The Moment | Lyn Bryan

We believe that life is a collection of Moments. Some ever so big, some fleeting, some small. It is in these Moments and the choices we make within them, that shape the people we become and what our lives will stand for.

We are reaching out to the most interesting, inspiring & successful leaders around the world to ask them about their Moments. In the spirit of our number one value, collaboration, our goal with this series is for you to experience development and enrichment from today's most inspirational leaders. 

A hustler at heart Lyn landed her role at 6S Marketing by knocking on doors in Yaletown looking for work. 10 years later she is the first female partner at 6S Marketing - now known as the full service Digital Marketing company Major Tom. Lyn is known for her ability to call a spade a spade, impact the bottom line, grow a business and build quality relationships. Her Irish roots also make her a great addition to after work drinks! 

Lyn, tell us about the moment.......

.....You realized you had a great teacher or leader
"I had a design lecturer in university who was blunt to say the least. He was the first person/leader/teacher who truly challenged me and my ego. I obviously hated this at the start, but came to truly appreciate him over time. He would tear my ideas apart. He was brutally honest and taught me the discipline of stripping a concept down to really communicate the core message through visual language.  There was no room for a confused message with him".

....You knew you were on the right path in your career
"The moment came when I moved out of design and into a career that was more focused on measurable results. 
Deciding to move into digital marketing happened almost by accident. At the time I had just moved to Canada and was open to anything in order to make a start in this city. I soon felt a sense of relief when I realized that through digital marketing I would be able to prove my ideas quickly to clients through metrics and analytics. The ambiguity that came with graphic design and gaining buy in from clients based purely on opinion was taken out of the picture. This was a much better fit for my personality type".

...You failed hard
"By far the biggest challenge I have ever faced was becoming a mother. Looking back to my first maternity leave I now know you can't fail at motherhood. However, at the time I felt like I was failing miserably. I felt a loss of identity and I had no idea what I was doing. Also - babies cry A LOT... somehow I missed the memo that said that's ok. I didn't have the capacity at the time to listen to everyone who told me I was doing just fine".

... You chose something different than what was expected of you
"Again - back to school years. I was strong in science and mathematics... My art and design interests were deemed more of a 'nice to have'. I had strong grades and all indicators pointed to a more academic career path. I had other criteria in mind however - I wanted a career that was truly portable, where I could work anywhere in the world without need for re-qualification or designation. My design degree and ultimately marketing career allowed me to do just that".

...You wake. And the ritual you have to start your day
"Mornings are not good for me and usually start by being dragged out of bed a determined toddler about an hour before I would like to get up. My routine is one of survival that includes getting myself showered and changed before my son loses his mind from the lack of attention. Then it’s breakfast and out the door to day care. It’s all mommy business until 8.45. Then I can get some peace to dive into emails and plan for the day ahead".

...You made your best hire
"We have been very fortunate with wonderful hires at 6S Marketing over the years. However, one that stands out was that of our Talent Manager. We had a goal of growing to 50 people across our agency and sister agency. We hit that number a few years ago, which allowed us to hire someone dedicated to people, talent and recruitment. This role, and the wonderful woman we hired into it, allowed our senior management to breathe again while injecting a new perspective on talent development within the company".

...You felt the most successful in life
"This might sounds a little cheesy but achieving financial independence from my parents after all their support was a big one for me. It’s that feeling that comes when you achieve a goal.
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Tess from Talent Lab a number of years ago and mapping out my 5 and 10 year goals (career and personal) with her. I recently reviewed the goals and realized I had surpassed each one – That felt amazing! It blows me away what we can achieve when we set our minds to it!"

...You received feedback that was hard to hear but worth listening to
Successful leaders make their success about shining light on the team around them, not taking the spotlight themselves.
"I received this advise / feedback when I first started managing people. Its something I remind myself of often. I am a very competitive person, and a bit of a people pleaser at the same time.  As such I like to take the glory – however I have learned its much more empowering to see the team around you succeed and thrive in the gratitude they deserve".

...You chose to walk away from someone or something
"In my early 20s I had my first real heart break when a former relationship ended. I felt the need to walk / run away from my life in England at that point. The heartbreak turned out to be a blessing that led me to Canada and opened my heart to love and opportunity beyond what I could have imagined. Its funny how life works out sometimes".

...Bit of more than you could chew
"As my career has become more intense, and as I have taken on more responsibility at home with starting a family I have found that time has become more precious. As such I have had to put my people pleasing (as mentioned in a previous answer) to one side and prioritize my time and energy on those who need me the most.
When I first returned to work from maternity leave I was trying to do too much. I needed to give myself a break, set boundaries with people and focus my energy in order to survive the new normal".

...Saw yourself & your true potential
"I don’t think it was until I started working in a sales capacity that I really understood my ability to influence others. On the flip side there’s nothing like a sales position to make you dig deep to recognize your weaknesses in order to adjust and strive towards your targets".

...You understood advice your parents gave you (what was it?)
"I am so lucky to have such kick ass parents! One of the few times my dad has ever really been angry at me he was frustrated that I wasn’t listening or taking the time to let other people talk. He was so right – and I’m constantly reminding myself to shut up, hold back and let others talk. He encouraged me to always ask questions, and engage with others, without the agenda to talk about myself. Try it – it really works!"