Reaching over the Atlantic to our Global Community | Jon Dookie & Sebastian Rodriguez
(3 min read)
Whilst the amazing Multiverse community is global in nature, it can sometimes be difficult to grasp the impact that global connections can have and how they bring individuals together.
However, Jon, based in the UK, now part of the Multiverse team & former apprentice and Sebastian; an apprentice at Adyen in the US, have formed a connection that was so impactful it saw them meeting up in person in the US. This article looks at their individual journeys and how Multiverse has brought them together through community.
Jon's Journey
Being a Multiverse apprentice at Unilever was a truly amazing experience and I believe it has set me up for success for the rest of my career. It’s given me access to opportunities that have allowed me to develop invaluable skills that you need throughout your professional career such as; leadership, communication, building your profile, etc. I was able to develop these throughout my apprenticeship through the Multiverse community offering.
Taking part in opportunities such as Elevate (the Multiverse community’s flagship development opportunity) has allowed me to raise my profile and build my personal and professional brand - really letting me establish myself as a driven and motivated young person. Being featured on Linkedin posts, news articles, and social media has empowered me to reach more people and make meaningful connections, like with Sebastian.
Sebastian's Journey
As an early Multiverse candidate, I knew that community was a key component of my professional development. I spent hours researching the best ways to create meaningful connections through the different platforms that exist today. This is where LinkedIn came in and gave me the opportunity to meet Jon.
I remember scrolling through his profile and being immediately inspired by the work he was doing at Unilever and the initiatives he was taking as a Multiverse apprentice. I could just see by each one of his public posts the impact that this program had had on his life. Of course, my first instinct was to send a connection request and hope that we could jump in a call to discuss his experience, and I quote:
"Hi, Jon! Thank you so much for accepting my request and once again, congrats on the news about your career, truly an inspiration to have read this morning!
I recently got approved for the Multiverse Apprenticeship Program and I would love to get a chance to chat with you for 10-15 to hear about your personal experience with them. I am beyond excited about what’s next and want to hear from other people who have completed their programs!"
Not too long after, we were meeting over Zoom. Who would have thought that this call was only the beginning of a real friendship?
How has our relationship grown since?
Sebastian - I believe that Jon and I are true testimonies of the power that the Multiverse Community can have if you truly take advantage of the tools given to you such as the Community Hub. It may seem small in perspective but from what I have learned, you never really know how far one conversation can take you.
Jon - Sebastian reaching out to me was the start of an amazing friendship and professional relationship. We are bonded by our shared identity as Multiverse Apprentices, but also our drive and ambition to create real genuine impact with our work. It’s honestly great to know that we have each other’s backs as we both navigate being young professionals.
Sebastian - For instance, I took a chance that day and sent over a request to someone who once was a complete stranger on the other side of the Atlantic, however, because we shared such an important life experience together — this being a Multiverse apprentice and it basically changing our lives — it opened a door to building a strong relationship in which not only do we show up for each other in times of need but also, we encourage each other to keep a growth mindset and continue setting foot on a path towards greater things with our careers.
How has the Multiverse Community impacted this connection?
Sebastian - To this day, I continue to make new relationships with other apprentices. I have a very tight bond with those that are part of my current cohort for the Business Associate program in the US (shoutout to my coach Ifeoma) and seeing this and experiencing it on a daily basis, makes me fully believe that I have made friendships for life. Every new apprentice gets access to a network of people that share a similar mindset: we’re ambitious, we are supporters, and most importantly, we are there because we truly care for each other’s growth and success.
Jon - All members of the Multiverse community are united in the belief that we go further together and mine and Sebastian's relationship is an honest, and unexpected example of what that can really look like. If someone said to me a year ago that I would be flying out to the US to meet another Multiverse apprentice who is a fundamental part of my support system, I really wouldn't have believed it but that is the nature of the Multiverse Community.
Sebastian - If you’re reading this, and you have considered applying to any of the programs, let this be a new perspective: "the opportunity to become an apprentice goes far beyond establishing a professional career; it is going to impact every area of your life in the most positive way possible; all it takes is a bit of effort and proactivity but the tools, the support, and the people are definitely there."
Jon - I most certainly am biassed as a former Apprentice and current Multiverse employee but I am living proof that Multiverse is an organisation that cares about their apprentices’ development and through the Global Community provides the resources we need to make genuine and global connections.
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