 This past Tuesday, I was honored to speak as part of a Women in Tech Power Panel at the Google Cloud Next 2023 Conference. There were so many emotions and thoughts going through my mind in the days leading up to the event, during the discussion and afterward. It felt like a huge accomplishment and celebration of how far I had come on my journey. I had just celebrated my fifth anniversary of working at Google.
In this blog post, I will share my feelings and process as I prepared for the panel discussion. #1: Dealing with being rejected previously In 2020, before the pandemic hit, the Cloud Next team sought panelists for the Women in Tech panel at the upcoming conference. I raised my hands to speak on the panel and was turned down. It was not easy for me to raise my hands. The rejection hit me very hard because I felt my identity was being questioned. As someone with a degree in Business Information systems and a tech Program Manager for many years, I could not imagine that someone felt I was not qualified to be on a Women in Tech Panel. #2: Being offered the opportunity, saying yes and getting ready Three years later, the conference was back live in San Francisco, which was a big deal, and to top it up, I was asked to be on the Women Leaders in Tech Power Panel. Interestingly, when I received the email, I thought the request was for me to recommend someone. I was very excited when I realized that the invitation was for me. The only person I shared the opportunity with was my manager, who was very supportive. One of my team members found out I was speaking on the panel and shared it with the rest of my team. I felt very encouraged by my team as I prepared for the panel. #3: Speaking on the Panel As I was driving to the location of the conference, tears started welling in my eyes. My first thought was to call my biggest cheerleader and supporter my twin sister. She knew the right jokes to tell and ways to distract me while reminding me of how proud she was of me. I got to the venue and got my microphone. Everything felt real, and I was ready to share and connect with people. This was the first time since the pandemic that I was speaking at such a large event, and I had forgotten how energized I felt when I had live interactions with so many people. Being on the panel with three exceptional leaders made the event even more special. Final Thoughts I am beyond grateful to everyone who made it possible for me to be on this amazing panel. It took three years to go from rejection to speaking on the panel. Every moment of the process has made the wait worth it. I am looking forward to many more opportunities to speak and meet people.
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 Five years ago, I started working at people's dream company. I say that because it was not a dream company for me because I never thought it was within my reach. In June 2018, a lot was happening, and I needed a significant change. The job that I once really enjoyed was falling apart; I had gotten a job offer at a great company but could not start because I was waiting for my immigration status to change. In addition, I had the opportunity to travel to Nigeria after 12 years and went back to Germany for the first time since I moved in 2015. One afternoon, I got a call that changed my life forever.
In this blog post, I will take you on the wild and exciting journey I have been on in my five years at Google. "I can't believe I'm here" My first week started with orientation, where I met great people, learned about the company, and got everything I needed to start work. This was the biggest and well-known company I had worked at so far. On my shuttle ride home, I was in tears. I still remember the Nigerian song I was listening to as the bus ride began. The magnitude of landing such a great job dawned on me very slowly. It felt like all the difficult times I had experienced were worth it as they paved the way for me to be right here, working for a company beyond my dreams. "I feel like this dream company is becoming a nightmare" It is very difficult to realize that a dream turned really bad. In my first three months of working at Google, I knew that my role was not the right one for me. It felt like I took a huge step back in my career, not by choice. This was a significant issue because I worked very hard to grow my career, and for the first time, I felt like things were out of my control. And sadly, my health was impacted. Six months after starting my new job, I felt the worst I had ever felt in my body and professional life. "I have to prove to myself that I can make it" After a few months of suffering, I decided to make a change. People said it was too early for me to know whether this was the right place for me. Some of them advised me to be patient and wait. Those words only frustrated me even more if you know anything about me. For people who did not know all the battles I fought to be where I am today, it was easy for them to say be patient and wait for a year. A thought that kept coming to my mind was that I have been through a lot and succeeded; this would also be possible here. "I am hopeful, and there is light at the end of the tunnel" Especially when you are going through challenging times, the people you surround yourself with matter a lot. I had a work friend, a software engineer, and a black woman. She had been at Google for eight years by the time I joined. Her advice was the most useful. She shared how she navigated her career at Google and how helpful a mentor was. I stayed connected with her and also found a mentor. Through our conversations and learning, I understood the company's complexity and discovered paths I could take. I knew that I needed to start a new role. However, I knew this company was still the place for me to be. "I am happy and have found my place" One of the greatest lessons I learned from my first year working at Google was that I wanted to do work more aligned with my personal mission of supporting people on their journey. For the past four years, I have been able to do precisely that. In 2019, roughly one year after joining, I started working as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program manager after many years leading software programs. For the first time since I joined the company, I felt like I had arrived, could finally start showcasing my strengths and learning about this new space. A lot of great things have happened in the last few years. After five years, I have been able to find my place, meet great people, contribute positively to the culture of our organization, and develop my career. These are exactly the things I hoped to do at my dream company. Final Thoughts I have never mentioned that I work at Google on any of my platforms. It is a big deal, and I have many feelings about finally saying it. I need to write a whole post about this another time. Today, I am celebrating the beauty that has come from five years that were sometimes very difficult and great most of the time. One thing is sure: I was successful with the help of people who have made my journey successful. Thank you to everyone who encouraged me, removed roadblocks, created opportunities, introduced me to new people, and reminded me that I deserved to be here at Google.  A few months ago, I wrote a post celebrating the people that have supported my career so far. It was an excellent opportunity to appreciate a few people who have impacted my professional life positively. While I wrote the post, I remembered a few people who unfortunately had a negative impact on me as I navigated my career. As someone who likes to focus on the good that happens in my life, I thought a lot about writing this post. I decided to write it to encourage people who might be currently working with people like that and need some encouragement.
In this blog post, I will share the five groups of people that could have been more helpful and the lessons I learned about my career. Check out the other "Her Career" posts for tips and resources to help you thrive professionally. #1: People that underestimated my professional abilities and skills It really stings when you work with people you have to prove yourself to; still, they do not believe in your expertise. At pivotal times in my career, I have had to work with people who thought about my skills, experiences, and strengths. As a result, I questioned my abilities, doubted myself, and was convinced that I always needed to work three times harder than everyone around me. It took a lot of work on my part to regain my confidence again. What lessons did I learn?
#2: People who provided feedback that was not clear or helpful Receiving feedback is crucial for our career development and growth. However, folks who want to give you feedback and share what you could be doing better without having the right intent are not helpful. In my career, I have worked with people who did not have my best interest at heart when they shared their feedback. Sometimes people went far and even weaponized feedback as a way to break my confidence. What lesson did I learn?
#3: People who did not assign me to projects that had growth opportunities When I think about my team, I cannot imagine standing in the way of their career growth. I have had people in my career who have decided not to assign work to me that would help me grow. In my work today, we discuss the importance of equitable work allocation. It was very sad to see the same people get access to projects and have to fight for great projects to work on. What lesson did I learn?
#4: People who created hostile work environments We spend a lot of time at work and deserve to work in environments we enjoy. Unfortunately, we all have experiences when our work environment has not been conducive. I still remember some parts of my journey where I felt sick thinking about work because of the hostile environment that was there. As someone who likes harmony, I noticed that my experience at work affects my whole being. I now choose to work on teams where I belong. What lesson did I learn?
#5: Managers and Leaders who did not invest in my growth After having great managers in the last few years, I've been thinking about the bad managers that I have had. Some never checked in on me, inquired about my professional goals, or supported my aspirations. Managers' responsibility for the progression of the people on their team should be a priority for them. As a manager, I am very intentional about not repeating the bad traits I saw in bad managers. What lesson did I learn?
Time for Reflections Who are the people who could have been more helpful on your Career Journey? What lessons did you learn from the negative experiences? How are you supporting people in their careers?  In the last month, I achieved a significant career milestone that I have been working towards for over four years. It got me thinking about how many awesome things have happened in my career. I decided to write this post to encourage anyone feeling stuck in their careers and remind myself of what has helped me so far.
In this blog post, I will share the five things I did in my career that helped me grow. Check out my other "Her Career" blogs for tips and tricks for a successful career. #1: Investing in learning new skills About 12 years ago, I decided to go back and get my Masters degree while working full-time. This decision set me on a more elevated path than I imagined. I enjoy learning and am very fortunate to be in a place where I can acquire knowledge and skills. I have completed many certifications, learned skills on the job, and shared them with others. Reflection questions
#2: Owning my career development At the start of my career, I learned a lesson that I had held close to my heart. It is my responsibility to plan and drive my career. Giving up control of your Career development automatically puts you in the passenger seat and observer mode. As part of my annual planning, I set career goals that guide my actions. I am very committed to making progress professionally. Reflection questions
#3: Taking on stretch opportunities In 2017, when I was asked to lead a Global Program Management Office, I said no because I thought the task was too big for me. The fear of failure made me almost miss out on a great opportunity. After months of contemplating, I realized that I was the best-suited person for the role, and it was a significant growth opportunity for me. Over the last four years, I created my role and worked through the trying times of doing things that have never been done before. Reflection questions
#4: Having my support network and village The people who have been my companions on my career journey have been one of the most significant contributors to my success. I am grateful for the Mentors, Sponsors, and Teammates who have taught me a lot and supported my ambitions. Having people, I can talk to about the challenges I am facing and celebrate successes with made my journey amazing. Reflection questions
#5: Doing work that I enjoy There have been seasons in my professional life where I have enjoyed work and other seasons when I did less fun things. I have learned to lean into my strengths and know what brings me joy at work. Doing work that aligns with my personal mission of helping others thrive professionally gives me a lot of fulfillment. There are still elements of my job that I do not enjoy. However, I enjoy a large part of it, and I look forward to whatever my next career move will be. Reflection questions
Final Thoughts I feel very fortunate to have had great professional experiences. My experiences have been influenced by the intentional planning of my career, having my support community, and focusing on doing work I enjoy. We spend a lot of time at work, and I really hope that we all start enjoying work a little more.  As I reflect on my career, I am grateful for the great people who have positively influenced my career. These incredible people saw my potential, invested in my development, provided new opportunities, mentored and sponsored me. We do not take the time to celebrate the people who have supported us in our professional lives.
In this blog post, I will share the five people that changed my career trajectory. Check out the other "Her Career" posts for tips and resources to help you thrive professionally. The person who gave me my first internship Throughout my years studying at the university, I worked on campus, babysat kids, and worked in restaurants to pay my way through school. When the time came to find internships, I had no idea where to start. I did not have a network in Germany that I could call on at this time of need. In a casual conversation with one of the mum's of the kids I was caring for, I shared that I was looking for an internship. A few weeks later, she told me about one of her husband's friends that would be interested in talking to me about internship opportunities. I prepared myself and went for coffee with the New connection. He offered me an internship in an IT department of a bank in neighboring Luxembourg. I still remember my first time on the shuttle from Trier to Luxemburg. I could not believe that I was on my way to my first job in a bank. The internship gave me my first taste of Program Management, and my journey started. Internships were unpaid back then, so I continued babysitting. When the six months were over, I returned to continue my last year at university. After one semester, the time came for my final internship, and the person who gave me my first internship made an introduction to someone who worked in an IT department at an airline, and I got my second internship. This connection would not have happened if he did not spend some of his social capital on my behalf. The person who gave me my first job After writing over 50 job applications, I started worrying that I might not get a job after graduating from University in Germany. Although I had worked hard to earn my degree in business information systems and lived in Germany for almost ten years then, I still had no solid professional network to rely on and was mainly applying for jobs that I found in newspapers. Then one day, I was invited to interview at a management consulting firm in Offenbach outside Frankfurt. Unfortunately, I didn't get that job. While I was on my way back to Trier, I got a call inviting me to an interview in Cologne. I remember preparing very hard because I really needed this job. Early one morning, I got on a train to Cologne to hopefully get this job. The interview went well, and I wanted to work for this mobile agency. This was my first full-time job that helped me continue building my portfolio as a tech program manager. My new employer took a bet on me and believed in my abilities. My first project was managing the development of a mobile app for a well-known German automobile brand. I still remember making 18,000 Euros in that job, and it felt like a lot of money to me. The people who approved my relocation to the US from Germany Although my move to the US was for a personal reason to be with my now husband, it has been one of the greatest things to happen to my career. Moving here has taken my career to heights I could never have imagined. I worked for an American company that had an office close to where my husband lived. After a series of events in my personal life, I knew that I was ready to move from Germany to the US. Relocating with my company was the easiest way to make it happen. Years before, I had spoken to our HR lead and other leaders in the company about my desire to relocate to the US. In late 2014, the time was right, and I had great advocates for my move from Cologne to our San Francisco office. Although because there was no business reason for my relocation, I had to cover most of my costs. However, my company did a lot of my immigration paperwork which was the hardest part. Moving to the Bay Area to be with my now husband was great for my personal life and career. The person who gave me my first role leading a program management office Working in a Management consulting company was one of my career highlights. It offered me the opportunity to work on projects for clients in many different industries. In eight years, I worked on aviation, automobile, fashion, and travel programs as a software program manager. I also got to work with global teams and learned a lot about different cultures. Fast forward to when I moved to the US, my skills as a global program manager were in high demand. After working on several projects for two years, I was offered the opportunity to work on a global program and said yes. My initial role for this client was to lead the development of a new platform. Over time, the scope of our work grew, and I built strong relationships with our clients. With the increase in scope and the size of our global team, the need for a central Program Management Office (PMO) came up. One of my team leads asked if I wanted to like to manage the PMO, and I initially said no. The role had a lot of responsibilities and required me to travel. I could not imagine having to be away from home for so much. He kept the role open and gave me time to get used to the idea of this big role. A few months passed, and I started believing that I could succeed. Having a team lead that encouraged me to take a bigger role is something I will always appreciate. Leading the PMO has been one of the highlights of my career. A manager and skip-level manager that gave me the space to do great work In previous blog posts, I have shared how successful the last two years have been for me professionally. Two of the people who have played a significant role in making this possible are my manager and skip level manager at the time. I am sure when they both first met me, they must have wondered why I was so bold in professing what I wanted from my career. I started building a relationship with my skip-level manager in 2019 when I joined a partner organization. Due to my previous experience, I knew that I needed great Sponsors to get to when I wanted to be in my career. Without knowing all the details, I am very grateful she has advocated for me in rooms where my career progression was discussed. In 2021, a few months after I returned from Maternity leave, I got to meet my new manager. Over the last two years, I have really appreciated how much faith and trust my Manager has put in my abilities. Final Thoughts Reflecting on my career journey reminded me of the past year's highs and lows. My professional journey started in Germany and has continued in the US over the past eight years. My experiences have varied vastly, and my growth has been phenomenal. As I think about what is next for me in my current career phase, I am reminded of how instrumental others have been in my career. I want to be someone that is a positive part of someone's career journey and experience. Time for Reflection
 One of the best pieces of professional advice I have received is building my network before I need it. I learned that growing my network needed to be a part of my career development planning. When I planned to write about the topic of networking in December, I had no idea what January 2023 would bring and how important our professional networks would be in these times. A lot of us have been neglecting our networks due to the pandemic.
In this blog post, we will explore five important questions to help us take stock and plan for our professional networks. Check out the other "Her Career" posts for tips and resources to help you thrive professionally. Do you understand the benefits of having a professional network? Like with many things in our lives, for you to have a solid network, you need to see and believe that it is beneficial. It takes work, and we know that It is easier to invest in doing something when we see that it is valuable. Professional networks serve multiple purposes, such as connecting you with people who have skills you can learn from, providing access to jobs or new projects, expanding your perspective, or providing opportunities to leverage your expertise in the service of others. Strategies to consider
What does your professional network look like? Networking experts group professional networks into these three types: operational, personal, and strategic. The operational network serves the purpose of helping you get work done effectively within your organization, while personal networks help your professional development, and strategic networks are most useful to gain clarity on future prospects or plans. All three types of networks are crucial for a successful career. The exercise of mapping your network and writing down the names of people you actively connect with in your network is helpful. Strategies to consider
What area do you have gaps in your network? Mapping out your network allows you to see where you can create better networks. A crucial part of maintaining a solid network is knowing what areas we can build out more. After mapping my network, I found that I needed to develop my strategic network. I also learned that I was no longer actively engaging with people outside my company. I like to remind myself that I have built networks in the past and can create new ones as needed. Strategies to consider
What is holding you back from building your networking? There are people who really enjoy networking. Some of them are natural, and others have mastered the skill of networking. Although I am an extrovert, building my professional networks did not come naturally to me. After doing some self-reflection, I found that my fear of rejection held me back from networking. I really struggled with reaching out to people. One thing that helped me was having a template that I leveraged to reach out to people. It helped me clarify why I was reaching out to them and how I could also bring value to them. It is less daunting to reach out to people now, and I remind myself that their willingness to connect is out of my control. Strategies to consider
How can you maintain your professional network? It is essential to continue maintaining our networks. Our professional networks need to change over time. As we grow and develop in our Careers, we need different types of networks. This is a reminder that professional networking is something that is ongoing. It takes continuous work and learning to build networks to grow with us. Our connections are a critical part of having a successful career. I have had to plan and be intentional about building my network. Strategies to consider
Final Thoughts We are responsible for our networks. As in our personal lives, the people we surround ourselves with in our professional lives matter a lot. You will reap the rewards of setting time and energy aside to grow and maintain your network. Call to Action
Great Resources What is networking and why is it so important? To Take Charge of Your Career, Start by Building Your Tribe Learn to Love Networking 4 Solid Strategies for Expanding Your Professional Network How Leaders Create and Use Networks  For the past six months, there has been news of large tech companies letting go of many employees. As someone who works for a big Tech company, I have been holding my breath until the time comes for my company. And then, on Friday, January 20th, the day came when thousands of people were let go.
Fortunately, I was not impacted by the recent layoffs. However, a lot of people that I have worked with were affected. My heart goes to everyone who has lost their jobs over the last months. Special thanks to all the amazing people that I have worked with over the past years. I typically like my blog posts to be practical and solution-oriented. However, in today's blog post, I would like to share my current thoughts. Working in Germany vs. the US When I worked in Germany, there was mutual respect between employer and employee. Having three months to break the contract we made with each other ensured the decision was well thought through and planned. The first time I saw someone terminated on the spot and sent home shocked me to the core. I could not imagine the feeling you have after working for a company for so many years and them letting you go like that. My husband warned me about being realistic about how quickly things can change at work. Letting our work define who we are Tying our identity to our jobs is very easy. We spend a lot of our time working and have come to believe that our professional worth is tied to a job. One of my coworkers shared how much seeing people being let go reminded her that she needed to re-discover her identity outside work. I have been working very hard over the past two years, and I am worried that my job is playing a more prominent role in my life than I would like it to be. The role that being employed plays in our lives A lot of us still need to work for our financial security. The first thing I did when other Tech companies started laying people off was to create a financial contingency plan for our family. I grew up poor, so surviving on less money is not as scary to me. However, now that we have a child, I want to do everything in my power to provide all the good things he needs. Being financially stable is more important at this phase of my life, and losing my job at this time would have caused us to make some serious changes. Final Thoughts: Where do we go from here? This past weekend I spent a lot of time reflecting on how we are all feeling and trying to figure out our next steps. The only thought that kept coming back to my mind was the importance of community in chaotic times like these. With everything happening that is out of our control, we need to be there for one another. If you ever need someone to talk to, please reach out to me. I am hoping for better times for everyone.  One of the most sought topics in career development is professional branding. The reason is that many of us are either already working on our professional brands or wonder if we need one. As I have studied personal and professional branding, I realized that they go hand in hand. With that in mind, we will focus on the impact of our brand at work.
In this blog post, we will explore the top five myths around your professional brand. In my previous post titled "My approach to building my personal brand," I shared some tools and resources that helped me to get started. Setting the foundation: What is professional branding?
Myth #1: You don't have a professional brand The truth is that we all have a professional brand or reputation. Even if we are not doing anything additional to doing our jobs, people have a perception of who we are professionally. Especially in today's world, where we change jobs often and are out in constantly changing professional roles, our brand is crucial. Viewing your professional brand as something you are responsible for is important. Strategies to consider
Myth #2: You only need to have a professional brand if you want to get promoted There are different career phases where our goals might be something other than upward mobility or promotion. Your professional brand can bring you additional benefits, such as being recognized as an expert in your field, expanding your network, and being able to give back to others professionally. Strategies to consider
Myth #3: You can only build your professional brand at work Our professional brand can serve us outside of our core jobs as well as inside our companies. I had yet to learn the power of what I do outside work and how it can impact my professional brand in a great way. I did three main things outside work that elevated my professional brand. The first was starting my blog, where I share my thoughts, experiences, and expertise. The second was building a professional network by joining program management industry communities when I moved to the US. And the third one was furthering my education by doing some certification courses and learning about the new professional environment I was in now. Strategies to consider
Myth #4: Your professional brand can only be built after you have worked for a long time When I started my career in program management, I struggled with not seeing anyone like me, who I admired because of their professional brand. The more visible people had very different paths and had been in their careers for multiple decades. Only over the past years have I seen a beautiful niche of folks in different career stages talking about their careers and showcasing their brand. I now know that there are many flavors of professional brands. Strategies to consider
Myth #5: Maintaining your professional brand is hard work The truth is that some amount of intentionality and work goes into maintaining our professional brand. Your professional brand should grow and evolve as your career changes. As with everything in life, your brand is not something you pay attention to once and then forget. I constantly seek inspiration and try different things regarding my professional brand in addition to doing great work. Strategies to consider
MC's Journey: Discovering and maintaining my professional brand At the start of my career in Germany, I did not know that my professional brand was something I should have cared about. I thought my professional success would come from my focus on doing great work, which was exactly what I did. When I moved to the US almost eight years ago, I realized I needed to build my professional brand. I started developing my brand as I worked with a coach and then took steps to maintain it over time. My professional brand has evolved as I have transitioned to new jobs, changed roles, and gotten promoted. I'm currently thinking about where I will take my brand next. Great Resources Sharing the books I read that changed how I think about my brand
Time for Reflection What does personal or professional branding mean to you? Are you actively building your brand? If not, what is standing in the way? What three things would you like to do in 2023 to grow and maintain your brand?  As I progress in my career, I am learning a leadership skill that does not come naturally to me as someone who likes to be in control. Delegating tasks and responsibilities to people on my team is required for me to succeed professionally this year. At the beginning of the year, I realized I needed to actively work on letting go and trusting that others could get the work done. Over the past six months, I have built a team of six awesome people. Learning to delegate was a prerequisite for succeeding in this new career phase.
In this blog post, I will share the lessons I have learned on my journey and how my mindset has changed concerning delegating at work. Check out my other "Her Career" blog posts for tips and resources to help you thrive professionally. Lesson 1: Realizing that if I can keep working on everything myself without a team, then I am not growing The more we grow and gain leadership responsibility in our careers, the more our scope expands. With that comes the need to have multiple people working on delivering the growing scope. For the longest time, I thought I was showing my value by overworking and not realizing that people saw that as my scope was not large enough. While preparing for a promotion, one of my mentors advised me to think about how much more we could accomplish with a team of awesome people. What results have I seen so far?
Lesson 2: Delegating to others helps them develop new skills Teaching and sharing my skills is an area of strength for me. However, I never connected with delegating as a way to teach and pass on knowledge to others. When you delegate tasks to people, you create space for them to acquire and practice new skills. I have also learned that there is a way to delegate correctly by offering coaching and support for your team members as they take on new tasks. What results have I seen so far?
Lesson 3: Delegating makes space for me to focus on bigger things Thinking that I had to do everything myself kept my focus on the day-to-day tasks rather than being strategic. I really enjoy thinking about the big picture, being strategic, and planning for the longer term. However, before I started delegating and trusting my team to drive work, I did not have time to do the things I enjoyed. I recently worked on our 2023 plan for one of my programs, which gives me a lot of fulfillment. What results have I seen so far?
Lesson 4: To be successful, you need to let people know that you want to work on delegating One practice that helps me when working towards a big goal is building a community of people who will support me on my journey. When I shared my goal to learn to delegate more to my extended team, they were very supportive, and one of them offered to be my accountability partner. People helped me keep my commitment as I worked towards my goal. What results have I seen so far?
Lesson 5: Delegating is a continuous learning journey It is crucial for me to remind myself that the lessons I am learning about delegating are only the beginning. I am open to continuing to learn lessons, changing my mindset, and doing things differently to accomplish the best outcomes for my team. Learning and acquiring new leadership skills is something I enjoy doing, especially when I see the results. What results have I seen so far?
Great Resources  To be successful in our careers, we need to be intentional about the steps we take toward our growth and development. When I think about one thing that has helped me build a successful career, it is that I have leveraged my strengths professionally. We are good at things and do not leverage them enough at work.
In this blog post, I will share how to leverage your strengths professionally and grow your career. Check out my other "Her Career" blog for more tips and resources. MC's Journey Right from when I was a child, people talked about how I talked too much, asked too many questions, and was bossy. Little did they know those traits would make me a great program manager over 30 years later. At various points on my journey, I have had to remind myself of my strengths and ensure I am leveraging them. Some of the ways that I leverage my top 5 strengths include:
How to apply your strengths at work Discover your strengths Knowing what you are good at is the first step toward leveraging your strengths. If you had asked me about ten years ago what my strengths were, I would not have been able to articulate them clearly. I started working with a career coach when I moved to the US over seven years ago; one of the first things she asked me to do was to spend time thinking about my strengths. I knew I was very good at certain things but could not articulate them clearly. Especially at work, it is crucial to know what your strengths are. Strategies to consider
Seek out opportunities to put your unique strengths to use You shine when you are using your strengths. As you choose the projects and initiatives that you want to work on, seek out ones where you can apply your strengths. Becoming a project manager, I knew that I would excel because I like to plan things and am organized. As I have progressed in my career, I have applied other strengths, such as working with global teams. Given my background living in different countries, I have learned how to navigate connecting with people from diverse backgrounds. This greatly influenced my decision to work as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program manager. Strategies to consider
Talk about your strengths One way to let people know what you are good at is by celebrating your achievements. There is so much power in telling your story and highlighting the strengths that helped you accomplish your goals. I had to learn how to talk about my strengths. It was hard to speak up when I knew I was good at something that would help our team succeed. Observing others speak about their strengths helped me develop that skill and improve. I leverage avenues such as performance evaluations and work presentations to showcase my strengths. Strategies to consider
Teach others the skills you have I have learned that one way to amplify my strengths is to share my knowledge with others. Although I am a passionate learner, I did not know the value of teaching others. I discovered that when I teach others, they benefit a lot, and my strengths increase. Initially, I offered to teach people things I excel at, and now they come to me to seek my expertise. Strategies to consider
Continue to grow your strengths Part of a growth mindset is believing you can always get better even at things you do very well. Recently, I have been leading a program that has multiple phases. One of the things I noticed was that I was looking for ways to do things smartly and be more effective with every new launch. I am very intentional about learning new ways to leverage and grow my strengths. Strategies to consider
Final Thoughts It feels great to know that we can apply our strengths and grow professionally. I really like to see all my team members showcasing their strengths. You have something unique to contribute to your professional community. Time for Reflection What are your top three strengths? How have you been leveraging your strengths at work so far? How would you like to leverage your strengths more at work?  Recently, I achieved a professional goal that I have been working towards for many years – I became a people manager again. I was a people manager in my last company and wanted to go back to managing a team. This huge accomplishment came with many mixed emotions for me. The first emotion I felt was excitement that my professional dream had come true, and then the feelings of self-doubt started to creep in.
In this blog post, I will share the five tips that are helping me navigate and enjoy this phase of my professional life. I am writing this post as a reminder for myself and valuable tips for anyone out there who is working through similar experiences. #1: Celebrate your accomplishments When my manager sent the email to my team announcing that I was becoming a Manager, I had a smile on my face and was very happy. My journey to get here was a multi-year process that was not smooth or straightforward. I knew that I needed to celebrate this significant milestone. However, it felt easier to keep moving as if everything was normal. The good thing was that I got to spend some time with my family, and they celebrated my accomplishment with me. Why is this important?
#2: Accept the trust that people have in your abilities Self-doubt makes you think you don't deserve to be where you are or accomplish something big. It helps to get extra confirmation from people you trust. In my case, the people telling me that I will be great in my new role have worked with me for years and know my work. I have decided to listen to them and believe their kind words. It is very easy to brush off the positive things that people say about you because we think they don't mean it as a way to diminish our contributions. Why is this important?
#3: Acknowledge your emotions Over the past weeks, I have had multiple emotions – happiness, overwhelm, excitement, and more. Right now, the emotions I feel are mostly a sense of responsibility because I want to do right by my team. I want to be the best manager that they need to feel valued, respected, and that they can thrive professionally. Over my journey, I have learned that it is important to acknowledge when I am feeling self-doubt and causing myself not to enjoy a key milestone. Why is this important?
#4: Set your goals and gain clarity of where you want to go One of the effects of self-doubt on me is that I get too scared to think about the future. Many people who talk about their imposter syndrome will tell you that it stops them from envisioning a time when they accomplish even bigger things. When something big happens, I worry about the increased responsibilities and my desire to over-achieve. Setting goals helps me plan for the future and get concrete about the steps I will be taking to accomplish them. Why is this important?
#5: Believe in yourself and make bold moves on your journey As much as your mind might be telling you that you don't deserve to be here, the truth is that you have worked very hard to accomplish everything you have. It takes a lot of self-talk and continuous personal work to guard against self-doubt. You need to keep making bold moves and not let self-doubt stop you from accomplishing great things. Why is this important?
Final Thoughts If you feel overwhelmed by the great things happening in your life, you are not alone, and it is perfectly fine. Although I am very excited about my journey ahead, I am still actively walking through self-doubt. I'll keep you all posted on my progress in this new phase of my journey.  In 2022, I am committed to sharing tools that have helped me thrive in my personal and professional life. One of the tools that have significantly impacted my professional journey is career coaching. Until a few years ago, I did not know it was for me. I worked with a career coach when I moved to the US, and five years later, I just completed six months of working with another coach.
In this blog post, I will share some of my experiences and lessons learned from working with career coaches. My goal is to help you see that this is a tool that is also accessible and can be beneficial to you. What is a Career Coach, and when does it make sense to work with one? Career coaches provide a range of services, from helping you figure out what you want to do to explore opportunities for professional growth to supporting you through the ups and downs of looking for a new job. In my experience, you can work with a coach at any time on your professional journey. If you are planning to keep growing, exploring new things, and taking on new opportunities, working with a coach will help set you up for success. What were my goals when I worked with a Career Coach? Interestingly the two times that I have worked with a career coach, I was in very different places in my career and had vastly different needs.
How did I approach my search for a Coach? As I have progressed in my career, I have become more intentional about planning and preparing for the moves I make. Before I started my search for a Coach, I thought about what I wanted to work on with them. I had three goals that I have wanted to accomplish. The actual search for a Coach was different the first time. While taking professional certification classes at UC Berkeley, one of the professors mentioned that she was a coach. We had an introductory call where I learned about her work, decided it was a fit, and we worked together for about six months. My second coaching experience was part of a program at work where we partnered with a company that had coaches in their Network. I was able to select my preferences and was offered a pool of coaches to choose from. Some of the things I look for in a coach include:
How to make the best of your coaching experience
What did I get out of my coaching experiences? Working with a coach has helped me grow professionally. Some of the outcomes of coaching include:
Final Thoughts I recently talked to one of my colleagues, and she shared that she never thought working with a coach was for her. It got me thinking about how hesitant I was to work with a coach initially and how much my investment has paid off. If you are unsure if coaching is for you, test it and see. A lot of coaches offer info sessions where you can learn more. Coaching is a tool that has helped me a lot, and I hope you will take advantage of it. Great Resources
Time for reflection
 When I think about building a successful career, I focus on things that are in my control. Knowing that I can drive my career makes me feel empowered. Recently, there have been a considerable number of articles about the great wave of people quitting their jobs to find something new. The desire to do work that we enjoy has become even more amplified. Developing your career is a wonderful way to infuse some energy and excitement into your professional life.
In this blog post, we will explore tools that have helped me grow my career. Check out my other "Her Career" blog posts for more tips and resources for a thriving career. Tool #1: Learning & Skill building One of the best pieces of advice that I received was that learning did not end once I got my degree and that it was important to continue learning. I took it to heart and made learning a part of my career development toolkit. Taking courses, trainings and certifications have helped elevate my professional profile a lot. I set a yearly goal to learn something new that will grow my career and make it happen. We all learn in different ways, so it is crucial to find what works best for you. Questions to consider
Tool #2: Mentorship & Sponsorship In last week's post, I wrote about the value of mentorship and how much it has impacted my life positively. As you grow your career, you want to have people who can advise and guide you. Getting additional perspective from your mentors on your career decisions will help you accomplish big things and see things clearer. Questions to consider
Tool #3: Career Coaching Reflecting on my career journey, one of the most pivotal moments was when I moved to the US in 2015. I quickly realized that I needed to do things differently in my career to thrive in this new country The new role was bigger than I had in the past, and I knew I needed some support. Working with a career coach helped me develop my plan, share my fears, and understand the professional system in the US better. As I plan for my next big career transition, I am working with a coach to prepare for the journey ahead. Questions to consider
Tool #4: Professional Network The people who are your companions on your professional journey are very important. Especially in the times we live in, building professional networks takes a lot more work and requires us to practice new relationship-building strategies. You can leverage your network to connect with people who have similar professional interests and share their knowledge. I enjoy having the opportunities to connect with my professional network and hearing about their experiences. Questions to consider
Tool #5: Career development plan Having a plan for your career will help you ensure that you are growing and developing. Documenting your career goals and checking in on your progress regularly should be something you do. It is easy to lose sight of your career ambitions when you do not have a plan. Questions to consider
Great Resources
Call to Action
 As we settle into our new normal in life, this is a great time to focus on things we have put aside to survive this past year. We spend a lot of time at work and deserve to be happy and accomplish our professional goals. I believe that we should own our development and take action to build our dream careers.
In this blog post, we will explore five ways to recharge your career journey and thrive professionally. Envision your dream career Allowing yourself to dream about where you want to go in your career is essential. It is very easy to settle into the day-to-day of your job and forget about your career dreams and aspirations. Remembering what inspires you professionally is a great step to rekindle the excitement. Strategies to consider
Check-in on your career goals To accomplish great career success, you need to be working towards your goals. Take stock of where you are today compared to where you want to be professionally. It is crucial to check in on your goals regularly and measure the progress you are making. Strategies to consider
Build and leverage your career support group When you have companions on your professional journey, you are more likely to accomplish your goals. Surround yourself with people who inspire you, provide guidance, give your feedback, act as a sounding board for your ideas and support your development. You don't have to go through your professional journey on your own. Strategies to consider
Update your plan Having a professional development plan is crucial to building a successful career. The intention is to document the steps you want to take and plan for them. Spending time planning will provide the clarity you need about what it would take to accomplish your goals. Strategies to consider
Take action towards your goals Now that you have checked the progress you made, refreshed your goals, and updated your plan, it's time to take action. Putting in the work is the best way to develop your career. When you look back at this time in your life, you want to see the progress you have made in your career. Strategies to consider
Great Resources
Call to Action
 As we grow and advance in our careers, there will be situations where we will need to ask for something we need. This might be asking for a promotion, a bigger project, or even a new role. It is interesting that we were never taught how to ask for things we really want in our careers. Asking for what we want is crucial to accomplish our professional goals.
In this blog post, I will share the process that I go through when I need to ask for something at work. #1: Prepare your mind Asking for what you want is very important. Often, if you don't speak up, people will think you are content with where you are today. Before you make any requests, it helps to take time to reflect and prepare yourself. Reflect on where you have been and where you want to go professionally. This is the perfect time to check in on your professional goals, update them and evaluate what you need to progress. Strategies to consider
#2: Seek advice and feedback Especially when you are about to ask for something big, it is helpful to share your thoughts with someone you trust. This is where having mentors, sponsors or trusted colleagues is very valuable. The objective of having these conversations is to practice vocalizing your thoughts and to get their advice on what you are thinking about. It is best to have these conversations early to help provide more clarity and give you input for your next steps. Strategies to consider
#3: Create an action plan It is crucial to have a plan and document your planned action. Write down what you are asking for, your qualifications, potential growth areas, and the path to get to where you want to go. Having a plan will make your request and path forward clearer. Strategies to consider
#4: Ask for what you want If you have been thinking about a promotion, a bigger project, or a new role, now is the perfect time to ask for it. Present your plan to the decision-makers and make your ask known to them. It is important to know what you want and ask for it. However, it is crucial to go in with an open mind. The conversations will provide you with more information to refine your plan and path forward. Strategies to consider
#5: Execute your plan and learn Now it is time to start taking the steps towards the goals you set. You can only make progress towards your professional goals if you are doing something. It takes one small step at a time to get to where you want to be. As you embark on your journey, keep learning and trying new things. Strategies to consider
Final Thoughts: MC's Journey Recently, I have come to a juncture in my career where I know that I need to do something new to stay excited about work. To make it even more complicated, the work that I want to be doing is a mixture of different roles and does not yet exist. If you know anything about me, I like a challenge ;) Personally, I know that I need some element of change every two years at the minimum to feel like I am making progress. I like to take on new professional paths or responsibilities that help me continue learning. I embarked on the journey of designing my ideal role a few months ago. I'm on a learning journey, and I am excited to share my experience. Time for Reflection What is the next step in your career? What do you need to do to get there? Who is in your professional support group?  With everything that we have been managing over the past year, it is understandable if you feel that you are not enjoying work right now. We spend a lot of time doing work and deserve to be happy while we do it. If you want to rekindle your passion for work, this is for you.
In this blog post, we will explore five concrete things you can do to find your joy at work again. #1: Look back on what you have accomplished It is easy to get so caught up and not see the progress you have made over the past year. Looking back on your work results can remind you of what you like the most about your work. All your professional accomplishments, even the small ones, matter a lot. Even if you don't see it, you have made progress and are doing well. Strategies to consider
#2: Refresh your professional goals and update your career plan Most of us have been in survival mode over the past year. As a result, you may not have had the opportunity to define or check on your professional goals. Having an updated Career advancement plan helps give you a view of the future. Knowing that there are great things ahead builds excitement and rekindles your passion for your work. Do not let another year go by without you checking in on your professional goals. Strategies to consider
#3: Make a bold career move, start working on a new project or job After you review your career plan, you might discover that it is time to do something new or make even bigger career changes. Finding work that is satisfying and meets your development needs is crucial. If you know that the only way you can be happy at work is to change your job, plan, and make it happen. It could also be time to go up for a promotion. Asking for an overdue promotion is an emotional thing to do. However, making bold career moves has great rewards. Strategies to consider
#4: Revive your professional network Especially if you have been working virtually over the last year, you may have lost touch with your coworkers and industry connections. Most of us have been working from home, unable to attend conferences or professional meetups. The people in our professional lives have a positive impact on how we enjoy our work. It is crucial to be intentional about reconnecting with people professionally. Strategies to consider
#5: Find a passion project The truth is that work is only one part of your life. Focusing solely on your job and investing most of your time will not make you happy. Sharing our focus on multiple things will help us be at our best at work. Working on my blog posts and coaching sessions provides me a vital outlet. I find that I am better at work when I am working on projects that I care about. Strategies to consider
Final Thoughts: Is it time to take a break? If you read the strategies above and felt overwhelmed, it might be time to take a break. One of the first things that I did when I got back to work from maternity leave was plan days and weeks when I would take time off work. It was a necessary strategy for me to enjoy work and thrive. Planning time off work will help energize you. Great resources  As I have progressed in my career, I have realized that professional allies and advocates are a crucial part of my career journey. In our private lives, we understand the importance of building and maintaining very healthy relationships; the same principle should apply to our professional lives.
In this blog post, I will share the benefits of having professional allies and the best way to leverage them along your career journey. Who are professional allies? Allies are people who offer one another backing, assistance, advice, information, protection, and even friendship. Your professional allies could play different roles such as mentors, sponsors, technical advisors, career advisors. What are the benefits of having professional allies? Great allies support your career in various ways such as:
5 ways to build relationships with your professional allies Find your allies and ensure they are from different backgrounds Being intentional about seeking out and choosing your allies is essential. Many different people could be your professional allies such as your manager, teammate, senior leaders, experienced co-workers or people that report to you. It is crucial for you to continuously identify your professional allies. Strategies to consider
Be clear on what the relationship is and what you want As with every relationship, when you are clear about how you want your allies to support you, you will get the best results. You should be able to clearly map out how your professional allies can positively influence your career and help you accomplish your goals. Strategies to consider
Make sure they know your work Your allies can talk more about your work when you share details with them. You do not work closely with your allies in some cases, but you want them to feel like they know what you do. You are the best person to share your professional accomplishments. Strategies to consider
Meet with them regularly In any good relationship, conversations and connections happen regularly. To stay top of mind for your professional allies, it is crucial to stay connected. You want to make sure you are not only reaching out when you have issues. Sharing good updates with them is also unbelievably valuable. Strategies to consider
Provide your professional allies value As much as you receive support, you want to give the same. We all appreciate when people who we invest in also give back to us. You have something to offer your professional allies as well. We all have different perspectives and can enrich each other's lives when we share. Strategies to consider
Final Thoughts You do not have to feel lonely on your career journey. Surround yourself with amazing people who can help you thrive and enjoy your work. Time for Reflection What type of allies do you need to seek out? Who are people around you who you want to convert to professional allies? How are you going to build solid relationships with your allies? Great Resources  There are so many lessons to learn about your professional life. The best professional advice I received from one of my coworkers was "always take the time to introduce and reintroduce yourself." She gave me this advice after I had been at a new company for about four months and it changed my trajectory.
In this blog post, we will explore when you need great introductions and how to create an introduction that people will remember. When are introductions important?
How to create a great introduction Step #1: Think about what you want people to know about you It is important to help people get to know you. When you think about your story and reputation, ask yourself what the important aspects of your career are. Some of the things I share with people include projects I have worked on, skills that I have, certifications or degrees and what I am passionate about. Remember also to include aspects of your personal life. There is so much power in connecting with people on a personal level. Questions to consider
Step #2: Write your intro statements In my experience, I have learned that when you write down a short introduction, it allows you to think through your message. Write down many options and refine your introduction as you go. As you work on your introduction statements, try not to over-engineer it. Questions to consider
Step #3: Practice your introduction with people you trust One way to improve your introduction is by sharing it with your trusted advisors. You can send it to them in written form or practice telling them in person. The objective of this activity is to gather feedback and ideas from people who know you really well. Questions to consider
Step #4: Update and tweak your Introduction Based on feedback and your experience as you tested your introduction, it is time to adjust your intro statements. The goal is to have a version you are comfortable with sharing with more people. It might not be perfect, and that is fine. Questions to consider
Step #5: Introduce and reintroduce your self Now it is time to start using your new introduction. Depending on your audience, you may want to tweak your introduction. By practicing and working on your introduction, you will get better. I have also started being more aware of how other people introduce themselves and what I can learn from them. Questions to consider
Action Plan
Final Thoughts
Great Resources
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