First 90 Field Notes
What leaders say
behind closed doors.
Weekly insight from a 20-year global People & Talent Management executive on how organizations actually work — and how to navigate any career transition with clarity, trust, and intention.
Free. Published every Sunday. No spam, ever. Read past issues →
About Isaac
"I spent 20 years inside those organizations — and couldn't always answer professionals honestly. Not because I didn't want to. Because I was part of the system they were navigating."
Isaac Adesugba spent more than two decades in Global People & Talent Management — sitting in the rooms where the real decisions are made. Promotions. Leadership calibrations. Succession planning. Talent strategy across the US, UK, Japan, and France.
He watched a consistent pattern emerge: there is a gap between how professionals believe careers advance and how decisions are actually made inside organizations. Performance matters. But perception, trust, and visibility often determine who gets chosen.
First 90 Field Notes is where he shares what he couldn't say then.
What people are saying
"Thank you for a wonderful and insightful session on how to be successful the first 90 days on the job. We had high engagement from attendees, and your interactive poll and Q&A session was insightful."
Lori Shreve Blake
Senior Director, Career Engagement · USC Career Center
"Everyone in the audience walked away with a refreshed perspective on how important it is to build your reputational resume. Isaac's ability to answer all questions with real life examples gave the discussion depth and applicability to everyone's unique experiences."
Jayla Eloy
Undergraduate Student · USC Marshall School of Business
Recent issues
All issuesWhat Global Uncertainty Really Means for Your Career
Read issue → Issue 28 · Apr 5, 2026 · 6 minThe Career Advantage Shifting in Your Favor
Read issue → Issue 27 · Mar 29, 2026 · 4 minShowing Up When It's Not Your Season
Read issue → Issue 26 · Mar 22, 2026 · 4 minWork Speed Is Increasing While Decision Quality Isn't Keeping Up
Read issue → Issue 25 · Mar 8, 2026 · 5 minNavigating Leadership Check-Ins and Performance Conversations in 2026
Read issue → Issue 24 · Mar 1, 2026 · 3 min"Meets Expectations" Is No Longer Safe
Read issue →What you get every Sunday
Not recycled career tips. Not motivational content. Real organizational intelligence.
The insider perspective
What leaders say in succession conversations, promotion calibrations, and talent reviews that professionals never hear directly — and how to use that understanding deliberately.
Current market intelligence
How macro conditions — layoffs, AI displacement, economic uncertainty — actually affect career dynamics inside organizations. Tied to what is happening this week, not generic advice.
Practical transition guidance
Whether you're navigating a new role, a new manager, a promotion, or a return from leave — the specific frameworks for building trust and credibility in any transition window.
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The insight most professionals spend a decade figuring out alone.
Free. Published every Sunday. Built from 20+ years inside the rooms where career decisions are made.
Also try: First 90 Coach — free AI companion on the OpenAI GPT Store · Try it now →