As featured on LinkedIn, November 22, 2022.
If I knew then what I know now.
It was great to have the chance to speak to a group of terrific young women undergrads at Cornell University as part of the Forte Foundation program. Thank you, Tatum Shearer (a junior, graduating in 2024), for the lovely invitation. The topics ranged from careers, marketing, authoring books and taking risks. Some key points I wish I had known when I was that age:
* Work hard on developing a skill set in a subject area that you love and aim to be the best you can be. If you love the topic, learning more about it becomes fun.
* Good writing is a skill that is helpful regardless of what path your career takes. While I took writing courses in college, I continued to take them after graduation.
* You may get turned down for an interview, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t continue to pursue the company or industry or consider being more creative in your approach. When I applied for my first job, I received two rejection letters. But I wanted to work at the agency and prepared a creative third-time approach. That did the trick at grabbing their attention and I was hired. (Thank you, KetchumCommunications.)
* Take risks, but calculated ones. Make sure to save something from each paycheck so that you don’t make job decisions solely based on salary and have the freedom to walk away from a bad personal or professional situation.
* Don’t let anyone tell you, “no, don’t pursue your dreams.” Instead, go at it with blinders on.
Forté’s community of motivated and inspiring women is working to change the balance of power in the workplace. It was exciting to learn more about their work. Often it is the teacher, not the student, who ends up learning the most.
