The better part of a year of lockdowns and social distancing measures have taken a toll – as parents juggle children who need schooling, younger employees work from cramped flats, and many deal with a sense of interminable monotony.
However, as people farewelled after-work socialising and long commutes, time freed up for projects and interests which in “normal” times might live at the bottom of to-do lists.
Our new series hopes to celebrate some of these hidden-at-home stories from our community of wealth managers and private bankers.
Today we hear from Sandra Dailidyte, a client senior manager at Brown Shipley, who achieved a remarkable amount under lockdown, including becoming Lithuania's strongest woman. She has now begun working towards a training qualification with her puppy, Zara.
Tell us a bit about the new hobby, interest or project you took up in lockdown
For me, there was somewhat of a novelty factor to lockdown 1.0, and I am not sure I have ever used the word 'unprecedented' quite so much.
I literally took up all the hobbies that I have ever thought of doing before. To name a few achievements/activities over lock down: I completed the Certified Financial Planning qualification and also did online courses including Management in Fashion and Luxury Brands, I practised the splits every evening, did yoga in the mornings, ran at lunchtime and prepared every single beauty at home routine I read about. I started journaling and expressed gratitude for the gift of time, lack of commute and having meals with my husband every day.
By the end of lockdown, I was shredded, I looked younger and as the restrictions started opening up, I participated in a log lift competition and I won the title of Lithuania’s Strongest Woman! I think it is fair to say, I did a lot.
Lockdown 2.0, however, is a very different story. I found myself really struggling with dark evenings, cold nights and blurring the line between work and home. I have to admit there were mornings where I did not want to leave bed.
But as we passed Blue Monday (15 January, aka the most depressing day of the year), my days were no longer gloomy as finally I got my puppy Zara.
This is now my biggest and the most rewarding project. At the time of writing, Zara has been with me for three weeks and I am proud to say that she is the most obedient and affectionate companion a human may wish to have.
What skills from your day job have your brought to this?
I am a wealth manager at Brown Shipley where my main priority is to look after my clients. The pinnacle of a successful relationship is trust.
In the early days, the trust is implied and mainly driven by the reputation of the company and strict regulation of the industry. However, it takes time to earn a client’s trust and you have to be patient. Step by step, you demonstrate your values, you deliver and only then will you become the most trusted fiduciary; you build relationships that last through generations. Patience, consistency and doing the right thing are key values.
These are also the cornerstones of my relationship with Zara. Yes, I am a leader, her handler but in order for us to succeed, she has to trust me unconditionally. I have to show her every day that I am here to protect her, nurture her and by following my guidance, she is rewarded.
What are your future goals in terms of Zara and her training?
My commitment is lifelong. I am driven and passionate and I would love Zara to reach the highest standards in the competitions. I see a lot of potential in her (she has all the fundamentals), I have the skills (patience) and with working from home, I have the ability to devote the necessary time to develop her.
She is still a puppy (19 weeks old), but if all goes to plan, I would like her to pass the IGP exams. IGP (formerly known as IPO/Schutzhund) is a challenging three part sport (tracking, obedience and protection) which was originally designed as a breed test for the German Shepherd, and has grown into a popular sport. It is an ultimate test of trust between the dog and their handler, demonstrating impeccable control in any situation.
How has the pandemic period affected your work/life balance overall?
I have always been a huge advocate of flexible working. I believe successful companies trust their employees and by allowing flexible working, enable them to distribute their time around their commitments.
Work does not happen strictly between 9-5, you think, create, network, beyond these hours. Indeed, a lunchtime walk with my puppy breaks up my day and allows me to come back to my laptop with increased productivity and energy.
A number of studies have shown that flexible working increases and encourages diversity – which is a topic I am incredibly passionate about. I am proud that lockdown also enabled me to deliver more workshops and seminars to encourage young women choosing careers in wealth management. I collaborated with organisations such as Future Asset, the Brokerage, PIMFA and GAIN (Girls Are Investors). I have also been mentoring one student from the University of Bath and I am incredibly proud of the progress she made!
Coming back to work/life balance, our chief executive, Alan Mathewson, is vocal that the company will support flexible working beyond the pandemic. Whilst I look forward to returning to the office am happy that I will be still able to have lunch time walks with my Zara.
Whether you or someone on your team has taken up an interesting hobby, raised some money for charity, or met a personal milestone – please get in touch with us: anewlove@paminsight.com
