One of the bittersweet facets of parenthood is educating your youngsters to fly from the nest and turn into unbiased, however nonetheless eager for their every day presence in your life. So, think about should you started working on the similar firm workplace as your grownup baby and your relationship continued to blossom in completely sudden methods.
Father-daughter duo Peter and Nicole Wen get to expertise this ideally suited state of affairs. 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 venture program supervisor. Peter has labored on the firm for over 26 years, and Nicole began working there in 2019. Though they report back to completely different departments at AT&T, the 2 have “lunch-ins” collectively to share recommendation with one another, and Peter says his daughter has helped deliver 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 concept so that you can begin assembly for “lunch-ins” collectively throughout your workday?
Nicole Wen: We began having informal “lunch-ins” early on once I first began at AT&T. At first, it was simply to test in to make sure I used to be getting my footing on the firm and share what we had been engaged on, however as they continued it grew to become a significant technique to join and study 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 along with your grownup baby. We make time to attach at any time when our schedules align to speak about work and life. With the ability to converse the identical “work language” although we work in numerous departments on completely different initiatives has made us a lot nearer, and I’ve realized a lot from Nicole since she began at AT&T.
S: Nicole, what recommendation has your dad given you throughout one in all your lunch-ins that has helped or impressed you?
NW: Professionally, my dad has proven me the significance of staying targeted 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 provides sensible, balanced recommendation I can apply in my very own approach.
Personally, I’ve realized from his calm, considerate method. He advised me to by no means say no to a chance, massive or small. That is one thing that has stayed with me and I remind myself now and again when new alternatives come up.
S: Peter, because the mother or father of an grownup baby 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 deliver 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 folks from all backgrounds.
Her character has at all times let her department out simply, and seeing this at work has actually impressed me to come back 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 deal with networking. What networking ideas has she taught you that you might share with us?
PW: Nicole’s technology actually understands networking in a approach mine didn’t. Again once I was constructing my profession, you stayed in your position for a few years, saved your head down, and let your work converse for itself. I used to be so targeted on turning 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 make it easier to hone your craft.
She’s intentional about connecting with folks—understanding what they do, discovering methods to collaborate and creating area for mutual help. That is one thing I want I did extra of earlier in my very own profession.
S: Nicole, what do you suppose we are able to study out of your dad’s technology about work and life?
NW: His technology has a number of invaluable recommendation for individuals who are simply beginning their careers. I believe my technology ought to study to attach with tenured professionals they work with extra typically to achieve this attitude and new insights. They’ve navigated the company world and have a long time of expertise problem-solving completely different challenges and dealing with all completely different sorts of personalities. He’s taught me the worth of being considerate and intentional, even when all the pieces round you strikes rapidly.
S: Peter, what do you suppose we are able to study from Nicole’s technology 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 he or she embraces each with curiosity and confidence. Once I was simply beginning my profession, there was much less of a precedence positioned on networking. Her technology isn’t afraid to talk up, discover new paths or ask for what they want—which is an actual energy.
S: Peter and Nicole, what do you every really feel is the perfect 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 speak about work, bounce concepts round and even used to carpool karaoke every so often!
Along with my day job, I additionally help our AT&T worker useful resource group, InspirASIAN, because the vp for the Dallas–Fort Price chapter. Previous to me becoming a member of the corporate, my dad wasn’t too concerned in any extracurriculars. I joined to make pals 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 hitch. And now it’s one other factor we do collectively. Our favourite occasion is the Lunar New Yr occasion, an enormous 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 perfect half. I get to see her in motion, constructing relationships, fixing issues and rising into a pacesetter. 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.
Picture from Nicole and Peter Wen
