Last week, we celebrated our very own Monica Cunningham’s 7th anniversary at The Garage Group! We would be remiss to not take this opportunity to learn from her on the impact she’s contributed to over the past 7 years.
Q: Talk to us about this milestone. 7 years?!
We all know the saying; “time flies when you’re having fun”, but it really could not be a more accurate description of how the past seven years have felt working at The Garage Group. As I look back on how I’ve grown, how the company has evolved, and the amazing client partners I have been lucky enough to partner with – I am simply in awe at the opportunities I’ve been given and how much FUN I’ve had along the way.
Q: You have personally worked with 70+ F1000 brands over the past 7 years. What anchors you in this work?
Something that stood out to me as I was interviewing at TGG was the company’s commitment to learning, to experimentation, and to evolution – and that is something I still feel daily, 7 years later. We are stronger as people and as partners to our clients because we are committed to growth, curiosity, and courage.
When I joined TGG, one required reading assignment was a book by Carol Dweck titled “Mindset”. – The gist of the book is that we all have the capacity to learn and grow, our skills are not fixed, but rather it is our mindset towards challenges opportunities that open up a world of possibilities. When I say that book changed my life, I am not being overly dramatic. Our work requires a growth mindset every day as we partner with corporate leaders who are navigating tough business challenges. We take pride in staying in “search mode” which emboldens us to shift from a stance of “having all the answers” to a commitment to finding them. That willingness to roll up our sleeves and “figure it out” is what makes us different as business partners, but also as people.
Q: Working in this way HAS to make a big impact on you as a person. Tell us about the personal side.
It’s impossible to not let that growth mindset seep into your personal life, too. In the past 7 years at TGG I personally have evolved from a single woman, to a wife, and now a mother. I have moved twice and lived in 3 different cities. Along the way, growth mindset has fueled the belief I have in my own capacity to navigate change. Every new challenge is met with “what needs to be true to make this happen” vs. “I can’t do that”. There is no greater test for a growth mindset than navigating newborn and toddler life!
At TGG I have taken on countless challenges, some that look familiar and some that are new to me, but because I now operate from a place of “I can figure this out”, I can confidently tackle anything that comes my way. I’m incredibly proud to say I’ve partnered with 70+ brands within numerous F1000 companies, impacting how they show up for their consumers and customers and coaching leaders on how to implement these mindsets and behaviors within their own lives.
Q: Where does your inspiration come from?
I have to acknowledge the impact of my teammates and the role they play in challenging me every day. I couldn’t do what I do without these behaviors being modeled, giving me even more permission to push the bounds further and try something new. I am also proud to say that I get to work with clients who share our worldview, too! I am deeply inspired every day by the people I get to do this alongside. The way I view my life truly mirrors the way I view my work, and I have The Garage Group to thank for that.
Cheers to 7 years of ‘courageous minds only’, and many more to come!
