Stella Petrou Concha is the Co-founder & CEO of Reo Group, a talent search agency specialising in accounting & finance, HR, technology, data & analytics, and more.
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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?
I am the CEO of Reo Group. My mission is to elevate human potential by working with executives to deliver value for their organisations through leadership, strategy and vision.
Commencing a career in medicine, I quickly realised the doctor-patient dynamic was never going to meet my need and lifelong goal to help people on a deeply personal level. I discovered a powerful alignment with the recruitment and management consulting industry.
I founded Reo Group in 2009, and since then the business has won many industry awards. I have also been recognised by several industry and women’s agenda organisations for the work I do for women in leadership.
I believe that it is only through facing and overcoming life’s great challenges, in particular failure, that individuals can grow and develop, and subsequently I have built Reo Group on the notion that ‘failing forward’ is the key to success.
Last year I published, as the co-author, a book called Legacy – the Sustainable Development Goals in Action and will be releasing my second book Stone Heart Light Heart – The Ancient Wisdom of Mastering your Mind later in 2020.
2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?
I wake up very early to plan, meditate and exercise. At 5:30am wake up takes me through my habit of daily planning and setting intentions, meditating and then doing a 40m Tabata exercise session.
By 7am, I am ready to committed to the kids and get myself ready for work. My afternoon is less structured and more about the kids, family connection and cooking. I tend to watch a bit of TV or read a book before bed at 9:30pm.
I really value that morning commitment as it sets my mind, body and spirit up for the day.
3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?
Yep, we have no choice now right. But even before Corona Virus we have full autonomy over our work day.
4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?
I don’t believe in work-life balance. I believe in work-life integration. You can not have such a structured routine that you expect a perfect balance every day. There will be days where you will sit more on the personal life side of life and other days where you will sit on the work side of life.
The important piece is to understand how you are fulfilling all your needs across a week, month, year and feel comfortable accepting that balance is fluid not rigid. This will stop you from having any self-judgement or anxiety that you are either working too hard at work or taking too much time for personal items.
Going into self-judgment and self-deprivation is a poison in one’s mind. Having a health attitude to how you look at balance will prohibit you from building an unhealthy relationship with your own life.
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5) What do you think are some of the best habits or routines that you’ve developed over the years to help you achieve success in your life?
Definitely daily, monthly and yearly planning. I plan daily. My plan covers mind, body and spirit. I also do a yearly plan looking at the macro items I want to achieve and I review that regularly so I keep my goals top of mind.
I would also say that I do a good job at prioritising the most important task to be done daily, and I do that first. I do the task that will get me the most reward.
I also honour and commit to weekly time working on myself. I spend a good lot of time meditating, exercising and learning. Self-development and self-actualisation is the secret to personal success.
6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?
Yes you can see them all on my website.
Spiritual development
- The Magician’s Way
- A New Earth
- Bring Out the Magic in Your Mind
Leadership
Management
- The One Thing
- Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High
7) What is the number one thing you do to make sure you get the most out of your day?
Plan. Every single day. Before the sun rises.
My planning diary covers the following questions:
Spiritual
- What’s one thing I can get excited about today?
- I am grateful today because?
- If there is one word to describe the person I want to be today then the word is?
- One bold action I can take today is?
- I would know today is a great day if?
Action
- What’s the one thing that will propel me forward today?
- Affirmation for my day?
- Who do you need to communicate with?
- What task need to be done?
- What strategic items need to be considered?
8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?
Hmmm that’s a hard one. I don’t really have anyone on a pedestal with how they are living out their life. I’m not sure really. You don’t know what people have behind the scenes.
Most executives have full time nannies and support to allow them to work so hard. I don’t really subscribe to the perfect muse in this case because there are so many variables that go into a human circumstance.
My values for life wont ever be the same as someone else’s values and therefore my decision making tree is unique to me. That’s why I am such a strong believer in self-development and self-actualisation as you come to understand that all the answers you seek actually lie with in you.
9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?
Have fun, have joy. Find the fun and the joy in every moment. Don’t be so serious. Even when you are working like a dog, find the fun. Fun is the nectar of life.
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