Last April, we broke the news that Tamar Nersesian was leaving her role at Labatt Breweries, shortly after that she joined Mars Canada as Director of External Communications & Affairs.  

As Tamar continues to make significant strides in her career and demonstrates an increasing level of value to her colleagues and superiors, we took the opportunity to ask her - 5 Things You Learned in 2023.  This question aims to capture the essence of the knowledge and experiences that Tamar has acquired and contributed to her professional growth.

Here are the 5 lessons Tamar shared:

1. Change can be a little scary, but it’s a good thing – let those butterflies propel you forward, keeping you invigorated. If you’re not growing, you’re staying stagnant. For example, when coming into a new role and shifting gears from high-level support to leading a practice area and becoming a member of the senior leadership team it’s important to come in with a growth mindset, while giving yourself grace to adapt and respond to those big changes. It’s important to remember you’re not the only one experiencing a change, so I believe in creating a learning atmosphere where my team feels like they can come to me with their ideas and thoughts, no appointment needed.
2. This might sound trite, but I’ve genuinely learned the value of being part of a company culture that walks the walk - in fact, the Mars Five Principles, one of which, Mutuality, is rooted in supporting and uplifting one another. This allows for vulnerability from those above, beside or below you. Here, the competitive spirit we take on is fun and pushes us all to do our best while bringing our teammates along with us. And when we win, we take a moment to celebrate and reflect on what got us there.
3. Building on culture: I’ve always been an advocate of supporting women in the various roles I’ve held throughout my career. What’s important to understand is that there is no singular way in which that can come to life, especially as it relates to each company and stage of your career. At Mars, I’m experiencing a whole new, inspiring level of women supporting women – in fact, more than half of our upper management roles are filled by women. I have learned how much I thrive in an environment that’s truly equal. Here, I have both mentors and mentees who face the same challenges and bonding opportunities, with a deep understanding of each other. I get to learn and share my own knowledge and experiences and, together, we shape the company.
4. Love it or hate it, networking is and will always remain a major tool in a PR professional’s arsenal. Relationships matter, even one that doesn’t seem important in the moment might be vital down the road. It may be cliché to say you should never burn a bridge, but it really is true. That said, you really must hone your skills: know your goals, understand what you need and how to ask for it, bring substance to your interactions and don’t purely focus on what someone can do for you, but think about what you may be able to do together.
5. Be unapologetically you. I've always operated with the mindset that you need to use your voice and challenge the status quo. It's a quality I’ve been criticized for in the past, but the trajectory of my career has taught me it’s a strength. Any time I’ve held back for fear of being thought of as aggressive or uncooperative, the results have always reinforced the importance of saying – or doing – what’s best for the company, brand, or campaign at hand. There will be daunting challenges and obstacles throughout your career. Showing up determined, resolute, and tenaciously yourself is what will propel you forward.  

The purpose of this series is to examine the experiences of individuals who have learned important lessons in their particular field or industry, and to share these insights with others in the business or academic community. Interested in being interviewed? Let's talk about what you have to contribute!