I have a new friend: Dr Tracey Wilen!!!

Last week was hectic but AMAZING!! 12Monkeys brought Dr Tracey Wilen to Mauritius for a week.

Three weeks ago, my supervisor started to tell me about Dr Wilen and asked me to write a Media Release on her. Dr Wilen is a renowned leader and speaker on the impact of technology on the society, work and careers and women’s leadership. She is an expert in thought leadership, Global Speaking, Media Contributor, Panel Moderator and Panel expert. She is a former visiting scholar at Stanford University and has held leadership positions at Apple, HP, Cisco and the Apollo Group.It was thus easy to find information about her.

We organized workshops with seven different companies; Cim Group, Soroptimist International Club of Port Louis, Leal Group, Medine, Rogers, Taylor Smith Group and La Sentinelle. All the sessions were private except for Soroptimist where the public was invited to attend for free. Therefore, we had to create invitations by emails and on Facebook. 

Dr Tracey arrived in Mauritius on Sunday 31^st as to be there for her first workshop on Monday. She had the duty to give six workshops on Society 3.0: the future of work, skills and careers in a technology driven world and one on Gender and Generation for Soroptimist. On Monday, the workshop was with the CIM Group in Port Louis, this is where I met her for the first time. I must say that it was really intimidating and exiting to meet her but I did my best to stay professional and focus. 

As we arrived, we tested the sound system, the mic and the video. When every guest arrived, the technician came to Tracey as to plug the sound system in her laptop, and boom. Everything crashed! The technician got electrocuted and the laptop crashed completely. What a first day! Fortunately we had a backup of the presentation on a USB, but however we did not think of the possibility that the presentation would not be compatible with any laptop! Then we started to panic. Finally, my colleague gave her laptop which was fortunately compatible with the presentation and everything was arranged. But it was quite embarrassing as it was Dr Tracey’s personal laptop.

On Tuesday, to ensure that no problem would arise, I came 30 Minutes earlier and tested everything with my laptop. We had a full day presentation; the morning session was for Soroptimist International and was about gender and generation. It was really interesting to assist to this workshop as I could relate a lot to what was said. After this session I had the opportunity to discuss with Dr Tracey before Journalists came to interview her. Once we had lunch, we left for the second session with Leal Group about Society 3.0. Wednesday she had also two sessions with Rogers and Medine and Finally, her last day, Thursday she gave two presentations with the Taylor Smith Group and La Sentinelle.

It was a busy and hectic week, especially after that first day, we wanted to be sure that we were not going to have this problem again. Fortunately we did not have major issues. 

Through this week, I learned that we are never enough prepared for problems, and that problems will always occur! But I must say that I particularly learned from Dr Tracey Wilen. Indeed, she taught me the future of the workplace and how I should behave and act with the different generations. She even gave me different advice for my future career. I still do not realize how lucky I was to be able to work with her and to listen to her workshops. Me little 23 years old Mauritian Isabelle, had a drink and spent a week with Dr Tracey Wilen! How amazing is that?! 

I recommend you all to read about her and to watch some of her workshops on YouTube. If you think you know a lot about technology, Gender, leadership and the changing generations, you might be surprise to realize how little you actually know. 

Now more than ever, I feel like I am ready for the real working world.

Isabelle.