When John first joined us, he was all about the design—bringing creativity to life and crafting visuals that caught the eye of our loyal mail-order customer. Over the years, his passion for design only grew, and so did his responsibilities. Two years ago, John took on the role of Head of Graphic Design, a move he tells me brought more variety to his work and new challenges to conquer.
Like many of us, John has faced his own challenges, including the dreaded imposter syndrome. At first, the idea of leadership development made John a bit nervous. But as he got stuck in, he found that the experience was far from what he feared, each opportunity helping him sharpen his leadership skills and build the confidence needed to lead a team of talented designers. One of the standout moments in John's development journey was a session he attended on Coaching Skills led by Lynn Leahy, a speaker who left a lasting impression. That session didn’t just teach John about leadership; it inspired him to help others.
Now, John is not just a leader; he's also a mentor – taking the lessons he's learned over the years and is passing them on to new recruits joining the WCF family. It’s a role he’s embraced with enthusiasm, knowing how important it is to have someone guide you through those first steps in a new job.
But he isn’t stopping there! He’s looking forward to furthering his coaching skills as part of the company’s Peer Coaching program, aiming to give even more back to the company and his colleagues who’ve supported him along the way. Whether it’s helping others navigate their career paths or simply being a sounding board, John is committed to paying it forward.
Thank you, John - 23 years with WCF, and many more
to come!