Meet the ProFounders (Propelrr Founders)

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

– President John Quincy Adams

Meet the Founders is an event in Propelrr where we provide a venue for new team members to know us Founders outside of work. We wanted them to feel comfortable being with us and at the same time we also wanted them to share other aspects of their lives. When we were still in the Philippines, this was an advantage that employees had with us, that we were always within reach.

The one hour activity (that usually ends more) starts with 3-4 participants sharing what they feel at the moment and what is one thing that most people do not know about them. Most of their answers, so far, is that they’re both excited and nervous. My initial reaction is why would they be nervous? But then I realized this is why we are doing this activity, to make the employees feel comfortable whenever we’re around. 

Then, we are introduced by the admin team, both mentioning our professional achievements and personal biases and preferences. I shared that I love travel, food and books, I am an e-heads fan and that I love fragrance products.

We then proceed to our Q&A where the admin team prepared questions behind numbers that both the ProFounders and participants will choose from. The questions can vary from trivial to professional. One of the questions I always end up with is the last book I’ve read that made me cry or had an impact on my life. I shared two books in the last four MTF activities we had, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini and Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey.

My favorite part of the activity is when the team members are given the opportunity to ask us any question. The admin team during the planning stage thought that running this activity for months (every Friday) will end up monotonous (for us regular attendees at least). Surprisingly, the questions raised by the participants each session are so unique that the facilitators always finish in awe. Feedback from the participants made me realize that I have so much to share, be it advice, experience or recommendations that inspired me to start blogging again. 

And finally to cap off the activity, we as Founders were asked to give any piece of advice and message to the team. 

Looking back, how I wish I had the chance to experience this with my previous employers. It would have been a scary experience to ask the President of the Philippine National Oil Company – EDC how he starts his day. The sleepless nights I might have had before I get to ask Mr. Enrique Razon his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs or how many hours he usually sleeps in a day. Or ask the Head of Litton Mills (JG Summit) the books he recommends or the places he enjoyed traveling. At the very least, picking their brains and them putting a face to my name. I’m sure the anxiety of having to interact with them will all be worth it.

If you are head of the HR or the whole organization, I suggest you have this as part of your onboarding process. You have no idea how your team member would like to have a chance to know you more.