Our Rebranding Journey
Before we talk about the future of Vargo+Lewis, it is super important to me that we acknowledge the amazing women who have been a part of our past and creating the business we have today. Sally Lewis and Shary Vargo are the original ladies to come together with their individual practices to create Vargo+Lewis, the business was first registered as an entity in 2006, but the experience and relationships go back earlier than that through those ladies individually. It’s also important to acknowledge Helen O’Neill who joined me when Shary left the business (right when covid was taking off) and also to Greg Williamson who is the other Director of the business with me now, he is a co-owner of Concentrate.
The business has always had a people focus and had diversity in the services we offer that have enabled us to survive ups and downs in the economy, personal and natural disasters, the pandemic andchanging world of work. It has been a foundation that has stood well and I’m pleased to continue to build on.
Since I joined Shary in 2017, and especially when Shary finished up, I have been asked when we will change the name of the business. Having worked in law and accounting firms earlier in my career, I didn’t see a need to change, I was quite used to surnames creating a business name and saw value in the reputation and history attached to Vargo+Lewis in Christchurch.
The questions have become more pointed on this in recent years and last year when we sought feedback from some clients, it became obvious that it was time to move us into a new stage. We wanted to modernise, reflect the work we do and care about so much and have some character that felt connected to who we are and how we work.
And so the process began of trying to come up to a new name, and what a journey that has been. When the options are broad and open, it’s hard to know where to start. We created long lists of options, tried to narrow them down to the “right one”, it’s a nervous yet exciting time to step us into the new brand and a new era.The goal was to find a modern name, something snappy, and maybe a bit quirky and while Jam Toast was a personal favourite, it was a little too left field.
During our conversations we often talked about how we help to unlock something, to our people orientation and people centric approach in helping individuals and organisations succeed. We see the direct connection between how we treat people and how successful businesses are. Those who think of their people as a whole, the lines between work and home aren’t what they used to be, and our expectations of work continue to change.
By creating environments in which people are treated like adults and respond like adults, where we show vulnerability, don’t claim to know everything, can be open and honest, inclusive and consultative, while kind and caring, supportive and empowering. Aren’t just nice to do, but are directly related to higher performance, engagement, collaboration, decision making and retention which in turn mean that those people who represent businesses to their customers, clients and suppliers, are those people we care about being in the best situation to deliver in their role –directly leading to happy stakeholders and business performance.
And so, with this, Vargo+Lewis became UPPO. Our mission is to Unlock the Potential in People and Organisations.
We do that by being an independent ear, empathetic and supportive, but also safely challenging and questioning current beliefs and practices that might be in place. While people are all individual and unique, we also have a lot in common.We understand human behaviour and how our brain works, we keep up to date with what’s happening in the world of business, bring outside views, tools and skills that help to progress for the good of both the individuals and the business.
