We were lucky to catch up with Carlos Andrade recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Carlos , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
I’ve always had a healthy self-esteem, despite growing up in a poor household where we couldn’t afford much, I was raised by a single mother that always taught me how to love and value myself! I’ve always felt comfortable in my own skin and I walk into every room as myself, period! Playing to my strengths, taking on new challenges and taking calculated risks also played a big factor in building my confidence – ultimately, betting on myself! I’ve learned how to embrace success AND failure and how to be comfortable being uncomfortable.
My first “real job” was with a Direct Sales Advertising Company and I spent 2 years doing B2B/B2C Sales and going Door-to-Door AKA panhandling all over South Florida – it was brutal! This is where I truly learned how to be self-motivated, ambitious and optimistic with a positive attitude – all good skills that helped me become confident! I’ve also been told the word “NO” more than the average person, which ultimately helped me develop a thick skin – again, all attributes of being confident. Side note, JUICE!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve been in Recruitment and Talent Acquisition for over 20 years and the bulk of that experience has been in Media, Advertising, Television Broadcasting. Over the years, I’ve been responsible for managing and leading TA teams for some major Global Brands that include; Tribune Media (The-CW SFLTV and Sun Sentinel), Univision Television and NBC Universal as their Head of TA for their Telemundo Network and Brands.
I’ve recently joined Zimmerman Advertising to lead their Talent Acquisition function. Zimmerman Advertising is one of the leading integrated retail advertising agencies in the country and has been a staple in the South Florida community for many years. Zimmerman’s clients represent some of the most prominent retail brands in the country, including McDonalds, Planet Fitness, Yuengling, AutoNation, Five Below, KAY Jewelers and many, many more. I’m thrilled to be part of the Zimmerman Team and excited for what’s to come!
In addition to my full-time gig, I’m always asked about my Podcast, The Miami Spotlight Show, which gained National recognition as a Syndicated show a few years back (shout out to ReVolver and iHeart Media)….just know it’s not over, we’re just paused for now, the best is yet to come!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
One, is having a curious and creative mind – this has helped me along the way, especially in business! Being curious has enabled me to take initiative without waiting for someone to tell me what to do and coming up with creative strategies and solutions.
Being results-driven is another important quality. Early on, I learned the importance of setting and reaching individual and team goals…and I got good at it! Being competitive and disciplined to deliver results is in my DNA, not to mention that I always want to win! Also, second place sucks!
My last quality and guiding principle is transparency, it is my philosophy! It’s important to be honest, direct and transparent with everyone…and it’s essential for building trust with your team. It creates an inclusive and honest environment and has allowed me to set clear expectations with my team, give constructive feedback, and create open lines of communication!
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
That’s an easy one – I personally just put my head down and push through! Honestly, I don’t have time to complain and/or dwell in being busy or being overwhelmed….I just handle it, get it done and off my plate! My advice for someone feeling overwhelmed is to prioritize – figure out what’s the most critical and most challenging thing on your plate and start there, then work your way down – you got this!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/carlosandrade305
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlosandrade1/
Image Credits
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