Business advice usually focuses on great mentorship, collaborative leadership and surrounding oneself with the right team. While I wholeheartedly believe in these points and the importance of all of these elements within business, there is always one specific individual who is critical to success – the right-hand, wingman. Batman has Robin, Ben has Jerry, and Belichick has Tom Brady. Personally, I have Ashley Mercurio – Vice President and Managing Partner of The Anthem Group.
I recently wrote about how important Anthem’s entire team is to our success. All Anthem employees put their faith into Anthem as an organization and in me as an individual. However, there is a unique place for Ashley within The Anthem family. Nobody has put as much faith and loyalty into me as Ashley has. She is a peer, a confidante and a collaborator.
Aside from reciprocal respect and presence, it is important to have a go-to individual within your company who acts as a support system and a reliable force. This person will tell you their opinion without hesitation and they will always give you unbiased feedback – all of which is imperative for strategic growth.
It’s important to have a partner with an equally strong and compatible presence who can stand by your side when you go into a project, a negotiation, or accompany you into a meeting or an event. Without Ashley, I could not be where I am today and neither could Anthem.
Batman has Robin for a reason – a sidekick is necessary, especially for growth.
Founder, The Anthem Group