Ever since I was a little girl I was always self-determined. Whether it was organizing plays with the kids in my neighborhood or taking leadership roles in my high school Interact or Drama Club, I always found ways to use my innate skills or passion for the greater good. So when I found myself a young mother of 3 and in a career that had started to plateau, I knew I had to take action to change my narrative.
I had been in the financial services field for about 7 years in various roles from account management to product development but my love for writing and connecting with people led me to desire a career in marketing. So I began to search for new positions in marketing both within the company I worked for and outside of the organization but when nothing palatable turned up, I took another approach.
I began to find ways to showcase my marketing abilities in the role I was in. This meant volunteering to help on special projects that involved writing, brainstorming creative solutions and interacting with the marketing team I so wanted to be a part of. Soon, my marketing skills became visible to the broader organization and coupled with earning a prestigious company award for a previous project, I was fast becoming known outside of my department.
Within a year an opportunity became available for an entry level marketing manager in the organization and I was top of mind for the hiring manager. I took on the new role with ease as it was something I was naturally good at and very passionate about. I quickly expanded my knowledge and skills significantly within the first year. However, as I did this I knew I would eventually outgrow the role and needed to hedge my qualifications to position myself for future growth.
Therefore, upon the advice of a very good friend who I also consider my mentor, I embarked on a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing. Within 2 years I had completed the program and a year later, I was blessed to move into a senior level marketing role in another company which nearly doubled my annual income. However, more valuable than the compensation, was the confidence I gained knowing I had the education and experience to effectively compete for jobs in a field which just 4 years prior I had no “official” experience in….only the vision and passion.
My advice to queens seeking to enter a field or career that you are passionate about and believe you can be great at is, first do your research on how to get your foot in the door in that field even if it means taking a lower level position. Then strategically arm yourself with the necessary competency to excel in that field including advancing your education, taking certificates/classes or seeking advice from people you trust who are in similar roles. Once you align your passion with a strategic and actionable plan, you are bound to be victorious in the end.
Signed by,
A Queen