Some of the bittersweet facets of parenthood is educating your kids to fly from the nest and develop into impartial, however nonetheless eager for their day by day presence in your life. So, think about should you started working on the similar firm workplace as your grownup little one and your relationship continued to blossom in completely surprising methods.
Father-daughter duo Peter and Nicole Wen get to expertise this ideally suited situation. Along with their parent-child relationship, the 2 are colleagues at AT&T, the place Peter Wen is director of technical gross sales and Nicole Wen is principal challenge program supervisor. Peter has labored on the firm for over 26 years, and Nicole began working there in 2019. Though they report back to totally different departments at AT&T, the 2 have “lunch-ins” collectively to share recommendation with one another, and Peter says his daughter has helped carry him out of his shell and taught him the significance and worth of networking.
Q&A with Peter and Nicole Wen
We spoke with Peter and Nicole Wen about how carpooling to work collectively and assembly for lunch dates has helped them each evolve personally and professionally.
(This dialog has been edited for readability and size.)
SUCCESS: What prompted the thought so that you can begin assembly for “lunch-ins” collectively throughout your workday?
Nicole Wen: We began having informal “lunch-ins” early on after I first began at AT&T. At first, it was simply to examine in to make sure I used to be getting my footing on the firm and share what we have been engaged on, however as they continued it turned a significant strategy to join and be taught from one another professionally.
Peter Wen: When Nicole joined the corporate, I used to be thrilled—it’s uncommon to get this sort of overlap together with your grownup little one. We make time to attach at any time when our schedules align to speak about work and life. Having the ability to converse the identical “work language” regardless that we work in numerous departments on totally different initiatives has made us a lot nearer, and I’ve discovered a lot from Nicole since she began at AT&T.
S: Nicole, what recommendation has your dad given you throughout considered one of your lunch-ins that has helped or impressed you?
NW: Professionally, my dad has proven me the significance of staying centered on constructing your experience in your profession. Our approaches may differ, however we share that very same core worth. Throughout our lunch-ins and carpool rides collectively, I’ll typically ask, “How would you method this?” and he offers sensible, balanced recommendation I can apply in my very own manner.
Personally, I’ve discovered from his calm, considerate method. He informed me to by no means say no to a possibility, huge or small. That is one thing that has stayed with me and I remind myself once in a while when new alternatives come up.
S: Peter, because the guardian of an grownup little one it’s possible you’ll not get to see as typically, I think about it’s so particular attending to spend your lunches with Nicole. Please share how Nicole has helped carry you out of your shell.
PW: Lunch-ins with Nicole have made us a lot nearer and it’s been unimaginable to see all of her success in such a brief period of time on the firm. She’s masterful at connecting with individuals from all backgrounds.
Her character has all the time let her department out simply, and seeing this at work has actually impressed me to return out of my shell. When Nicole joined and finally took a management place in our worker group InspirASIAN, she inspired me to take part extra and become involved. I had been a member however by no means actually participated earlier than she joined. I began going to the conferences and interesting with different members— even mentoring some—and this has actually proven me the worth of connecting with colleagues at work.
S: Peter, please talk about how Nicole has energized your give attention to networking. What networking ideas has she taught you that you may share with us?
PW: Nicole’s era actually understands networking in a manner mine didn’t. Again after I was constructing my profession, you stayed in your position for a few years, stored your head down, and let your work converse for itself. I used to be so centered on changing into a topic professional, and networking was much less of a precedence then. However Nicole confirmed me that constructing relationships is simply as vital and might even provide help to hone your craft.
She’s intentional about connecting with individuals—understanding what they do, discovering methods to collaborate and creating area for mutual assist. That is one thing I want I did extra of earlier in my very own profession.
S: Nicole, what do you assume we will be taught out of your dad’s era about work and life?
NW: His era has quite a lot of useful recommendation for individuals who are simply beginning their careers. I believe my era ought to be taught to attach with tenured professionals they work with extra typically to realize this angle and new insights. They’ve navigated the company world and have many years of expertise problem-solving totally different challenges and dealing with all totally different sorts of personalities. He’s taught me the worth of being considerate and intentional, even when every thing round you strikes shortly.
S: Peter, what do you assume we will be taught from Nicole’s era about how they navigate work and life?
PW: They’re extremely open to alter. Nicole has already held a number of roles in just some years, and she or he embraces each with curiosity and confidence. After I was simply beginning my profession, there was much less of a precedence positioned on networking. Her era isn’t afraid to talk up, discover new paths or ask for what they want—which is an actual power.
S: Peter and Nicole, what do you every really feel is the very best factor about attending to work collectively?
NW: It made becoming a member of a big firm like AT&T a lot much less intimidating. Simply understanding he was a hallway or a name away gave me confidence. And it’s enjoyable—we discuss work, bounce concepts round and even used to carpool karaoke from time to time!
Along with my day job, I additionally assist our AT&T worker useful resource group, InspirASIAN, because the vp for the Dallas–Fort Value chapter. Previous to me becoming a member of the corporate, my dad wasn’t too concerned in any extracurriculars. I joined to make associates exterior my group. I discussed to my dad how superior the group is, all of the charity work and scholarship fundraising, and inspired him to affix. And now it’s one other factor we do collectively. Our favourite occasion is the Lunar New Yr occasion, a giant celebration with meals, music and dragon dancing, and it’s very particular to do collectively.
PW: Watching Nicole thrive in her personal profession is the very best half. I get to see her in motion, constructing relationships, fixing issues and rising into a frontrunner. And I get little moments—lunches, fast chats—that I wouldn’t in any other case have now that she’s out of the home. It’s a present.
Photograph from Nicole and Peter Wen
