Session Eleven (Eleven Eleven Talent Collective)

Tess and Alisha are spilling all of their insider secrets in hopes to support those on the job hunt get their application noticed, land the interview and ultimately make the next steps towards their career goals. In this episode they will discuss; mindset hacks for success, how to customize your resume, getting strategic with online applications and new ways to network.

Tess and Alisha share how Chapter Two Meditaiton came to be their latest business venture together and what their offering is! In this episode they also share personal stories how they both came to find meditation and how it has impacted their lives, inspiring them to start a business.

Alisha and Tess share the story of their journey into entrepreneurship, how Eleven Eleven came to be, why they wanted to start their own business and how they redefined success for themselves. In this episode they also discuss the tangible steps they took to step away from their full time jobs and securey step into their own business.

Alisha and Tess sit down with Azmina Kara, Senior Director of People + Culture at Monos Travel for an intimate conversation on Azmina's Chapter Two Moment. She shares insight on how impactful goal setting has been, her career journey to date and what it's like to work at Monos. Alisha and Tess put Azmina to the test with their rapid fire questions that you won't want to miss.

Tess and Alisha discuss the confidence gap effecting executive women and some shocking statistics around imposter syndrome. In this episode they share 5 useful tips on how to set yourself up for success in a new leadership position so you can enter your new role feeling confident.

Tess and Alisha are spilling their top five tips on how they like to stay centered and grounded through the use of daily habits (that, conveniently, nourish their souls as well!). Listen in as the pair sheds light on how they’re reframing success through these daily habits, looking at how small moments can help you build success while nurturing peaceful, harmonious lifestyles and relationships along the way.

Alisha and Tess talk through their biggest learnings this year (aka mistakes!) how it impacted their business and what they will do differently going forward. Listen as they chat through lessons on money, people and their health - you also wont want to miss Tess harmonizing with her favourite holidays tune!

Tess & Alisha sit down with Psychiatrist, Dr. Adam Kusic, for an in-depth discussion surrounding the implications of the pandemic on mental health, individual wellbeing, and healthy coping mechanisms. They explore mental health support options, how to show up for others, why Dr. Kusic entered the field of psychiatry and more. Get your pen and paper ready because there are MANY powerful takeaways in this episode! P.S. We’ve created a FREE downloadable resource compiled with information & tools in this episode – check it out at eleveneleventalent.com!

Tess and Alisha tackle the difficult topic of recent layoffs in our economic climate and the unexpected implications this can have on one's career. They spill the top 3 steps you NEED to take to recession proof your career in times of economic disruption – from ways you can make yourself indispensable for your organization to finding additional income streams. This episode is a MUST listen.

Alisha and Tess share their top tips for for navigating the job search landscape in todays climate. They deep dive into the application process and how to get noticed. They also share practical tools to support your mental health and mindset during this challenging time. You wont want to miss Tess and Alisha's "meet cute" story and find out why Alisha has a deep love for the Shania Twain documentary.

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Candidate Handbook, A Supportive Guide for Your Job Search: https://eleveneleventalent.com/blog-content/the-eleven-eleven-talent-candidate-handbook

Chapter Two Meditation, Discover Your Best Self - Reduce Stress and Anxiety: https://www.chaptertwomeditation.com/digital-courses

Tess and Alisha announce their very first product! A meditation guide and mindfulness journal from Chapter Two Meditation. They chat through the intention for the journal, who they had in mind when they created it, how to best use the journal, what outcomes you can expect from using the practices and more!

Alisha and Tess also share their own personal journey with journaling and how it has impacted their life.

Chapter Two Meditation Journal:
https://www.chaptertwomeditation.com/journal

Alisha and Tess explore the research and science behind meditation while sharing more about their personal journey with mindfulness and the impacts it has had on their lives. They discuss how simple breathing techniques and meditation practices can impact anxienty, depression, emotion regulation and sleep. They also discuss the link between mindulness and increased perfomance, in your career and beyond!

Chapter Two Meditation, Discover Your Best Self - Reduce Stress and Anxiety: https://www.chaptertwomeditation.com/digital-courses 

Alisha and Tess share a look behind the scenes of challenges and a-ha moments they have recently faced both in their life and business. From learnings on money, ego and holding boundaries they discuss the personal development they are experiencing through the obstacles they face and what their key takeaways are as they both continue to grow and evolve personally and professionally.

Tess and Alisha share on Connor's arrival into Tess' life, (a golden retriever pup!) and take you behind the scenes into the process of releasing a product into the market. The Chapter Two Meditation and Mindfulness journal. The journal is now available for purchase! We talk about the WHY behind the journal, how we use it and the creative and logistic steps it took to bring it to life. If you are thinking about launching or creating a physical product - this is a must listen! We also share how we are using the journal and some of the major aha's and breakthroughs we have had during it.

To find out more or to purchase the Chapter 2 Journal:
https://www.chaptertwomeditation.com/journal

Alisha and Tess sit down with Natalie Archibald, VP of People at Clio for a very moving conversation on what it means to juggle motherhood, career, relationships and the detremental consquences of doing it all without prioritzing your own well being. This conversation gave us chills and moved us to tears as Natalie opens up and shares a life altering moment that forever changed her outlook on the importance of mental health.

Alisha and Tess sit down to chat and debunk common mainfestation myths. They share a strong belief that manifestation paired with meditation is transformative and allows you to harness RESULTS. While there are so many people talking about manifestation out there on all channels including #luckygirl syndrome on Tik Tok and manifestation ‘challenges’ on Instagram Alisha and Tess are here to give you the straight talk on what manifestation is and is not.

Alisha and Tess sit down with Courtney Khimji, Founder and CEO of Chimera Collective (an international lifestyle Public Relations firm based in Toronto) to chat about life as an entrepreneur! Courtney generously shares with us about her decision making process to make the leap as well as how she's scaled her business and continued to wear the many hats of motherhood, leader, storyteller and business owner! Courtney's path and perseverance have left us inspired!

Alisha and Tess sit down with Lyndsey Dyer, Executive Vice President at The Coaching Studio (an award winning Leadership Development company) to talk about her (inspiring!) non-linear path that led her to the role and career she has today. If you are searching for direction in your career you wont want to miss Lyndsey's tactile excercise that left us speechless and supported her during a crossroads in life.She also shares some very serendipidous moments and connections that would truly shape her trajectory. This conversation left us wanting way more time with Lyndsey as she so generouly sheds insights on life, career, love and kids!

Website: https://thecoachingstudio.ca/

Tess and Alisha introduce their signature 5 Steps to Manifestation, the creative process to writing your own story. Follow along as they create action, intention and proactive steps to support you in creating the life you desire.

Alisha and Tess sit down with Celine Tadrissi, Spa Director, Owner, and Founder of the award winning Hammam Spa in Toronto. She is also the founder of luxury
skincare brand, Céla. Prior to starting her life as an entrepreneur, Celine studied business at the University of Toronto and started her career in a very different direction. Celine generously shares what inspired her to make the shift and the steps she took to achieve her dreams.

Alisha and Tess are are discussing tools, both mindful and practical how to best set yourself up for success when pitching your business. As individuals who have delivered thousands of pitches to CEO's, Founders and Board Members, Tess and Alisha are spilling their secrets how they have landed work with high growth companies across the globe. These tangible tools also apply if you are a professional giving a presentation at work or even going in for an interview (pitching yourself!).

Join Tess and Alisha as they discuss a new hiring trend focused on assessing skills vs experience and what this means for both candidates and hiring managers alike. They chat through the pro's and con's and also share their personal opinion on this progressive trend in the industry. You won't want to miss Alisha and Tess revealing their shared dream career...and it's not what you think!

Alisha and Tess dive into a useful mindset tool that has served them well on their entrepreneurship journey. They chat about the concept of focusing on "glimmers" and how to navigate setbacks and triggers. Join Alisha and Tess as they talk through the leading research in this area and the practical steps you can take to regulate your nervous system to operate from a calm grounded place.

Join Tess and Alisha for their first ever round up episode! They are giving a behind the scenes update on a new and exciting product launch, insight and perspective on the job market, a mental health check-in and some fun and (and viral!) personal updates.

Alisha and Tess share their personal experience with sober curiousity and dive into topics like their intention, inspiration, setting themselves up for success, learnings and what's next for them both.

Buckle up! Alisha and Tess could not be more excited to introduce the brains behind the operation, Crystal Bootsma, VP of People + Operations at Eleven Eleven Group of Companies. Learn about Crystal's impressive and diverse career path, what it's actually like to work with Tess and Alisha on a daily basis and surprise Crystal facts. And you won't want to miss a very unhinged game of "never have I ever..."

Tess and Alisha are thrilled to introduce the Managing Partner behind their newly launched Toronto office Jessica Hajsan! Jessica brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from her Executive career in global retail. She also has a few surprises up her sleeve, from her athletic pursuits to her love of astrology you won't want to miss getting to know Jess and learning about her career insights and market knowledge.

Alisha and Tess sit down with Founder and CEO at Flytographer, Nicole Smith, to chat about her journey as an entrepreneur and how she was able to prioritize her own well being while scaling a very high growth business. They chat through the surprising benefits and outcomes that have come from a service that has ultimately changed the game when it comes to hiring a photographer. This inspirational conversation left us wanting more!

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Find out more about Flytographer:

Website - https://www.flytographer.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/flytographer/?hl=en
LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/company/flytographer
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FindFlytographer/
X - https://twitter.com/Flytographer

Tess and Alisha sit down with Cheekbone Beauty Founder and CEO, Jenn Harper. This moving conversation centres around Jenn's journey into sobriety and how it impacted her rise and success in the beauty industry. Jenn's authenticity and vulnerability provide invaluable insight that we are so honoured to share here! This is an entrepreneurship (and life!) journey that will leave you inspired!

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Follow Cheekbone Beauty:
Website - https://www.cheekbonebeauty.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cheekbonebeauty/?hl=en
X - https://twitter.com/cheekbonebeauty/

The sparkle shirts are back! This only means one thing...Tess and Alisha are celebrating the holidays and reflecting back on the year with learnings and gratitude. Though its not all sparkles and glitter, tears are shed and real conversations are had about a challenging past year. You will not want to miss this very real 2023 wrap up!

Alisha and Tess spill all the details on their newly launched Talent Academy, a membership based network specifically created for the Retail community! Learn what you can expect from your membership, who should sign up and what our itention is by starting this initiative. Retail community, this one's for you! Get all the details here!

Tess and Alisha sit down with Cathy Thorpe, President and CEO at Nurse Next Door for an intimate conversation on how she has navigated personal tragedy while continuing to show up as a leader and mother. Recently named one of the recipients of 2024 Influential Women in Business Awards by Business in Vancouver Cathy has also added author to her list of attributes as she just launched her book Bold Kindness. There is so much to learn from this inspirational woman!

Follow Cathy:
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathythorpe/?originalSubdomain=ca

Buy Cathy's book, Bold Kindness: A Caring, More Compassionate Way to Lead
https://www.amazon.ca/Bold-Kindness-Caring-More-Compassionate/dp/1639080538

For the first time ever on Session Eleven Alisha and Tess sit down with...another recruitment agency! However this is not any agency, we are speaking to April Hicke and Marissa McNeelands the Founders of Toast . Toast is a membership-based women’s collective founded to flip the hiring dynamic in favour of women in tech. This team is the gold standard when it comes to supporting women, diversity and pay equity, need we say more?! Join us for this inspring conversation on how Toast came to be.

Tess and Alisha welcome Petra Mcelvenny, Visual Effects Executive who has worked for Netflix and Warner Brothers. Petra shares how she has navigated her career in a male dominated industry and how she has managed her mental health and wellness as she rose to the top. This intimate and honest conversation left us feeling inspired 

In this episode of Session Eleven, we dive into The Interview Edge. Whether you're a seasoned HR professional or new to the recruitment game, these techniques are designed to refine your interview process, helping you identify the best candidates with confidence. We may or may not have had a shot of tequilla before recording this one. 

In this special episode of Session Eleven, Tess will take you on a journey "Beyond the Surface" and interview our co-founder, Alisha Adams. Listen in as we delve into Alisha's inspiring story, uncovering the experiences and passions that have shaped her journey and influenced her. She shares her wellness routine, her family life, a milestone birthday she has coming up and how she manifested everything on her vision to live a beautiful and fulilling life. 

Brianna Blaney, Co-Founder and CEO of Pocketed, and Founder & CEO of Envol Strategies, is a trailblazer in the tech world, known for her inquisitive, heart-driven sales approach and growth mindset. As a standout female leader in a field where women's voices in sales strategy are often underrepresented, Brianna shares her unique tools, methods, and the book that shaped her sales philosophy, capturing the attention of Tess and Alisha.

Pocketed Website - https://www.hellopocketed.io/

Embracing neurodiversity in hiring isn’t just about fostering inclusivity—it’s also a strategic advantage. Companies that build neurodiverse teams can tap into a wealth of untapped talent, benefiting from diverse perspectives, problem-solving approaches, and creativity. Join Alisha and Tess as they dive into practical tips on how to implement an inclusive hiring practice for the Neurodiverse community.

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Follow Eleven Eleven Talent Collective:

Website - https://eleveneleventalent.com/

LinkedIn - https://ca.linkedin.com/company/eleveneleven-talent-collective

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/eleveneleventalent/?hl=en

Follow Chapter Two Meditation:

Website - https://www.chaptertwomeditation.com/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfzlpQAiZ-6ldAfTNf69qNA

For seasoned professionals reentering the job market after a long break, interviews can seem intimidating. However, by employing the right strategies, they can harness their wealth of experience to stand out and confidently navigate the competitive landscape. Tess and Alisha share five practical interview tips designed to empower seasoned professionals, equipping them for success as they engage with executives and hiring managers

In today’s market, the candidate experience has become a critical factor in attracting and retaining top talent. Organizations that prioritize a positive and engaging recruitment process not only enhance their employer brand but also increase their chances of securing the best candidates. Alisha and Tess share their insights, highlighting examples of companies that excel in creating a positive candidate experience, as well as those that fall short and contribute to a poor recruitment process.

Discover your purpose and why it matters as Tess and Alisha share their experiences having interviewed tens of thousands of people across the retail and consumer goods industries. 

Show Notes:

• The definition of purpose.
• Where to begin on the path to discovering your purpose.
• Why purpose matters.
• What happens when you connect the dots between your career and your purpose.
• Eleven Eleven's purpose worksheet link here

Land your dream job with 5 key tips to writing a resume from two experts who have read thousands.

Show Notes:

• The foundations of resume writing.
• How to prove you're right for the job.
• Do's, don'ts and resources.
• Resume template on Etsy

Ace your interview with 11 insider tips on how to present yourself powerfully and authentically for an in person interview from two global recruitment experts.

Show Notes:

• How to prepare for an interview.
• How to tackle curveballs.
• The secret skill you may not be sharing, but is critical to outperforming competition.
• Do's and dont's for interviewing.

Senior Manager of People and Culture at Arc’teryx shares her personal journey, and insider tips on interviewing with the outdoor retail giant. 

Show Notes: 

• Laura’s journey to coming out.
• Her entrepreneurial learnings.
• How realizing her authentic self opened up her relationships and career.
• The inside scoop on nailing your interview with Arc’teryx.

Get an inside look at the world of recruitment through a candid conversation with Talent Expert and Content Creator Ally Barton.

Show Notes:

• How Ally found her true calling in a completely different industry  
• Her top two tips for nailing ANY interview                                                     
• Her biggest challenge in starting her popular industry Instagram account @allyhires
• What she's really listening for in her interviews     

Get industry insights on what lies ahead as Tess and Alisha discuss the current state of hiring amidst COVID-19 with digital Agency Major Tom.

Show Notes:

• Current challenges in the Retail Apparel industry.
• We get candid about our own challenges in our biz right now.
• What we believe businesses and people really need.  
• What you can do to leverage available talent on the market.
• How COVID will shape business in the future.

Stay engaged and contributing to your company with 5 creative ways to make an impact, even if your work is on pause.

Show Notes:

• 5 Creative Tips
• How to plan ahead
• How to continue developing your career
• Why networking still matters

Get actionable tips to start a business with a friend from two successful entrepreneurs (and besties). 

Show Notes:

• Learn our 6 principals to running a biz with a loved one                                          
• Find out why we hate emus so much
• We get candid about how we define success in our business

Discover the neurological benefits of meditation and learn mindfulness practices to help optimize your performance and overall health.

Show Notes:

• Discover how meditation's foundational theory is grounded in Neuroscience       
• Learn practical ways to implement meditation in your day to day                            
• Find out how meditation can actually optimize your performance                            
• Get our favourite mindfulness apps

Get up close and personal with retail giant Aritzia's VP of Talent Acquisition, Sara Nathanson, and learn about her journey to leading recruitment for one of the fashion industry's most coveted Canadian brands.  

Show Notes:

• Find out how Sara learned about inclusivity at a very young age                                
• Learn what team sports taught and instilled in her   
• Discover Sara's path to Recruitment as a career                                                        
• Find out what her relationship with her husband opened up for her

Get insider tips on key negotiation tactics to land your dream job and get all of the perks you deserve.

Show Notes:

• Think beyond your base salary and learn what is possible to negotiate into your next offer  
• Tess and Alisha discuss some points that may bring more value to your life than money      
• Get the inside "HR scoop" on why you may not be getting the offer you want and how to navigate that situation                                                         
• Bonus! Tess surprises Alisha with 5 speed round questions about her life

Master the art of networking in the new age with these need-to-know tips from the experts.

Show Notes:

• Learn how to reframe your mindset on networking so its not something you dread doing
• Learn our top tips for building meaningful connection outside of your immediate circle
• Hear Tess' thoughts on mercury retrograde (*they are not what you think!)

Get the inside scoop from Electronic Arts Sr. Director of Global Talent Acquisition, Joseph Marrello and learn about his journey to becoming the leader of a global team for a world-renown leader in digital interactive entertainment.

• Learn how sports has shaped and influenced Joseph's teamwork skills
• Joseph shares his secret for adding value to ANY conversation with senior leadership
• Get insight on the two things Joseph is listening for when interviewing talent at EA
• Joseph answers your burning candidate question - do you need to be a gamer to work at EA?

We chat the science of affirmations, whats happening in your brain and the most important tip to making them work. 

Learn how tiny acts of bravery can impact your life and career with Leadership Coach and Executive Consultant, Jen Murtagh. We talk about developing your intuition, Jen’s life changing trip to Africa, how she uses Byron Katie’s 4 questions to guide her and how women can create meaningful impact while leading a life they love.

Natalie Collard, Executive Officer at Food and Fibre Great South Coast and CEO of Quartz Group talks to us about Executive Presence. She explains how self worth is at the heart of this key competency and shares her three Executive Presence principals on what it takes to make an impact in your business. Bonus -you’ll also learn what it’s like being Co-Founder Tess’ big sister!

As the VP of People and Culture at one of Canada's highest growth tech companies, Bananatag, Agata Zasada shares with us what it was like immigrating to Canada in her early years, she gives us the inside scoop on being a women in technology and how she’s been a huge stand for DI&E detailing her actionable steps. Agata also shares with us what she believes the future of HR looks like. 

Joe Granato, VP Global Retail Experience at Amer Sports Corporation (which includes brands like Arc'teryx, Salomon, Peak Performance and Wilson to name a few!) sits down with us for an honest and inspiring conversation. Joe chats birth order and family dynamics as the youngest of 6, he describes how being bullied actually made him more comfortable with himself, Joe shares his advice on how to keep imposture syndrome at bay and as our number one foodie Joe reveals his top Vancouver restaurant pick.

Makenzie Chilton, Career Coach and Founder of Love Your Mondays shares with us her insightful advice on navigating your career path including the benefits of working with a career coach and the tangible first step you can take if you are looking to make a change in your career. Makenzie tells us what she see's is often missing from people's careers that has them seeking a new path and talks to us about falling in love with the journey of your path. Also, you won't want to miss Makenzie's celebrity crush in our question speed round!

While it may be March, Alisha and Tess kick off the year getting personal with their first solo podcast spending some time reflecting on their learnings from 2020 and sharing goals for the year ahead.

If you are looking to bring your learnings from 2020 into the new year and set your intention for 2021 here are the 5 questions Alisha and Tess answered during the episode:

1. What was your biggest takeaway from 2020 you are bringing with you into 2021?
2. How are you investing in yourself this year?
3. What is one goal for this year that you are really excited about and is getting you out of bed everyday?
4. What is keeping you motivated to achieve it this goal?
5. When you have those down moments, whether its zoom fatigue, pandemic overload/anxiety, feeling uninspired…what do you do to clear your head and turn it around?

Link to Contribution Philosophy: https://eleveneleventalent.com/contribution-philosophy 

This episode Founders Alisha + Tess share some exciting news which leads into a very candid conversation around the challenges women face in the workplace when growing their families.

They chat about the high's and the low's of growing a family and balancing it all, mindset shifts and advice that really supported Alisha and of course what drink she is looking forward to the most this summer!

Alisha and Tess chat about the rising popularity of assessing "grit" in candidates, what Navy Seal, Rich Diviney has taught them about the term and how this new knowledge influenced how they now assess grit in talent.  

They share the key questions they have developed to determine grit as a core competency, so if you are an interviewer, HR Professional, Recruiter or a candidate that wants the inside scoop be sure to tune in!

Eleven Eleven Talent will be launching  'Grit Interview Guide' you can download so keep your eye out for that announcement on our instagram feed.

Tess interviews Alisha who is back from her maternity leave, they have a very real conversation about its challenges, advice and what Alisha learned while she was away.