A couple of months ago I wrote about different types of workmates—colleagues who are best kept at arm’s length and those that are a joy to work with. I’ve been fortunate to have had several great colleagues over the years, but let me talk about someone more recent.
Lenzy is a bright, sprightly young woman whom I first met when I applied for a position in a real estate startup years ago. They were building their Marketing team and I would turn out to be the third hire. Lenzy was the next to interview me after the Chief Marketing Officer from the US. When Lenzy came into the interview room, I realized she was much younger than I expected. Not that it was a problem for me. My concern was that she might find issue with our age gap. But as she smiled towards the end of our interview, I had a sense that she was happy and excited to have me on board. There was a warmth and sincerity to her that melted my hesitancy over accepting the job offer.
I vowed to show her that in the workplace, our ages would not matter. As we worked together in the succeeding months, I realized I had no reason for such concern. It was admirable to see her meet me on equal grounds without compromising her stature as our lead. Other leaders of a lesser mettle would have acted superior to show they were the boss. But not Lenzy. She was secure enough to meet me halfway and I respected her for that.
I found her to be like a raw, unpolished diamond—rough around the edges but brilliant and valuable on the inside. She was smart, driven, and bursting with talent and potential. She led our Growth Team with aplomb, managing a motley crew of young designers and (not-so-young) writers. Her technical knowledge was unmatched in our team. She possessed knowledge and experience in all areas of digital marketing. It was no wonder then that each member of our five-man team chose her to become our first team lead.
As a go-getter, Lenzy was quick to take action to complete tasks or projects. She always had ideas on how to navigate a problem and did not hesitate to share her insights to others. Eager to collaborate, she made it easy to work with her as we set our sights on achieving our goals. When things did not go as planned, she was not scared to hold herself accountable on behalf of the team.
I looked up to her to teach me aspects of digital marketing I did not have the opportunity to explore. She was eager to teach and mentor. I learned a lot from her and wanted to return the favor. But what could I share with someone who was already seasoned in her field?
When Lenzy told me writing was her waterloo, I knew then that this was our symbiosis. We taught each other our respective areas of expertise, in mutual respect and admiration. She’s actually very good in messaging but felt she needed to level up her writing skills. I was thrilled to hear her realization about writing being very nuanced. That one had to be clear in their thoughts and intent, and very precise in their words. For her to realize that was quite amazing to me, as not everyone who writes can actually see that. I believed she found our learning sessions to be a safe space. It’s too bad we did not get to do it often, being overrun by our daily tasks at work.
As a person, Lenzy is sweet, thoughtful, and humble. She’s always willing to lend an ear. Where she could give only limited insight on a situation she might not be familiar with, her empathy more than made up for it. She treats everyone with kindness and respect, but can feel hurt if someone did not reciprocate in kind. She clearly wears her heart on her sleeve, revealing her vulnerable side. I found that endearing because for me it meant her heart was pure and free of malice. Another appealing trait of Lenzy that I quite admire is her de facto attitude of being open and accessible. That’s where we connected because I could share my thoughts with her and like a sponge, she would absorb it without judgment.
I rarely shed tears when a colleague leaves. But I did when Lenzy left the company to pursue something she had long wanted to explore but could not in her current position. While I felt sad she was leaving us, I was happy for her. She could finally trail blaze in her own steam. She had so much to offer that I knew she would be better off where she could fully spread her wings and soar.
We still meet every few months to this day. She is one of those people I want to keep in my life—a gem of a colleague turned friend for life.
