Meghan Hennessy
Global People Director (ex-Meta, Twilio, Uber)
1. What seemed like an inconsequential decision at the time, but in hindsight turned out to fundamentally reshape your life?
It’s a toss-up between two relocations in my life (of many relocations in my life): my move across my home country, and my (second) move to another country. I’ll say more.
On the first move, I simply decided to move to Silicon Valley. It seemed obvious: “oh, that’s where tech is, I must move there to get a job.” I made that decision very easily, as if it was the only way to do it; likely fuelled from my history of “always moving.” I had no idea it would be the impact that it was: from developing my career rapidly in the high stakes of tech, to building a full new community again in a new place, to some experiences most people dream of (traveling the world, etc). Without that move, I might be still in the States, trying to make it in fashion, who knows!
Then, on the latter, I did it again. Without any hesitation, I moved to Amsterdam about 8.5 years ago. I had only visited once in my life as a child, and just said yes. Looking back, I believe most people would consider uprooting and moving to a whole new country on the other side of the world a lucrative thing. I thought nothing but, “great, sounds so exciting!” I hopped on a plane a few days after saying yes to the move to visit my soon to be new “home,” and didn’t look back. I now call this my home, something that never truly stuck before.
2. At what age did you become an adult? What happened, and how did you know?
Do we ever really become adults?
I don’t feel there’s a defining moment where we do actually “become adults,” rather defining moments throughout life where we upskill. Here, we’re always learning, and always developing. To elaborate, I feel like we’re all still “just trying to figure things out,” constantly realizing that the adults we looked to when we were younger, were also doing just that. Then, I suppose there are moments of “adulthood” that slap you in the face, and they continue coming throughout your life, as if you’re upleveling. One of those moments for me was moving out of my family home, going to university and thinking, “ah, this is what adults do.”
And another was moving across the country, and starting a career. Then, there was officially becoming a manager and leader in my career; when you’re given a team, it’s a whole new outlook on, “How do I develop people? How do I make sure I’m guiding and supporting?” And, moving to another country, navigating ups and downs of how the world works…
As I look forward, I think I’ll have many more of those moments. That’s how it goes, I’m always learning and “graduating” to different stages of life, and “adulthood.”
3. What do you think is true that most people think is false? What do you think is false, that most people think is true?
I think a lot of people believe that you can’t change much after a certain point, or age. I don’t think that’s true at all. I feel we’re always changing, we’re always developing. It’s more of a matter of what you’re interested in potentially changing, how you focus on learning, how self-aware of it you are (perhaps of that change), and many other factors.
On the contrary, I find it to be true that doing nothing is still doing something. And, even though I think this perspective has taken off a bit in the last few years, I still encounter that most people find this to be false. Doing nothing and throwing the topic of “productivity” out the window for an hour, or a day, or week… can really be a reset and open up so many things, and it’s so important to do.
4. What are the three books that you would unhesitatingly recommend to others? Why?
You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy
It gives such a wonderful breakdown of what listening truly is, and breaks some of the barriers and “cliche-feeling talk” around “active listening.” It’s incredibly useful for understanding people, insights, perspectives, and generally navigating interactions.
Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown
I read this like a school textbook, with notes and highlights in all of the margins! It does a beautiful job putting language to feelings that we all experience every day. I find it so important for everything from communicating in your relationships what you feel, to providing impactful, kind and supportive feedback in leadership and career settings.
The Culture Map by Erin Meyer
This one’s really taken off in the last few years, though I still stand by it – it gives great high level insights on how our cultural roots can shape our communication. Of course some is taken with a grain of salt, but it provides a solid guide on communicating in a global environment. There are even worksheets and online tools to utilize alongside the book.
5. What’s one misconception people generally have about you?
I do wonder if many feel that my demeanor of warm, bubbly, and extroverted (especially when first meeting) leads them to believe I may not be able to hold my own in a high stakes situation, or give direct feedback or insights. Whereas actually, I find the mix of both to be so important in developing respect, and avoiding people-pleasing, and still being yourself.
6. What is your untrainable superpower?
I listen with great empathy, and deeply feel and stay vulnerable in as many interactions as humanly possible – I find this so important in life and leadership. To an extent, I think it is possible to build the muscle of feeling when listening, though it’s not something for everyone (and perhaps doesn’t follow a typical training methodology); I find it’s something you have or don’t, and if you have it, you keep developing it.
7. What is that thing which is OK to ask you about, but which other people are wary to do so?
“What’s your story or your journey?” I love this question, and I think many shy away from it because of the vulnerability or openness it brings… whereas for me it’s a free-for-all of, “Where do I even begin?! Let me share, do you have 2 mins or hours?” It is a powerful way to have an open and honest conversation, and connect.
8. What do you think is acceptable today but will become taboo tomorrow?
The podcast boom. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good podcast, I listen regularly, and I support so many in my life and network creating them. They provide fast information and reactions, and a wealth of ideas. They bring insights, perspective, and they’re very available to the public. With that, I think that the ease and availability of “let’s start a podcast and get people talking about this” will take a turn, and perhaps become much more critical in future, or even avoided, maybe regulated.
9. What’s the last image on your camera roll? Care to explain?
Part of my meal last night, and a painting. It’s not because I took a snap of my fancy food at a restaurant, it’s because I created both. I love expressing creativity through fun dishes and art. I’ve even wondered about a complete career pivot to starting a cafe, where I can mix and mingle with visitors, create fun bites to enjoy, and share art exhibits.
Mind you, I have 0 chef OR artist training, whatsoever. For now, it’s (possibly) on the radar for my retirement plan, and I’ll simply keep collecting the images of my creations.
10. What would be the perfect gift that someone could buy you right now?
Take me to or give me literally any experience. I love learning new things, or seeing new places. It could be taking me somewhere, like a museum or town I’ve never seen. Or planning a trip for me. Or doing a creative class with me, like pottery making or some type of game.
11. If you were to survive the zombie apocalypse, what role would you play in the new society that would follow?
This is a good one. I would be the listener and coach, helping the society and individuals overcome the past, express and learn their potential, and keep peace. I’m drawn to “developing others,” and how I can support in any situation, and help individuals and groups grow.
12. Aside from family & friends, if you could invite any 3 people - living or dead - to your final dinner party before the end of the world, who would they be and why?
I feel this one changes with life, though right now in this moment? Robin WIlliams, for a good, wholesome laugh and share around the table. I believe he had many golden nuggets of “feelings” to hand out, and energy to bring. Jane Goodall, to talk and learn about behaviours.
She is forever studying the actions and feelings of primates, and how those transpire through us and the larger animal kingdom; that wisdom would be profound to take on. And, The Dalai Lama, to have a deep discussion on peace. I believe that would be a nice way to let go, and go out with a bang on the end of the world.
13. What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received? Who gave it and when?
You shouldn’t or don’t need everyone to like you, rather strive for those to respect you. Respect gives a level of gravitas, and helps you stay true to “you” in your decisions and actions. It helps drive what you may take a stand for around your values, or your team or organisation through your career.
This was given to me by one of my first managers, early in my career. It stuck with me and really helped shape my leadership style later in life.
14. What's a skill that isn’t on your resume, but your former bosses would recognize as one of the reasons you are successful?
I’m resilient, and I figure things out. If something isn’t being done, I don’t simply wait for
something to happen, or someone else to do it. I jump to action and support: I drive it forward by bringing a team together around it, or even doing that “thing” myself in some cases; I’m not bound by a job “title” box, if anything, rather “leader” to draw things forward.
15. What’s the one bad quality you wouldn’t mind in a colleague? Why?
Anything that happens to be my, or another colleagues’, superpower. Because that’s how a good team functions: it’s balanced out with strengths and opportunities in others. And, gathers a spectrum of strengths. Now, this is of course within reason, I wouldn’t condone extreme situations, such as something taken as hurtful for example.
16. What is the optimal number of people in a team, with you in it? What roles are those people playing?
I believe 5-8, give-or-take, for a direct team. There would be key individuals that cover: 1. A leader or process owner, to set vision and lift up the team, 2. A data-owner or analyst, 3. A SME in the subject of the task at hand (or multiple SMEs), 4. A communications wiz, for both within the team and outside, 5. Master organiser, to ensure the process/actions move forward.
Some of these can have multiple members wearing that category “hat,” whereas others could span across multiple categories (some “jack-of-all-trades” wearing a few hats).
And, each can act as mentors to each other, uplifting the team in full.
17. When it comes to our work and industry: what scares you most?
That talent and HR teams and organisations may not uplevel at pace. I feel there’s a big shift to be made, whereby we have the opportunity to think big, deeply advise, look at internal development, structures, everything, and strategise. Ultimately, further “merging” HR and TA. We can integrate the augmentation of AI to automate repetitive tasks and free up space to upskill our talent; though, it’s happening very quickly, and some organisations and industries seem to be catching up or close to pace, whereas others are far behind.
18. Do you have a secret tip, tool or trick that’s contributed to your success?
Stay curious, and simplify things. I find it crucial to understand the root of things (in full, or as best as you can), and then follow with a simplification to get to a solution. I have grown so much by simply listening to understand, and then giving a simplified answer/solution/direction (and that might even be, “let me think about it and come back, keep doing what you’re doing”). It has helped me navigate a lot of things in life and leadership, from failures, to feedback, to processes, and more.
19. If you could add a question for the next person to answer, what would it be?
“What is the best question you have ever been asked? And why? What did it do for you?”
20. Who would you recommend to do the next 20 Questions With … ?
Emily Firth. She will have so many golden nuggets of things to share that will help the community.
Thank you to Meghan Hennessy for taking 20 Questions for The Brainfood Tribune. Make sure to follow Meghan on LinkedIn