Meet Shilpi Shah, Talent and Client Success Specialist at TalentPredix™. We asked her a few questions so you can get to know her better.
For me, a thriving career means having continuous opportunities to challenge myself and grow. I’m driven by curiosity and a desire to explore new areas that expand my knowledge and skills. Each day feels like a chance to develop expertise, deepen my understanding, and build new capabilities.
What are your top strengths and how do they help you at work?
Two of my strongest strengths are Curiosity and Forward Thinking. Curiosity pushes me to explore new ideas and uncover fresh possibilities, while Forward Thinking helps me set long-term goals and plan strategically for the future. Together, they allow me to design solutions that are both innovative and sustainable.
If you weren’t working in psychology or HR, what career would you choose instead?
I’d probably be in the creative industry — I love exploring how to transform spaces into something meaningful and inspiring. Alternatively, I could see myself as part of a band. Music has always been a passion, and the chance to collaborate, create, and perform with others would be so rewarding.
What excites you most about working at TalentPredix™?
I’m inspired by the chance to support clients and practitioners in unlocking potential. Being part of a team that champions a strengths-based, people-first approach makes the work deeply meaningful.
That’s a little about Shilpi! You can meet more of the team here and discover the people behind TalentPredix™.
Meet Karen Stone, Senior Consulting Partner at TalentPredix™. We asked her a few questions so you can get to know her better.
For me, a thriving career is one where you not only play to your strengths but also get to stretch, learn, and grow. It’s about being supported by mentors, having opportunities to develop, and being in an environment where you can make your unique contribution and do your best work.
Curiosity keeps me endlessly inquisitive about new insights and how different pieces of research and data connect. It pairs beautifully with my strength in Learning, helping me spot patterns and trends. I also lean on Boldness to share my perspective and challenge skilfully where it’s needed, and Leading gives me energy when I can coach and support others to be their best.
Wellbeing has always been a big part of my life. I’m a yoga teacher, breathwork coach, and have practised a peaceful martial art for more than 20 years. I love taking what I learn in the shala or dojo and applying it in everyday life to stay balanced and thrive.
I’m energised by the opportunity to work with organisations that want to unlock potential in their people. It’s inspiring to collaborate with a team that’s committed to strengths-based, people-first change — and to know the work we do makes a real difference.
That’s a little about Karen! You can meet more of the team here and discover the people behind TalentPredix™.
In this insightful episode, Clara, the HR Director at LVMH Fashion Group UK, shares her powerful experiences with TalentPredix’s strengths assessment. She reveals how this innovative tool has transformed team engagement within LVMH, fostering a culture of open communication where every employee feels valued and understood.
Clara discusses the assessment’s positive approach, which empowers individuals to uncover their unique talents and identify areas for growth. She discusses the remarkable benefits this has brought to leadership teams, strengthening relationships and collaboration. Clara also highlights the internal mobility it has facilitated, providing employees with clear paths for career advancement.
Join us as Clara emphasises the crucial role of ongoing self-development and the significance of these tools in fostering meaningful career conversations. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance team dynamics and unlock potential within their organisation!
In this video, Youssef Beyhum speaks about his experience using TalentPredix and how TalentPredix helped unleash thriving careers and meaningful career progression at Samsara EMEA through strengths-based career development.
TalentPredix is proud to be a finalist for the Learning Awards 2024 for External Learning Solution of the Year for partnering with Samsara to deliver a strengths-based career development program.
We asked our HR and Marketing Lead, Zuzanna, a few questions so you can get to know her better.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I recently graduated from the University of Greenwich with a degree in Business Psychology. During my time there, I became really interested in understanding human behaviour and its impact on various aspects of our lives. I found my passion in making a positive impact on people’s lives, particularly in the realm of mental health and well-being. Now, I’m excited about my journey here at TalentPredix, where I want to contribute to our shared goal of empowering others with the help of business psychology.
What’s your top talent, career driver, and core value?
I would say my top talent is Understanding Others; I can easily pick up on people’s emotions and perspectives. This aligns closely with my biggest career driver, which is Service. I enjoy work where I can improve the lives of others by helping or supporting them in some way. It’s not surprising that my biggest value is Kindness. It’s interesting to see how all of these aspects integrate with each other.
What does great talent management mean to you?
In my opinion, great talent management is all about seeing and fostering the unique strengths and potential each person brings to the table in an organization. It’s about making sure everyone feels valued, supported, and ready to give their all. That means giving everyone a chance to grow, keeping communication crystal clear, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and development.
How do you relax outside work?
The best way for me to relax is through staying physically active. I mainly achieve this through weightlifting at the gym, as it’s a form of meditation for me where I don’t think about anything else. I also relax by spending time outside, in nature. It helps me feel present in the moment, and I find it really calming.
What do you like most about working at TalentPredix Ltd?
What I find most fulfilling about being part of the TalentPredix team is our fantastic culture. Collaborating with experienced professionals who are dedicated to achieving our company’s goals is incredibly inspiring. Plus, I feel lucky to be in a workplace that fits perfectly with my values and career goals. I genuinely believe I can make the most of my talents in this role and keep growing, both personally and professionally.
If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be and how would you use it?
If I could have any superpower for a day, I would definitely choose teleportation. I would start the day with a cup of tea with my grandma in Poland, then I’d have a sushi breakfast in Tokyo. I’d do some sightseeing in Cape Town and grab a bagel for lunch in New York. Next, I’d spend some time at the beach in Rio before I go see the Great Wall of China. Lastly, I’d quickly grab a pad thai in Thailand before watching a sunset from an Australian beach.
In this video, Anita Bower and John Hollywood speak about how TalentPredix helped Iconic Luxury Hotels employees and managers develop a better understanding of their combined career drivers, values and strengths to improve overall business and talent outcomes.
In this video, Steve Gulliver speaks about his experience using TalentPredix and how TalentPredix helped cultivate career development excellence at the University of Leicester.
We asked our Founder and CEO, James Brook, a few questions so you can get to know him better.
What is the biggest highlight of your working life?
Other than starting TalentPredix Ltd, it was undoubtedly founding Strengthscope, a global strengths assessment company I ran for 13 years. I love to combine my passions for leading entrepreneurial businesses and designing innovative talent assessment and development approaches that help people discover and optimize their talents, strengths and potential, which is ultimately my core purpose.
What does great talent management mean to you?
Finding, retaining, developing and deploying diverse and highly motivated people that can translate your vision into reality and enable your organization to stand out and thrive.
Who has inspired you most in your career?
I have been lucky enough to have had outstanding managers, mentors and coaches during the course of my career, each of whom has inspired me in different ways. I have also drawn inspiration from a wide range of successful leaders, psychologists, authors and entrepreneurs such as Nelson Mandela, Richard Branson, Ariana Huffington, Phil Knight (Nike founder), Peter Drucker, Abraham Maslow, Adam Grant and Elon Musk. Finally, I have my Dad and Mom to thank for my values and work ethic that have inspired my curiosity, creativity and search for excellence throughout my career.
What energizes you most about your work?
The opportunity to work with a wide variety of leaders, people and teams to help them to achieve their full potential and make a positive difference to customers, shareholders and other stakeholders.
How do you relax outside work?
I run several times a week (and try to run at least a couple of half marathons each year), swim and also enjoy photography, movies, travel, and trying out different wines. I’m currently doing a PhD so time for relaxation is very limited.
What do you like most about working at TalentPredix Ltd?
The excitement of building our assessment and development products and seeing these gain traction and bring value to our clients. Our fast-growing team of core staff and global partners is also extremely talented, motivated and creative so they give me lots of enjoyment and energy.
Most of us understand the value of personal reflection and renewal moving into a new year. Like me, I’m sure everyone hopes this year will mark the end of the pandemic stage of Covid so we can get back to whatever the new normal looks like. Although there are many factors like Covid that we can’t control, what we can control is the way we manage our energy and psychological health in response to setbacks and struggles we encounter, including the choices we make and the type of mindset we adopt.
Many of you will have got into the habit of setting goals and resolutions at the start of each year. However, most people don’t apply the same discipline when it comes to managing their energy and psychological health. Yet, these are arguably the most important drivers of our long-term happiness and success. Managing our energy and psychological health provides the positive ‘fuel’ to help us achieve our career and life goals. It can also make us more resilient, adaptable, optimistic, and self-confident.
Here are 7 keys to help improve your emotional and psychological health for the coming year and set you up for your best year yet.
1. Discover your purpose and stick to it
People who discover their purpose and stay true to it are far more likely to be committed and engaged at work. They find deeper meaning in their work and have a clearer vision of what they want to achieve. This instills a deep sense of commitment and enables them to focus their skills and talents on what they are most passionate about. Studies show that when people have a clear and meaningful purpose and apply their natural talents to work towards this, they are far more likely to enjoy work, perform better and achieve greater career success.
2. Master your mindset
All of us will experience setbacks and difficulties during the year, although the nature and emotional intensity of these will vary significantly. Never allow yourself to become a victim of negative thinking and adverse circumstances. If you do, you’ll soon enter a vicious cycle of low self-confidence, pessimism, helplessness, and eventually depression. Remember that you are free to choose your mindset and how you respond to any situation, no matter how difficult.
Even in the darkest moments when nothing seems to be going right, we have the power to find a positive way forward and not to be defined by setbacks, mistakes and adverse circumstances. We can all learn from the great wisdom of Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor, who pointed out in his bestselling book, Man’s Search for Meaning:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
3. Challenge your inner critic
All of us have an inner critic, even the most outwardly confident and successful celebrities, leaders, and entrepreneurs. But some learn to control these inner gremlins effectively while others find themselves overwhelmed by them.
Don’t let your inner critic – limiting voices of self-doubt and fear – get the better of you. Listen carefully and write down the negative, limiting things you say to yourself. Treat these as if they were being said by an external person who is not fair, supportive, or rational. Challenge and question these points as if you were disputing something someone has said which is unfair or unjustified. Reframe these negative statements as positive, empowering ones. Write down these positive statements and look at them every day before work and whenever you are experiencing episodes of self-doubt or anxiety. Over time, your negative narratives will be replaced by positive ones.
4. Choose to spend time with energy multipliers
Research indicates that people’s emotions and mindsets are contagious. Spending time with people who are upbeat, resilient, and solutions-oriented will provide you with a positive and supportive network. Over time, this will multiply your positive energy, growth, and effectiveness, leading to greater happiness, wellbeing and performance.
On the other hand, if you hang out mainly with negative, ‘glass half empty’ people who sap your energy and add no value then it’s likely you’ll develop a negative outlook to work and life. It’s best not to get sucked into this vortex of negativity unless you want to spend all your time struggling through life.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should avoid friends and co-workers who have temporary setbacks and difficulties that cause them to experience inevitable emotional lows and difficulties. Always stick by these people and show compassion, empathy, and support to help them through their difficult patch. This builds trust, openness, and emotional closeness, all of which are pre-requisites for meaningful, satisfying and emotionally mature relationships.
5. Declutter
Don’t leave decluttering to the springtime. Decluttering your house and office at the start of each new year enables you to simplify your life. It will leave you feeling invigorated, unburdened, and satisfied. Studies show it can also boost your self-esteem, focus and quality of thinking. Tidying enables you to get rid of unnecessary possessions that don’t add value to your life as well as those that are associated with unhappy memories from the past. Gifting these items to a charity or person who needs them more than you will raise your spirits, as research shows that people derive happiness and joy by helping others. However, make sure you don’t go overboard and throw away possessions that have deep sentimental meaning and attachment to you, as getting rid of these might undermine rather than improve your emotional wellbeing.
6. Focus on what’s going well
Many people keep themselves so busy at work and home that they don’t take time to slow down and notice the good things happening in their life and around them. For example, we often fail to spot our co-workers doing great work or a friend or partner making a special effort on our behalf. Many even fail to notice and celebrate their own learning, progress, and professional achievements. They simply move on to the next thing and lose a valuable opportunity to enjoy the scenic ‘lookout points’ in their relentless quest to conquer the next peak. Take time to notice and be grateful for these special moments, however small, as this will enhance your wellbeing as well as the happiness of those around you.
7. Ditch negative news and social media
Put yourself on a news and social media fast for a few weeks or become more selective about the types of media you consume. A lot of our traditional and online media pedal primarily negative news that gives rise to unnecessary anxiety, concerns, and worries, undermining our emotional wellbeing. The reason of course is simple – negative stories generally sell better than positive ones.
Similarly, many social media platforms spread negative news, fake news and extreme views and opinions. This negatively biased content impacts our perspective about what is real and heightens our perceived threat level towards the world around us. Some platforms also encourage unhealthy peer-group comparisons that leave people feeling they are inferior, unsuccessful, or missing out. Taking a break from this negativity and refocusing your time on positive experiences (e.g., reading, learning a new skill or starting a new hobby) and people will enable you to build a positive and healthy mindset.
Finally, remember that a happy life also requires a healthy diet and regular exercise so don’t forget to include these in your list of goals for 2022. Wishing you all a happy, successful, and healthy 2022.
Each person tends to invest differently according to their personal characteristics. However, traditional psychometric approaches may not be the best to identify investing strategies. As James Brook explains, broad personality classifications tend to limit the quality of insight about a person’s way of investing.
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