what they are capable of. These are the teams that can change the world.
Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much – Helen Keller
This post is from our first hire - one of the most talented, ambitious, and inspiring people we’ve come across.
Nat has joined Cecil as a Product & Commercial Manager.
Over to Nat 👇
Joining a startup as their first hire has always been a bucket list opportunity for me.
I've been on the periphery of the startup ecosystem for the last couple of years, previously working in corporate VC and venture building. I was lucky to have come across several startups in these roles, and had somewhat developed a personal investment thesis about the type of early stage company I wanted to join.
Cecil ticked all the boxes and more.
At times I felt at a bit of a loss in terms of my professional identity; I had moved on from the traditional roles where I started my career but I hadn't yet fully experienced the world of startups.
There were two triggers that were the deciding factors for me to dive into the startup ecosystem.
Startmate Fellowship
I was lucky enough to have been part of a Startmate Fellowship cohort. Connecting with 100 incredible women who work in or intend to join the world of tech was a powerful experience. Armed with a greater understanding of how to translate my skills and experience into startup roles, I embarked on a journey to find the right one.
Pre-MBA reflection
Later this year I will be heading to Cambridge to start my MBA. For me, this step is about so much more than simply going back to school (and exploring Europe). Having started the professional introspection, it has encouraged me to re-examine what 'work' means. Purpose, values alignment and solving a problem with one-to-many impact are non-negotiables. Cecil has all of those attributes in spades.
It's safe to say I had more than a few nerves transitioning from an ASX-listed company to a startup in the earliest stages of its journey.
I wanted to tackle a challenging problem from scratch and build a company from the ground up.
Only in my second week, I'm already leading a stream of strategy work, I've been asked for my input into the company's mission and values and I'm about to begin my first foray into the operations side of product management.
The growth and stretch opportunities have been unparalleled and I'm excited for what is still to come.
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Before joining Cecil, I would often think about the Japanese concept Ikigai, meaning 'a reason for being'.
The part I was struggling with most was not feeling like I was working on something the world crucially needed. Being part of Cecil is the first time in my career where I feel I can find my Ikigai - the intersection between what I love, what I am good at, what the world needs and what I can be paid for.
My experience previously was limited to fintech. It's been a privilege to realign my daily work to contribute to something bigger; the climate crisis, the biggest problem that humanity faces today. I now get to work on a product with a regenerative and restorative ethos, as opposed to a pure efficiency one. You can't underestimate the power of making an impact greater than yourself through your work and the motivation that creates.
I'm not afraid to admit that I'm still early on in my carbon markets education, and it will be an ongoing learning journey. While I've had less exposure to the space than other members of team Cecil, I've been able to bring a different perspective and probe in areas that others perhaps took for granted. The reason that I'm sharing this is to encourage others to feel more comfortable making the transition into an entirely new space.
Culture is so much more than a box ticking exercise. You cannot implement culture and you cannot buy it.
Culture is based on a set of values that connect individuals and people must be able to own them with the actions they take.
What has stood out for me most so far has been the thoughtfulness around creating an inclusive culture at Cecil. Alex and Rory have run sessions with the entire team to co-create Cecil's purpose and values. It sounds simple, but I can't say it's a question I've ever been asked - 'what do you think our mission, purpose and values should be?'
I genuinely feel like I'm a part of shaping the Cecil journey which is inspiring.
If you would like to connect or hear more about my experience, you can find me on LinkedIn or drop me a line at [email protected]