Building belonging in New York City: a leadership journey in connection

Moving to the Big Apple marked the beginning of a series of exciting transitions for me. A new city, a new office and a new circle of colleagues, all while navigating the return to in-person work after the fully remote COVID pandemic era.

Entering the New York City (NYC) office, I quickly noticed an opportunity: with so many younger staff members joining, I wanted to help foster in-person events again. I started by volunteering for the NYC office influencer role. That desire to rekindle our office culture stuck with me, and before long, I was offered the role of office leader.

My first mission? Reignite opportunities for connection, whether by reviving pre-COVID traditions or launching new ideas. I started small with lunch gatherings, happy hours, summer and holiday parties. One area I focused heavily on was our staff meetings, making them engaging, informative and more frequent. In my first year, we held four. The next year, five. Now we’re on track for six! Last year, I even introduced “special guest speakers," often local leaders, who share insights on topics that matter to our team.

Since becoming office leader in spring 2022, our office has nearly doubled in size! We’ve welcomed new hires, transfers and a wave of young professionals full of energy and eager to connect. Every year, we’ve added more events to the table and I love being able to facilitate and be a point person for so many great contributions.

Over the years, we've built some great, new traditions that bring everyone together. Whether it's food, fun or friendly competition, these events make our office feel like more than just a workplace.

• Creative summer outings like mini golf or Yankees games (we even invited other offices around the tri-state area!)
• Thanksgiving potlucks and holiday cookie swaps.
• An Earth Day event at a local community garden, designed by one of our own employees.
• Our very first softball season!

We’ve also expanded our CDM Smith Cares initiatives, giving back to our communities:

•  A letter-writing event in February for the Letters to Elders Program.
• Super Bowl squares and March Madness fundraisers for the World Food Program.
• A cornhole tournament to raise money for Water For People.
• Revived our pre-COVID Heart Walk for the American Heart Association!

What makes me proud isn’t just one event or initiative, it’s seeing how far our office has come. I love that more people come to me now with ideas for events or ways to connect. 

We care about each other, and we care about our communities. These events give me the chance to learn more about what matters to my colleagues and their passions. To me, that’s such a meaningful part of our culture.

As I look back on my career journey, I’m proud of how much I’ve grown over the past nine years with the support I’ve received from my mentors, colleagues and officemates. From managing countless projects to now helping lead and expand an entire office, the evolution has been both unexpected and incredibly rewarding. When I studied advertising and graphic design in college, I never imagined my path would lead me here, but I’m so grateful it did. Every step has shaped a path uniquely mine, a reminder that no two career journeys unfold in the same way. We each bring our own ideas, experiences and energy to the table, and that variety is what makes our outlook so full of promise at CDM Smith.

Natalie Schiera is a graphic designer and office leader in our New York, New York office.