Nate
Richardson is not only a Second Shift friend and our landlord, but he is also a
client. When his fintech company Trade It was looking for a seasoned financial
analyst for an on-going, part-time role he only had to look down the hall to
find the perfect candidates. We thank Nate for his continued support,
generosity and for giving us the space to get The Second Shift off the ground
and out of Gina’s kitchen.
Nate:
We
choose to work with The Second Shift because we didn’t need a full time
FP&A person but we definitely needed a highly skilled, professional who
could hit the ground running for our needs. The Second Shift was able to find someone
who hit all the qualifications – she had extensive experience and was incredibly
professional and responsive. When we looked through pitches, we looked at
the person’s qualifications and background – really a data driven look.
We skipped through those who wrote a novel and focused on those who used
bullet points and numbers to articulate their expertise.
What stood out
about our ultimate hire Jaime was the right combination of an understanding of our business and
expertise doing the type of occasional budgeting that we required. Her pitch
was was direct, thoughtful and professional. She had experience in a
company known for having excellent, trained and seasoned professionals in the
FP&A department which gave us a large amount of confidence in her ability
to hit the ground running.
Regarding the other
candidates, they were equally qualified with significant experience in doing
M&A, however, they did not come from companies such as Jaime’s. One of
the pitches, in particular, included too much filler “lingo” that had little relevance to
the skill set we were hiring against.
My
suggestion for Second Shift members when crafting your pitches – stay focused, use language that is easy to
digest and to the point. Let your expertise do the talking in your
resume.
Jaime’s Selected Pitch:
I have 12 years FP&A experience at Viacom with 8 years as a VP of Finance, where I developed financial forecasts and managed budgets for Nickelodeon and Logo Television networks. I’ve worked on digital advertising sales models and I would love to learn more about your exciting new business. I live just outside of NYC and can be available in the office for your proposed 4-10/month plus additional hours, if needed. Thank you.
In our continuing quest
to find out what makes for a successful pitch, we turn to Second Shift member
Reagan Nunnally who seems to have the winning formula—she lands every job she
goes for. Below is her insight into how she looks at a project post and then
crafts her pitch. She also generously allowed us to share three pitches that
won her the roles. Thank you so much Reagan for sharing your knowledge with the
rest of the community!
For me, it comes down to
a few things.
I think everyone on the
hunt for talent is simply looking for authenticity. Personal accounts,
accomplishments and even failures are great to express yourself – helping your
reader to relate, be intrigued or inspired.
Without getting too
tactical as a resume would, it is important to also see your experience in a
trend, whether you were a part of one or bucked it. It doesn’t matter. Capture
your reader with a bigger picture, so he or she can have peace of mind that you
have the ability to see the forest from the trees.
But…know your trees. It’s
important to acknowledge the opportunity specifically with examples of your
relationship to that particular team, company or industry. Whichever most
genuinely applies. Maybe you’ve been a customer, maybe a competitor or an
aspirational fan. You might have common contacts that can endorse your
work. If possible, it’s ideal to connect on that level.
Pitch #1
My name is Reagan
Nunnally, and formerly I ran agency relations for Google for well over a
decade. In that role, I taught a Silicon Valley behemoth how to properly
connect with Madison Avenue. Holding companies and independent agencies alike
have evolved from being the most foreign entities for the tech giant to the
most valued partners today. With that experience, I know how to be most
successful with this particular community, treating the agency just as any
industry head would a key vertical, putting their priorities first, ensuring
their success and profitability, while managing the expectations of the
organization’s goals with consumers and brands. I also have learned not only to
set expectations, but to give and get sincere constructive feedback that can
help inform important strategy. Especially dedicated to emerging trends for a
large part of my career, setting expectations and strong communication are
vital in building relationships of trust and respect. I am very proud of the
programs and relationships I’ve built, and the value it has given to the
overall supply chain. I have often told the Second Shift team that I wish there
had been this option when I had the gift of a long term maternity leave,
knowing that a capable, dedicated partner would help my business grow, so I could
focus on my most precious task at hand. The uncertainty led me to having one
foot in, one foot out, and at the end of the day, a lot of unnecessary anxiety.
This particular industry changes quickly. The ability to dedicate myself to a short-term
opportunity that I feel comfortable to navigate would be a very fulfilling
endeavor. The peace of mind is bar none for both parties, which ultimately is
relationship and revenue positive for Facebook. I’m a heavy user of Facebook,
checking in daily. Professionally, I have built a group called MADWomen (Mobile
and Digital Women) in which we highlight executive women in our space to gain
insights and lessons learned through a bi-weekly podcast and quarterly events.
We leverage Facebook to build awareness and audience. Personally, Facebook and
Instagram have seen me through being single, married, with a son, with a
daughter, address changes, adhoc banter, rekindled extended family
relationships, cherished childhood friends, new friends, celebrating lives
we’ve gained and lives we’ve lost, and the feeling that I will never lose
touch; the comfort and indulgence that it brings, is like no other. Clients are
people too, and helping them understand the value of such an experience while
evaluating the best interest of their business decisions is the balance and
compelling part of the pursuit. I look forward to hearing from you. Best,
Reagan Nunnally
Pitch #2
Hi there. I’d love to
explore this. I am a huge fan of the high quality of work from Broadway Video,
and I have an above-average pulse of the companies to keep, encouraging them to
maintain the high video quality across the digital landscape. The opportunity
to build upon and nurture the first-rate community that Broadway Video has
established would be an exciting challenge. I have strong existing
relationships in the media industry, holding posts at Google/You Tube, CBS
Digital & Viacom, and I think I can put that experience to good use. The
shortlist of low hanging fruit for me includes: Top Digital Media Companies:
Netflix, Amazon, Google/YouTube, AOL, MSFT, Yahoo!, Twitter, Facebook,
Pinterest, SnapChat, BuzzFeed, IAC, MatchMedia, Spotify, Pandora, BKSTG,
FanDuel. The MCNs: Collective, Vevo, FullScreen, Awesomeness TV, Maker, Machina
Content Up and Comers: UpWorthy, Distractify, Viral Nova, A+, Kicker, TheSkimm,
VProud.tv Discovery AdTech: Taboola, Outbrain, StumbleUpon Video Marketplaces:
Tremor Video, TubeMogul, Rubicon, Adelphic I’m versed in tracking down the
right folks and cold-calling; (more like cold-emailing these
days….)especially comfortable calling on behalf of Broadway Video. Looking
forward to connecting and learning more. Best, Reagan
Pitch #3
This project looks very
interesting. I’d love to learn more. I have a strong background is all things
digital since the late 90s when it was referred to as “New Media.” I
have helped traditional media organizations evolve in the digital era, some
flourishing; a few failing. I’ve also helped digital companies understand the
protocol and dynamics of the media industry. I was a founding member of the
Google Agency team, where I spent a decade being a liaison between the agency
community, our sales force and our product and engineering team in hopes to
create efficiencies and affinities, resulting in portfolio management to the
tune of billions. Please touch base, as I’d love to have a conversation to get
a more concrete understanding of the scope. Best, Reagan
We recently posted a project for Equinox that broke the record for most pitches ever. The response was so extraordinary that Equinox wound up hiring not one, but two Second Shift members as secret shoppers. We are now partnering with the company to roll this program out to other Equinox locations across the country. Yay!
What makes this particular project even sweeter is that the client is former Second Shift member Shirley Romig. As part two of our #PitchToWin campaign Shirley generously offered to discuss what made the following two pitches stand out and, equally importantly, to share what influenced her final decision between the two candidates.
Shirley: First of all, it was almost impossible to pick because there were just so many amazing women! But, it came down to some key words, key experiences and the general tone of the pitch. With that, I narrowed my search down to four people that I reached out to and spoke with over the phone. Ultimately two members impressed me the most in our phone interview.
Second Shift: Below are the pitches you received from two of our members – it would be fantastic if you could tell us what made their pitches stand out?
Member A
I’m a digital marketing executive with 20+ years of experience developing strategic brand-building initiatives, leveraging traditional brand marketing disciplines and leveraging digital/social media platforms to drive consideration and conversion for companies like Kraft, American Express, Starwood Hotels and Time Inc. I’ve worked on member focused rewards programs at American Express and Starwood. Both programs have mystery shopping as a feedback mechanism for the brand. I’m well versed in delivering feedback based on brand goals as well as high quality customer and member experiences.
What makes me the right fit for the opportunity? I have experience in the hospitality industry, therefore I have an intimate understanding of what makes an exceptional customer experience. I’m incredibly passionate about health and wellness. I’ve been a member of various gyms and visit boutique fitness clubs, so I can give an assessment of how Equinox stacks up to other fitness options in the city. I have implemented data focused CRM strategies in email, online, on the phone and in apps. I know how to tailor messages based on a customer need. I could quickly assess communication in the club and make recommendations to ensure that the messages are impactful. I have deep knowledge of loyalty marketing and can make suggestion on how initial interactions develop an instant affiliation with a brand which leads to loyalty
My resume is attached to give you more detail. Here is a highlight:
Brand marketing
Managing customer service teams
Hospitality experience
Loyalty marketing
What drives me:
I’m an infinitely curious person
I decided to be a marketer because I’m fascinated by how people make decisions.
I approach creating marketing strategies based on the “why” and the pain-points for consumers
Shirley: I was particularly interested in “Member A’s” experience with loyalty program design and her experience at Starwood SPG. That team has a reputation in the industry as heavy hitters so I knew that she’d bring a special point of view from her prior experience to this project.
Member B
Hello! My name is Carolyn and I’m a seasoned marketer with 17+ years of experience and a complete fitness fanatic (think SoulCycle addict, Cycle for Survival fundraiser, half marathoner, and Pilates junkie). I have deep knowledge of the Equinox and SoulCycle experiences in addition to almost every other boutique fitness class available (e.g. Orange Theory, SLT, Barry’s Bootcamp, FlyWheel, CycleBar, IMX Pilates, Fireshaper, Bar Method, Pure Barre, Exhale, CKO, Title Boxing, and many more). When I was the Head of Marketing at Bon Appetit (Conde Nast), I developed a program for my team called, "Secret Guest.” Every week, a different team member would scope out a competitor’s event and present their findings during our weekly team meeting, using a template I developed to help them streamline the experience and learnings for others. We used that information to inform our future event marketing decisions, learn more about how to develop a competitive advantage, and improve our work. Today, I attend events and study competitors on behalf of clients and present a detailed marketing analysis of my findings, insights, and business ideas that help them drive revenue (ideas being the most critical piece of the puzzle). I welcome the opportunity to connect and learn more.
Shirley: With “Member B”, I was especially struck by her “Secret Guest” example. Conde Nast also has a reputation for an extremely high performance standard so I knew that she’d be a strong fit. I also liked that she’s tried a number of fitness concepts – but the way she described them felt genuine because she had a personal interest. Since she did not indicate that she tried these classes via Groupon/ClassPass type of program I had a level of comfort that she is not a discount-seeking customer, which is not the customer base we want to tap into.
Second Shift: What did they do that the other’s did not?
Shirley: Frankly there were so many great pitches. It came down to their ability to convey qualifications that are specifically relevant to the task at hand and provide enough detail about their experience. Their thorough examples allowed me to visualize their expertise, the quality of their output and their level of commitment and professionalism.
Second Shift: What information was most relevant to you when hiring?
Shirley: The information that was most relevant was a combination of their prior experience in conducting mystery shopping work, directly relevant work experience and an understanding that the outcome would need to be professionally packaged. In this case, the findings are being delivered to our executive team, so it was critical that we selected candidates that have the credentials and ability to create top-tier presentations.
Second Shift: Let’s change course and talk about all the pitches that didn’t make the cut. Using the one below as an example, could you please tell us why this didn’t work for you?
I believe I would be a perfect fit to be a Mystery Shopper to help Equinox understand and enhance the new member experience at all touchpoints. I have a breadth of corporate marketing experience (UPS, AT & T, Sprint) and have specific experience in customer lifecycle (acquiring/optimizing/retaining customers) marketing as well as customer experience marketing. More recently, I have freelanced as a marketing consultant for a NYC creative agency and have mystery shopped for them to get a better understanding of the companies we are pitching too (including Adidas). In addition to my marketing experience, I am an avid ‘worker-outer’ in NYC. I run and am a member of ClassPlass that has given me exposure to the customer experience at many NYC gyms. This project sounds like a lot of fun and I think I would be a great fit. Please let me know if you have any further questions for me and I would the love the opportunity to work with you!
Shirley: The pitcher could not have known this, but she noted that she is a user of ClassPass—for me, that is a business model that is in direct competition with Equinox. It is also a customer base that is discount driven and not our core demographic. I was concerned she’d be assessing the experience purely from a value-discount driven perspective. She also said this project would be “fun” – which made me feel like this was a ‘hobby’ rather than a job she’d approach with a professional point of view. Again, the outcome of this work is to be presented to our executive team so ‘fun’ is not the motivation I wanted the mystery shopper to have – or at the least, don’t tell me about it even if they think it.
Second Shift: What did you think was missing?
Shirley: While she had marketing experience, it was a lot of B2B. Equinox is a very different business model, and I wanted to find experience that was more relevant to the Equinox space and demographics.
Second Shift: What would have made this better?
Shirley: It would have been helpful to understand in more detail the extent of her mystery shopping experience. For example, what did she have to offer because of this experience, i.e. program design, the ability to extract insights vs. deliver a straight report, etc.
Second Shift: Thank you so much for taking your time to help advise the Second Shift community. We truly appreciate this invaluable intel and appreciate you “paying it forward” for other members now that you are on the hiring side.
Since joining The
Second Shift, I’ve scored marketing projects that have challenged and inspired
me. Check out my tips for winning the business and start pitching today!
When I see a, “New
Project for You!” email arrive, I read the assignment’s requirements three
times and run through this checklist to help craft my pitch.
Act
immediately and dedicate the time to work on your pitch. I have spent up to two
hours writing and editing and I’ve won the business as a result.
Research
the company and demonstrate how you understand their opportunities and
challenges. While researching, ask yourself, “How can the information I provide
help the client solve a problem?”
Include
recent news or market intelligence that will teach the client something new
about her or his business, industry, or a new trend. It will prove you’re
relevant and up-to-date on what’s new and next.
Show,
don’t tell. Reference specific
examples of your work–they’ll add color and spark interest. Aligning projects
with the client’s objectives will underscore why you deserve to win–your
experience, point-of-view, and success.
Omit
generic information (e.g. I’m 39, went to college, and live in New York City).
Your personal stats are great, but they don’t grab attention or add value to
what the client is requesting.
Personally
passionate about the company, its mission, or products? Say so and explain why.
It’ll set you apart as a professional who understands the business from a
consumer perspective and will go the extra mile to deliver stellar work.
Back
up claims about yourself with testimonials from others. I direct potential
clients to my website. Once there, they can access case studies, testimonials,
and my bio. If you do not have a website, include project examples,
testimonials, and any other relevant information with your pitch.
Be
bold and ask for a meeting; provide available dates and times. Getting face
time with a potential client is key to driving home how you’re different. Plus,
you’ll make a valuable professional connection.
Check
your spelling and grammar. Read forward for content twice and backwards to
catch typos once. When in doubt, ask someone to proof the copy for you (my
husband is my go-to resource).
Every lead leads somewhere.Like many of you, I left my corporate job to gain flexibility
while raising my daughter. The Second Shift has given me the gift of
flexibility, staying relevant in my field, and fulfillment, because I love what
I do. Even when I don’t win a pitch, I look at the opportunity as a priceless
connection and learning opportunity. What if this person has a project in the
future that’s a better match? Perhaps they’ll recommend me to a friend or
colleague? How can I improve next time I apply? Believe in yourself and keep
pitching!
Today we kick off our
summer content campaign,and it is dedicated exclusively to the art of pitching. This
is the topic where we get the most frequent questions so we thought it would be
a great subject matter to delve into for your summer enjoyment and education.
Instead of having us give
you information from outside the client/ candidate relationship, we are
focusing the campaign on concrete advice in two different ways and serving it directly
to you from the experts themselves:
Members who have gotten
jobs with different employers through our platform will talk about how they
look at pitching. They will share examples of their own winning pitches and
what they did that worked.
Clients will go through
pitches they received for the jobs they posted on our platform, discuss why
they hired the person they hired and what opportunities were missed in the pitches
they rejected.
To get started, this week
we are handing the reins over to member Carolyn Montrose Dub. She is a Second
Shift member who has gotten multiple jobs with different employers. We are
truly grateful to Carolyn for taking her time to share her wisdom and success
with the Second Shift community.
Last
week a freelance writer and coach I know posted this question: “In your view,
what’s the most surprising thing about freelancing?” The answer that
immediately came to mind was: “No matter how long you’ve been doing it – there
are still lessons to be learned!”
I’ve
been a part of the gig economy for 14 years this summer. It’s hard to believe
it’s been that long. You’d think that by now, I’d truly know every trick in the
book, but honestly, I learn something new with each engagement. There are
however, a few key lessons that I learned early on that have kept me in
business all these years. Whether you’re new to freelancing, or you’ve been at it
a while, I’m sharing those secrets here with you in hope that they’ll fuel your
success too!
#1
First
off, know that in the world of freelancing, all good things must come to an
end. My first client 14 years ago was one of my favorites. It was a growing
tech company founded by a group of smart passionate people, and they were kind
to boot! We collaborated to determine their greatest pains and developed
marketing solutions to address them.
Our
worked spanned a few years, and I truly thought I’d be working with them
forever. But my husband (a seasoned consultant) warned me that if they still
needed me after several years, I probably wasn’t doing my job. His viewpoint was
that a consultant is hired to fix a problem, and I needed to learn to get in
and get out! And… he was right.
Eventually
what we did together worked. This client grew and the time came for them to
build their own marketing team and take things in house. My job was done! I
should have been happy, but the problem was, things had been going so well with
this client that I failed to prospect while I was working with them.
LESSON 1: Prospecting is a permanent (and very
necessary) part of every freelancer’s job.
No
matter how well your business is going, do not take your foot off the gas
pedal. Create a marketing strategy and stick with it. I’ve kept mine pretty
simple – I commit to ‘touching’ a set number of contacts each week and I stick
to it. But no matter what marketing mix you decide on, it’s important to
continually be marketing yourself.
#2
Second,
understand that there really are no such things as bad clients! Have you ever
heard the statement: ‘There is no such thing as a bad child — only bad parents’?
Well, I have, and the last time I did it got me thinking: ‘There is no such
thing as a bad client – only bad freelancers’!
If
you’ve been freelancing for any amount of time at all, you are probably shaking
your head in disagreement right now. I get it – we’ve all had nightmare
experiences with clients. I used to believe that there were bad clients too –
until I really started to dissect my negative experiences and realized that my
clients weren’t the problem, my process was!
LESSON 2: If you qualify your clients, you
won’t have any bad clients.
Spend
some time thinking about the work you love to do and whom you love to do it
with. Establish your rates and stick to them. Write it all down. Build a
qualifying script and use it to screen opportunities. Don’t be afraid to turn
away a lead that doesn’t meet your criteria. Every time I’ve failed to do so –
It’s been a mistake. Nothing will put you out of business faster than not
qualifying your clients. And, I promise, there will be no such thing as a bad
client when you qualify your clients.
#3
Finally,
when it comes to freelancing, we are better together than divided. Freelancing
can be a lonely business. There was a time I felt so lonely seven years ago
that I almost packed it in and returned to cubicle nation. I had recently moved
across the country. My work back east was drying up and I had very few
connections in my new town. I was ready to throw in the towel when a single brunch
changed everything.
At this
brunch, I sat down next to the owner of an amazing little design firm in my
area. We hit it off and when she learned that I was a writer, it turned out that
she needed a writer! We embarked on our first project together soon afterwards.
Initially the client asked for a simple datasheet, but within a few weeks, we
realized that solution really didn’t meet their needs and we pitched a much
larger, strategic initiative to the client. We won that deal and have been
working with that client and many others ever since. It’s been some of the most
rewarding work I’ve ever done.
LESSON 3: You are not alone!
They are
so many resources to collaborate with in the freelance world. Whether you
prefer to network online or in person or engage formally or informally, there
is a place to do so. I was so happy to find the SecondShift last year. It’s
place where I can find both qualified leads and qualified resources to
collaborate with. Whatever type of work you do, remember that there is a
community of like-minded individuals out there experiencing many of the same
things that you are experiencing. This doesn’t have to be a lonely business!
In
summary, a lot has changed since I started freelancing 14 years ago. Technology
has made it easier than ever before to find opportunities, but locating work is
only one piece of the puzzle. Winning business requires a unique set of
processes and procedures that set you apart from the competition. Creating your
own rules is key to reaping the rewards of the ever-expanding gig economy.
We love a good podcast here at The Second Shift and one of our favorites is Start-Up. Alex Blumberg started his podcast about starting a podcast media company around the same time as we started The Second Shift; in fact it wouldn’t be too far fetched to say that in many ways it functioned as a roadmap for us. To this day we often refer to lessons learned from Start-Up about raising money, time management, communication and growth strategies.
Start Up is now in its 5th season and they recently aired an episode (May 12th Episode 4) titled Running a Family and a Business that we cannot recommend enough. In it Alex’s executive coach Jerry Colonna speaks with Cisse Cocoa founder Diana Lovett about her issues with working parent guilt. We are huge fans of Jerry’s work on the show and in this episode he masterfully frames the inner dialogue of many working parents in a truly thoughtful manner. They talk a lot about time away from kids and feeling like you are failing at both family and work– it hit home in a very personal and emotional way. Run, don’t walk, to the Apple Store and download it now—you won’t regret it.
Three years ago my partner
Gina and I hit on an idea to build a marketplace connecting women with deep
expertise to companies looking to fulfill project-based work. We had no formal background
in recruiting or business development—I am a former journalist and Gina comes
from marketing—and neither of us had any tech experience at all, but we knew we
had a great idea and we had enough confidence to take the risk that it could
work.
There have been many, many
days since then that we have questioned why we ever thought that we could do
this. There were moments when we wondered if anyone would take us seriously.
But ultimately we decided from the start to live by the motto, “Fake it ‘til you
make it” and it has served us well.
So much has changed since
then—we now run a tech company for gig workers! When we started I thought
sending someone an invite to a meeting meant a handwritten note. Back then, I
couldn’t tell you Lean from Agile. What Gina and I did have was the courage of
our convictions and the comfort in knowing we had a good idea and could figure
out the rest.
This idea of having the guts
to go after your dreams is the same for us as it is for the women in our
network. In our case, our product is our expert talent pool. Our members,
however, have to sell themselves, and we know that’s not easy. As anyone who
works entrepreneurially will tell you, getting good work is not as easy as
hanging a shingle on LinkedIn and getting business cards printed. You must
think like a salesperson and consistently look to sell your best product—you—at
the right place, and at the right price.
Not everyone is good at this
game, but there are ways to get better at it, starting with the ground rule
that nobody can do it better than you. Here are my tips to help gig workers and
entrepreneurs increase their presence, apologize less, and win more business.
Get Out There!
Nobody is going to find you
if you are not out there making yourself known. Go to networking events in your
area. Join Facebook groups for your industry. Use LinkedIn as an inexpensive
way to connect with peers and ex-colleagues. Let anyone and everyone know that
you are available and interested.
Be Strong!
Women often feel diminished
when they step off their career path. It is hard to go from the corner office
to working on your laptop at Starbucks. Never apologize or excuse the choices
you make in your life. Instead, own them and sell the experience as a positive point
of differentiation.
Stay Positive!
It may take a while to close
a deal or get your career back to where you left off. Those are the facts. Being on your own is
demanding and unpredictable. Get used to it, and realize that what you are
getting in terms of life balance more than makes up for the uncertainty.
Tread Water!
Let’s face reality. If you’ve
been out of the workforce for some time, you can’t cherry-pick your way through
projects. Just because you were a high-level strategist does not mean that you can
get gig work at that level. You may have to lower your expectations and take
what’s out there to keep your resume and skills fresh and sharp. Sometimes you
take work to just keep working.
Brush Up!
It is easier than ever to
take classes online and learn a new skill or keep your existing skills fresh.
There are You Tube videos for everything—for example, Gina built our first
website after watching tutorials.
With all these resources, it’s
truly possible to create a working life that incorporates flexibility, freedom
and meaningful work. Just remember to always think of yourself as a valuable
product, stay positive, and be adaptive enough to close deals.
And when the going gets
tough, don’t let the negative voices in your head win. Be like Gina and me—just
put on a smile, look strong and confident, and then become a master of quickly
learning what you need to know!
With the exception of my first female
manager, I have not had the opportunity to be inspired by the women I have
reported to in my career. Many have been so concerned with their own
ladder-climbing that they ignored the effort and talents of their teams.
Now before you click off my post, I
don’t share this to bash my own kind but rather to provide a wake-up call. A
genuine leader inspires, leads by example, is compassionate and flexible. She
is a coach – someone her team can count on when the chips are down or when the
elusive work-life balance is just that – elusive. She looks not to promote
herself but her team for in doing so, she will be elevated. It’s called karma.
A leader knows her capabilities and
is unafraid to admit her weaknesses. Being authentic is critical because in today’s
environment, millennials can spot a fake a mile away. Encouraging collaboration
not competition is how a team succeeds. A baseball game is not won solely by
the pitcher but by those in the outfield, behind second base and even those on
the bench cheering.
She is not created by textbooks or
TedTalks, but by experience, self-reflection and self-knowledge. One should not
be promoted into leadership solely for accomplishments but rather by the amount
of people scrambling to leave positions they love to work for someone that
inspires them. That’s the clue that this person is a leader.
“When you know better, you do better.”
Get to know yourself and your team. Lead as you would want to be led. When you
are able to let go of the leader “title” and embrace the true meaning of
leadership, then and only then can you be inspiring.
Upon graduating college, I was hired at the New York Stock
Exchange where I worked for over three years. It was a riveting, fast-paced
journey but ultimately one I didn’t feel passionate about. I had always longed
for a career in retail marketing, but quickly realized that a pivot from the
financial world wasn’t going to be easy. I interviewed with many renowned fashion
brands, but continually received feedback that my experience on Wall Street
just wouldn’t apply.
Determined not to give up, I found that the lessons learned
from my childhood horseback riding teacher would give me the confidence needed
to persevere. For much of my youth, I competitively rode horses, and my coach
Ruth had profound influence on me. She was, and still is, a remarkable woman of
true grit and gumption, and nearly a second mother to me. Ruth embodies a woman
with the utmost loyalty to herself, her beliefs and her dreams. The multiple
times I was thrown off a horse, Ruth gave me the courage and determination to
get back on right again – a metaphor that has extended into my adulthood many,
many times.
When faced with the initial rejection by the fashion
industry, it was the tenacity that Ruth imparted on me that kept me going. As
the old saying goes, “where there’s a will, there’s a way.” I ultimately pursued
my MBA in marketing to better position myself, after which I was hired by my
dream retail brand and had a decade-long career with. When my daughter was born
in 2016, I immediately knew I wanted a more flexible career that allowed me to
be with her each day. Again, the self-belief that Ruth showed me gave me the
fortitude to create this new lifestyle for myself, at which point I found The
Second Shift. Today, working with Jenny, Gina and the other women of The Second
Shift, I am surrounded by the same moxie that I so admire in Ruth, and am proud
to instill this strength in my daughter as she grows.
