Leading the Way
Get ready to dive into our brand-new series, "Leaders at Equinix: Empower, Elevate, and Evolve." In this exciting series, we're going to take a closer look at what it truly means to be a leader at Equinix. We'll be peeling back the curtain and giving you an inside scoop on the biggest lessons our leaders have learned throughout their career journeys.
From the ups and downs to the triumphs and challenges, we'll be exploring the real-life experiences of our incredible leaders and how they navigate the ever-changing landscape of leadership. Join us as we uncover the secrets to success, the power of mentorship, and the importance of fostering a thriving team culture.
Our first interviewee, Avigail Kalish, is a Senior Manager on the Talent Management team at Equinix. We sat down with Avigail to get a look at her career journey and what it means to lead at the world’s digital infrastructure company.
Avigail has embarked on a journey of growth and self-reflection in her roles as a people manager and in designing and leading leadership development programs. Throughout her experiences, she has encountered a profound lesson that has had a lasting impact on her approach to leadership – the power of challenging assumptions.
Challenge Assumptions
“Both in my role as a people manager and in my role in designing and leading leadership development programs, I’ve learned about assumptions and how they can hinder your judgement,” says Avigail. “Our assumptions are based on our experiences, and sometimes, even with the purest positive intent at heart, they lead us to misjudgments. My direct employees challenged me more than once to examine my assumptions, and by that, develop myself as a leader.”
But what is the best way to challenge and reflect on those assumptions? “We talk a lot about listening, but I would add that listening is not enough. You also need to be comfortable in asking questions and assuming (that’s one assumption that I can encourage!) that you don’t know and try not to assume you have the answers – if there is doubt, simply ask. I can always do better in asking, and I hope to improve on that with the help of the people I lead,” Avigail says.
The Value of Mentorship
When asked about what books, podcasts, or leadership courses inspire her, Avigail turns to her personal connections for her biggest source of inspiration. “I have to admit that with all the courses I’ve participated in or books I read, I learn more from people – my manager, my peers, my direct reports, and mostly…. my husband. He is the greatest leader I know and usually every challenge that I have, he has already experienced,” she says.
In the tech world, mentorship is invaluable when it comes to our fast-paced environment. We fail (and learn!) fast, adapt, and evolve to our constantly changing landscape. How does Avigail view mentorship? “I am lucky to have had more than one mentor in my life. I think that what was most impactful was their unwavering belief in me. When you have someone that believes you are capable, you have the motivation to try, and even if you make mistakes along the way, they will be there to remind you that it’s okay, and that’s how you learn,” states Avigail.
Not only does she turn to her mentors as a source of guidance, but Avigail also serves as a mentor for her team. “I care about them as individuals outside of work, and what they are bringing to work with them,” says Avigail. “I care about their development at work, and how they can continue to shine, be proud of their achievements, try new things, make mistakes and learn from them, and ultimately be happy.”
Global Leaders
Lastly, our leaders across the globe at Equinix are trailblazers for growth and change. How does Avigail want to be remembered by her team? “I want to be remembered for the simple things: For taking the time to listen, for remembering events that are important to the people I lead, and for asking how they are doing. Yes, I would love to be the leader that inspires, but ultimately, it’s these small things that count in how we bring ourselves to work.”
Stay tuned for more installments of our "Leaders at Equinix: Empower, Elevate, and Evolve” series! We’ll be back soon with additional stories and insight from our inspirational leaders.