Marietta Bryant– Meet our June Featured Member!

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Marietta Bryant was chosen as our Featured Member this month because we love the boldness of her pitch, her honesty with the client about her career path and overall optimistic attitude toward work and life. Marietta started to work with Ascent as a consultant on a part-time basis and that role recently became permanent– proving the model for temp-to-perm works for both our members and client companies. 

You have had a very interesting career that spanned different industries– what has surprised you most about your career path? When you started out did you think you would wind up where you are today?  

15 years ago, my first job after college was buying nuts and bolts- literally.  My only goals back then were to work hard, get out of purchasing and into marketing – and to see as much of the world as I could. 

Back then, I couldn’t predict the specifics. I didn’t know that I would be a wife and mother, a director in the oil and gas industry, or now a consultant-turned-marketing advisor to an exciting startup. But somewhere along the line, I figured out what I liked to do. I learned what I was good at – and more importantly, what I wasn’t – and after that I knew I could fall back on my old standby, hard work, to get me where I wanted to go. What surprises me the most, if I look back on my career to this point, is how strong the correlation is between my success and how honest I am with myself. 

What were the pivotal moments that caused you to change paths/ transition/ break with the trajectory of your career? 

Two key moments in my career shaped my journey; one early, one late.
Early on, after I moved into marketing, I was fortunate to represent my division in a corporate-wide rebrand. Witnessing the development of a new global brand from start to finish was eye-opening and lit the path to strategic marketing.
Later, around year 14, I chose to hang my career on a hook for a year. Everything I had worked toward was put on hold while I learned a new skill – becoming a mother. Because of my personal goal to spend as much time with my son as I can until he reaches school age- I was so thankful to find an organization like the Second Shift to help me get back into work while still having solid family time.   

You recently took a job through The Second Shift and it is a departure from what you have been doing in many ways– what made this seem like an opportunity you didn’t want to miss? 

After working with Ascent for a couple of months, they offered to work directly and I jumped on it. They’re an amazing group and they are so excited about their work that it’s hard not to want to be a part of the team. I felt it was a good fit for where I am in my career and personal life and what they need, and I can’t wait to watch the company grow.

Your pitch is below. Would love to know the thought process when crafting it and why you decided to address the time off you took off to raise your son. 

When I pitched for the job at Ascent I went all-in. After reading their job description I felt it was such a good fit (kind of like a dating profile!) that I wanted to make 100% sure it would work. So I was “me” as much as I could be. That’s also why I mentioned the recent gap year after my son’s birth. I figured; this is my life – this is my reality. If this is going to work for both of us (me, Ascent) then it has to be based on honesty and truth.

Good afternoon, My name is Marietta Bryant, and I have worked full-time in B2B marketing, most recently at the Director level, for nearly 15 years. My marketing career has been shaped by opportunities to build marketing departments from the ground-up. These opportunities have convinced me that this is all I want to do, which is why Ascent Leadership’s posting instantly appealed to me. I’ve pulled a few relevant highlights and grouped them into three categories below: CRM management, brand leadership, and project management, to showcase my abilities and excitement for working on this project. I have developed a public company’s Salesforce CRM platform and sales realization process from scratch, inclusive of lead generation, lead capture, opportunity management, account management, win/loss analysis, pricing, forecasting, and real-time reporting. Though I was responsible for development, I had to build strong relationships with the sales and customer service teams to ensure the system would be implemented and utilized effectively. This required multiple presentations, training sessions, and dedicated support to a 25-person team. In addition to CRM management, developing and maintaining a communications and brand strategy is a substantial piece of my work experience. Most recently, my company decided to change its name and brand upon having its IPO. This required my leadership to determine “who we are” and then to communicate this new identity to employees, customers, vendors, and investors. This change took place in phases and I led the team through each step of discovery and implementation. Once key messages and the new brand were agreed upon, the visual evolution could take place: signage and internal stationery, digital (web, social media, newsletters), trade shows and events, press releases, published content (articles, blogs), marketing collateral and brochures, and corporate brand standards. I wrote and/or proofread, all content, and designed some pieces as well. Finally, working on such large-scale projects required strong organizational and project management skills. Whether I am leading a team or working independently, every project has multiple objectives, inputs, outputs, and customers, and staying on track and on budget are always a top priority. For the two examples listed above – CRM management and brand/communications strategy – I was able to hand off work seamlessly to members of my team when needed, as well as give regular, succinct updates to management. I sincerely believe I could help Ascent Leadership to achieve its marketing goals. In addition, this role would be an excellent opportunity for me personally as I would love to learn more about the organization and its customer base. I do live in the midwest currently, but could make occasional trips to New York as needed.  Of course I hope I am the right fit – regardless, I wish you the best of luck in your search. Kind regards, Marietta Bryant

Thank you so much Marietta. We wish you the best of luck in your new venture and thank you for your willingness to share your thoughts and process with our community. 

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Learn to Speak “man” and other work hacks from a pro!

Equinox CEO Niki Leondakis knows a lot about being a woman in a male dominated industry and shares tips for women feeling insecure with unequal gender dynamics at work. 

“Leondakis’s advice? “Don’t let it psyche you out,” she said. “Don’t let the noise that that creates in your head stop you from being an active contributor. Make sure that you continue to engage. Lean into the conversation and assert your point of view.” The key is to look people directly in the eye, she added, and eventually, they will pick up on the fact that you’re someone who deserves their attention.

While there are steps men can and should take to make sure women feel more included in conversations, Leondakis said women can do things to meet men where they are, as well. She likens it to learning a new language in a foreign country — in this case, a male-dominated culture. “Don’t lose who you are, but learn to speak the language,” she said.”

Read the whole article here:

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Well here is some good news for women—a New York Post article shouts out women in their 40s and 50s who face both age and sex discrimination when they are at the most capable point in their careers! One of our core values is to be a grown up and there is a reason why…

“The truth is midlife women, with all that experience under their belts, who have ridden the rapids of family life and juggled duty and caring, make the most terrific employees. As one senior woman in financial services told me: “Of course I can handle difficult clients. I’m the mother of 15-year-old twins for heaven’s sake. I can handle anything!”

Thats why we are here to provide opportunities for this group of women— because they’ve earned it.

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Meet Anu Agrawal– May’s Second Shift Featured Member

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Anu Agrawal is a fantastic example of the women in our extraordinary talent pool and how The Second Shift is growing by leaps every day. Anu joined us early, way back in 2015, with a stellar background in strategic marketing. She regularly pitched for jobs that fit her skills and experience yet she struggled to find the right project.  Undeterred she asked us for advice on how to tailor her pitches to highlight her background in a way that works for a broader range of clients. 

Recently Anu landed her first gig working with Philz coffee. What made us so happy about this match was that Philz initially only wanted to work with someone in the Bay Area, however, Anu’s background was perfect and they reconsidered and hired her to work remotely. Ultimately this is a win/win/win for all parties and we are glad Anu was tenacious and patient and our client was open to thinking out-of-the-box for their hiring needs. Here Anu shares her experience and advice with other members who might be frustrated by not getting projects or finding the fit. Congrats Anu! 

What initially attracted you to The Second Shift and the consulting life?

Like many of us, I made the decision to leave corporate life to be at home full-time with my kids. As the kids have gotten older, it has been the perfect opportunity to re-enter the workforce.  I began consulting a few years ago and it has been a great way of transitioning back to my career. 

I was introduced to Second Shift by a friend a couple of years ago. I was very attracted to it as the name said it all.  I was looking for a Second Shift. I love how it is a company that caters to the lifestyles many of us want. No justification required.

What has been the biggest challenge you face as a consultant?

Honestly, I really haven’t faced a huge challenge as a consultant. Initially,  friends who have start-ups supported me and helped me get back into the game. I was worried that it would be hard, but then soon realized that my traditional marketing background was still relevant and actually strongly appreciated by my clients.

You recently landed your first gig through The Second Shift after pitching for many many jobs… yay! What advice do you have for members getting frustrated by mismatched job results or unsuccessful pitching?

My main advice to your members is to keep on pitching and don’t get discouraged. Pitching is part of the work and you have to trust the process. With every pitch I made, I gained insights into what the marketing need is and how I  can position myself to meet this need. Also, as I researched companies I was pitching to, I learned more about what I am interested in. I think another important element in pitching is always having an authentic voice.

Now that you have started this job– what advice do you have for your fellow members about negotiating and then onboarding in a consulting role?

When negotiating, figure out the rate that you believe makes the most sense. Do not under-value yourself just to get a job. In the onboarding process, it is important to make the Statement of Work (SOW) as clear as possible related to payment terms, length of the project, etc.

What has your experience working with The Second Shift been like? 

Second Shift has been an amazing company to work with. Anytime I have needed anything, I have gotten the support I needed. Even though it is growing every day,  Second Shift treats you like a person and not another resume.

Thank you Anu. We are grateful to have you in our member community and keep up the good work! Please remember that word of mouth is our best vetting process–please spread The Second Shift to your friends, colleagues, alumni networks. Let’s all make work work for us! 

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For Our Wolf Pack!

Have you listened to Abby Wambach’s commencement address to the 2018 graduates of Barnard College? She focuses on her career and how women are socialized from a young age to be grateful for what they get, no matter how hard they worked for it. That lack of confidence and feeling of obsequious gratitude directly influences our careers and results in unequal pay and opportunities for advancement. We see it all the time–senior-level women with deep expertise who sell themselves short because they are grateful for any opportunity to work. Sound familiar?

“Like all little girls, I was taught to be grateful. I was taught to keep my head down, stay on the path, and get my job done. I was freaking Little Red Riding Hood.

You know the fairy tale: It’s just one iteration of the warning stories girls are told the world over. Little Red Riding Hood heads off through the woods and is given strict instructions: Stay on the path. Don’t talk to anybody. Keep your head down hidden underneath your Handmaid’s Tale cape.

And she does… at first. But then she dares to get a little curious and she ventures off the path. That’s of course when she encounters the Big Bad Wolf and all hell breaks loose. The message is clear: Don’t be curious, don’t make trouble, don’t say too much or BAD THINGS WILL HAPPEN…..

If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing it would be this:“Abby, you were never Little Red Riding Hood; you were always the wolf.”

Love that so much and it just gets better from there. No spoilers here– it’s worth watching the whole speech for yourself. But, here is one more section that aligns perfectly with our Second Shift ethos. 

“As you go out into the world: Amplify each others’ voices. Demand seats for women, people of color and all marginalized people at every table where decisions are made. Call out each other’s wins and just like we do on the field: claim the success of one woman, as a collective success for all women.

Joy. Success. Power. These are not pies where a bigger slice for her means a smaller slice for you. These are infinite. In any revolution, the way to make something true starts with believing it is. Let’s claim infinite joy, success, and power—together.

Wolf Pack: Her Victory is your Victory. Celebrate it.”

We give the gift of this speech to you. Enjoy it!

 http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2018/05/21/abby-wambachs-commencement-speech-at-barnard-college-failure-is-fuel

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It’s all good

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Last night Jenny took part in a panel discussion with Well + Good founder Alexia Brue and early childhood expert Dr. Tovah Klein about “crushing” work and motherhood. It was a fascinating discussion about the way women change once they have children and how workplaces can adapt to retain their critical participation.  Read the re-cap below or the original story here: 

These were the big topics of discussion last night at Well+Good’s latest TALK, our monthly series of deep and super-frank conversations with wellness experts.

A sold-out crowd gathered at The Assemblage to hear Well+Good CEO and co-founder Alexia Brue, early childhood expert Tovah Klein, PhD, and founder of career site Second Shift Jenny Galluzzo talk through some hard questions about the delicate balancing act of being career-driven and being a mom.

It was a can’t-miss conversation—but we can catch you up! Here’s their best advice for living life like a boss, at home and at work.

1. Realize there’s more to your identity than being an employee or a mom

“[Becoming a parent] is a huge identity shift no one can really prepare you for—even if you always wanted to become a mom,” says  Dr. Klein, the author of How Toddlers Thrive and director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development. “Data says that the more ways you define yourself, the better off you will be That way, if one part of your life isn’t going so well, you still have those other parts of you.”

Remembering that you are more than your job, more than a partner, more than a mom, and more than any of the many labels many define themselves by is a tip parents of kids of all ages can put into practice.

2. Have an honest conversation with your boss about what you need and want

Galluzzo—a former on-air producer for Good Morning America, News 12 The Bronx, and Plum TV—founded Second Shift to give women in high-powered careers that are not traditionally mom-friendly a way to do the things they love at a pace that works for them as a parent. Her advice for climbing the corporate ladder while parenting: Present your dream scenario to your boss and how it benefits the company.

Get real about the reasons why you’re irreplaceable and why keeping you on—even if it means a slightly more flexible schedule—will save them money (hey, hiring and training new people is not cheap) and best serve the team.

3. A closed door is not a clear boundary between working and parenting

Or maybe you think working from home is the way to go. “We all dream that flexibility is the key to our lives, and there is truth to that,” Dr. Klein says. “Having a 9-to-5 job is hard when you have kids. But flexibility is a double-edged sword.” One problem? Many women end up feeling like they are never doing enough. “Women feel they have to do double the work to show they are working hard enough,” Dr. Klein says.

“By the time a child has a sense of self, around 15 months, they have no concept of you closing the door to work. They don’t understand why you don’t want to be with them.” — Tovah Klein, PhD.

Another problem: Children can’t understand why, if you’re home, your attention isn’t all on them. “By the time a child has a sense of self, around 15 months, they have no concept of you closing the door to work. They just see it as rejection, and that’s true for 2-, 5-, and 8-year-olds,” Dr. Klein says. “They don’t understand why you don’t want to be with them.”

Her advice: Make the workspace boundaries clear (and no, a closed door doesn’t count). Galluzzo offers up several ways to do this: “There are so many different types of office shares and spaces now,” she says. Or, do your work at a coffee shop. At least any crying kids there won’t be your own.

4. Think of your household like a business

Of course, not all the responsibilities at home should fall on you, right? “A lot of women take on a lot of responsibility without asking for help,” Dr. Klein says. If you want your partner to help out, speak up—and be clear when you do so.

Galluzzo recommends thinking of your household like a business. Sexy? No. Effective? Totally. “Responsibilities have to be divided and shared. There are deadlines,” she says, when referring to who signs the field trip permissions and who is packing lunches. “It’s helpful to say, ‘Here’s the week. Here’s what you’re doing and here’s what I’m doing.‘”

5. Focus on quality time with your kids, not quantity

Dr. Klein revealed a key piece of knowledge that will make every mom feel better: “With the exception of newborns, children don’t need you all the time. They don’t measure their relationship with you in time.”

Instead of feeling guilty for not being home every day when your son or daughter gets home from school, Dr. Klein says to focus on the time you do have with your kids and make it count. Put your phone away and lavish them with your love. “You can build in the message of ‘I love you and I’m here for you’ without picking them up from school,” she says.

Galluzzo points out that there are big, institutional changes that still need to be made. (A start: nixing 5 p.m. meetings and not judging work performance just on who works the longest hours.) The career-motherhood balancing act is precarious and not always going to be walked perfectly—and that’s okay. But these tips should make it a little bit easier to navigate. And remember, you’re not walking it alone.

Special thanks to our partners Herbivore, Aura Cacia, Weleda, Davids Natural Toothpaste, The Great Lakes Goods, Vital Proteins, The Honey Pot, Ursa Major, Moodbeli, ZOYA Nail Polish, MONQ, Urbana Mala, and HATCH, who provided amazing goodies for the gift bags.

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Do’s and Don’t of Pitching

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Helpful information to keep in mind when crafting your pitch. 

When writing your pitch think about it as your personal “elevator pitch” tailored to the specifics of that particular role.

DO’S

  • Say where you have worked and in what role as it relates to the specific job.
  • Show off what you did that was successful for past clients/ employers.
  • Add in any relevant information that will make you stand out especially if you have personal experience /interest in the company.
  • Pitch for jobs that you want even if you don’t have every single requirement listed—if you ever have questions about this reach out to us!
  • Take time to carefully craft your pitch, check for typos and make it shine!

Reach out to members@thesecondshift.com if you have any questions about your suitability, rate, and location ahead of pitching.

DON’TS

  • Cut and paste the same pitch for every job.
  • Put in personal information that is not relevant for the actual job.
  • Sell yourself short by pointing what you can’t do or what skills you don’t have.
  • Pitch on the fly without proof-reading.
  • Forget to use specifics ie: the name of past clients/employers, what your job was and how you rocked that job.

TAILOR YOUR PITCH—Questions to ask yourself as you write your pitch.

  • What about this company/position attracts you to this role?
  • What specific experience in your background qualifies you to this role? And where?
  • How do you see tackling this job and what makes you the perfect person to do it?
  • What skills/experience do you have, outside of what is on your resume, that makes you a good candidate for the role.
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