HUE Member Spotlight – Adrienne Graham

Why did you join Publicis Sapient (PS)? How long have you been here? What is your role today?

A good friend from high school referred me for an open role. The opportunity sounded interesting and it would be a career change for me. But mostly because of the caliber of people that I interviewed with. It seemed like a great company to work for and by the end of the interview gauntlet, I was eager and excited to start. I have been here for 16 years and I am a Manager, Client Finance.

How has PS supported your career journey so far?

Very early on, PS gave me opportunities to be exposed to things outside of my role. I started as a hybrid of Office Services and Hiring Coordinator. Leaders in the office would invite me to workshops, ask me to facilitate client sessions, have me attend various meetings to provide my input and overall provided opportunities to help me grow. I eventually moved out of my role into delivery to be a Project Manager and finally landed in Client Finance. I’ve had the opportunity to relocate out of the country a few times and have learned a tremendous amount along the way.

What does being a member of HUE mean to you?

Being a member of HUE provides a space for me to be unapologetically me. To be my full and authentic self and be able to share my experience with my fellow HUE members in a safe place. I am so thankful for the HUE Business Resource Group (BRG) as its really a group I can let my hair down with.

Who inspires you?

The women leaders that I work with every day. Tanya Dacres, Alyssa Altman, Lou-Ann Paton, Geraldine White and Eiko Kawano. I look at these women and see the hard work, expertise, humanity, compassion, dedication and passion for what they do. They inspire me to do better and be better. They encourage me, lift me up and most of all, simply lead by example always putting people first.

If you weren’t doing what you do today, what career path would you have chosen?

My degree is in Communications and Sociology so talking to and doing something to help people is where my passion lies. I like to see people learn, grow and achieve. I am unclear exactly of what that would have looked like if my path was different.

What do you enjoy most about working at PS and what advice do you have for new hires?

I enjoy the smart and passionate people I work with every day and the environment I get to work in. The Toronto Office is pretty special. It’s a tightknit office of about 400 people that ensures we are connecting with folks if not daily, weekly.  It’s a “bum in seats” kind of office where the majority of our folks came into the office the majority of the week. There is no shortage of events to get involved in because we put in the work to stay connected.

The culture of PS overall is yours for engaging. Dive in and ask questions. Raise your hand and volunteer to get involved. Show up and listen in to stay connected. Make sure your week is not ALL business and ensure you have an outlet for laughter and to smile. Don’t be afraid to make connections. Reach out and say hello. It’s all of our duties to make everyone feel welcome.