The Twelve – Manasi Menon x David Blair

“What interested me in applying for the Twelve is the chance to engage in the strategic direction of tp bennett, alongside the mentoring and career growth opportunities. I really value the company’s emphasis on involving employees in shaping its future, and I am thrilled to be part of this group”.

Tasked with imagining better, ‘Twelve’ is a mutual-mentoring programme that encourages debate and discourse between our Board and their 12 staff mentors, our disrupters, who have been given the platform to influence our future.

Successful applicants from across the business have been matched with 12 Board Members across our six strategic imperatives: brand, client, design, finance , people and sustainability. The programme runs for 18 months, with interim check-ins and reviews to collect feedback from across the pairs. The result is individuals with different life experiences connecting and learning from each other which paves the way for an exciting future for the practice.

To bring this to life we asked each Twelve pair to engage in a two-way interview, exploring their ambitions for the programme. Next up: Senior Sustainability Designer, Manasi Menon and Principal Director, David Blair who represent the Client Strategic’ imperative.

QUESTIONS FROM DAVID TO MANASI 

Q:          What interested you in applying for Twelve?

Manasi Menon: What interested me in applying for the Twelve is the chance to engage in the strategic direction of tp bennett, alongside the mentoring and career growth opportunities. I really value the company’s emphasis on involving employees in shaping its future, and I am thrilled to be part of this group.

A collaborative approach is particularly crucial as the future of the real estate industry faces a period of significant transformation. It must prioritise sustainability and resilience, not only for the planet, but also for the wellbeing of people and profitability of businesses. These principles align closely with my own values and tp bennett’s ethos, and the Twelve provides a platform for me to actively help shape this vision.

Q:          Why did you choose this strategic imperative and what will you bring to the role?

The Client Strategic Imperative Group aims to strengthen existing connections and grow new relationships. I’m excited to be part of these core conversations as they continue to evolve.

What I bring to the role is my background in both architecture and sustainability. This equips me with a strong foundation in sustainability principles, which enables me to bring a technical perspective to our conversations.

Q:          What do you personally hope to get out of it?

An exciting part of the Twelve is the mutual mentoring with David, which I have already found to be particularly valuable. Our insightful discussions about the business’ purpose and direction, combined with his perspective on sustainability has challenged and helped me to think differently.

The Twelve also offers the chance to grow both professionally and personally. Joining a group that operates outside of the sustainability imperative allows me to gain a broader perspective on how sustainability typically interacts with different functions, and internal and external stakeholders. Similarly, by participating in high-level discussions and strategic conversations with diverse people across the company, I hope that this will enhance my interpersonal skills.

QUESTIONS FROM MANASI TO DAVID

Q:          What are the key outcomes you hope to see from the Twelve initiative, and what benefits have you already experienced so far ?
What I’m excited to see with The Twelve is the benefits of opening doors to new opportunities. It’s all about creating a space for initiative and fresh ideas, so bringing in employees from all teams and levels is a great way to establish a more direct connection with the Board and bring in new perspectives.

I’m also interested in seeing how the mutual mentoring of a small group can drive empowerment and hopefully motivate people to drive change. Exposing more people to the behind-the-scenes activities is also crucial for the growth and success of the practice. It’s already been incredibly inspiring to see these elements take shape during my one-to-ones with Manasi.

Q:          How do you think this process will specifically influence the “Client” strategic imperative?
DB: As the only imperative that is directly focused on our clients, I hope that this process will lead to validating and enhancing the success of our current processes, while also driving positive changes that strengthen our client relationships. On the long-term, the collaboration across The Twelve teams allows us to listen more closely to client feedback, which in turn I can envisage helping us align our client strategies with their evolving needs as the market changes.

Ultimately, the client imperative is about ensuring these relationships continue to grow and thrive over time.

Q:          In what way will the Twelve impact the overall tp bennett culture ?
At tp bennett, we already have a culture built on a relatively flat and transparent management structure, along with a strong tradition of promoting from within. The Twelve has the opportunity to reinforce this culture. By encouraging more collaboration and a structured approach to feedback, tp bennett can continue to reap the benefits of being a workplace that is open, transparent and where people can easily navigate with the leadership teams.