My Life’s Work
“We want to build the best human empire in the history of time.”
That’s how my boss and friend, Gary Vaynerchuk, explained my new position as Chief Heart Officer of VaynerMedia at our all-hands meeting March 28th, 2016.
How do you begin to pick up that gauntlet after it’s thrown down by the founder and CEO of your company?
For me, it starts with purpose. Mine has always been to be of joyful service in everything I do, including my corporate work. I write that without an ounce of cynicism. I’m genuinely fulfilled when I create spaces in which people can thrive.
A day in the life of me, the first Chief Heart Officer
At VaynerMedia, I oversee anything and everything that has to do with people and their experience, including but not limited to: talent management, employee experience & retention, learning & development, coaching, culture, internal communications and recruitment for over 1800 employees. And more!!
Finding My Purpose
It’s a purpose that mirrors both the essence of who Gary is and the ethos on which VaynerMedia was founded: “people first.”
Due to the company’s tremendous growth it became necessary for him to scale his day-to-day involvement. He needed someone to do internally what he was doing “out there”: creating a space for flourishing, finding what helps others unleash their greatness.
That was how my position was established creating the first Chief Heart Officer position in the business world.
It couldn’t have been more perfect.
Building a Honey Empire
It is my track record of hiring and nurturing exceptional talent and leading large-scale global teams that propelled the creation of my current position, one specifically tailored to my capabilities and experience.
People derive joy from any number of successes; my own joy comes from unlocking growth on a person-to-person level, which is the achievement I’m proudest of in my career.
Maya Angelou’s salvo that “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,” is a personal North Star. I’d add to it that people will selflessly give you their hearts when you acknowledge, nurture, and inspire theirs in return.
Hi, I’m Claude Silver. Chief Heart Officer of VaynerX.
I wouldn’t phrase it any other way.