Career Path Development

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐝𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐲? Of all the topics people ask me about, executive presence is near the top of the list. The challenge with executive presence is that it’s hard to define. It’s not a checklist you can tick off. It’s more like taste or intuition. Some people develop it early. Others build it over time. More often, it’s a lack of context, coaching, or exposure to what “good” looks like. Here’s what I’ve learned over the years, both from getting it wrong and from watching others get it right. 1. 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 People early in their careers often feel the need to prove they know the details. But executive presence isn’t about detail. It’s about clarity. If your message would sound the same to a peer, your manager, and your CEO, you’re not tailoring it enough. Meet your audience where they are. 2. 𝐔𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Executives care about outcomes, strategy, and alignment. One of my teammates once struggled with this. Brilliant at the work, but too deep in the weeds to communicate its impact. With coaching, she learned to reframe her updates, and her influence grew exponentially. 3. 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 Every meeting has an undercurrent: past dynamics, relationships, history. Navigating this well often requires a trusted guide who can explain what’s going on behind the scenes. 4. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 Just because something is your entire world doesn’t mean others know about it. I’ve had conversations where I assumed someone knew what I was talking about, but they didn't. Context is a gift. Give it freely. 5. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Early in my career, I brought problems to my manager. Now, I appreciate the people who bring potential paths forward. It’s not about having the perfect solution. It’s about showing you’re engaged in solving the problem. 6. 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 Every leader is solving a different set of problems. Step into their shoes. Show how your work connects to what’s top of mind for them. This is how you build alignment and earn trust. 7. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 Years ago, a founder cold emailed me. We didn’t know each other, but we were both Duke alums. That one point of connection turned a cold outreach into a real conversation. 8. 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 Before you walk into a meeting, ask yourself what outcome you’re trying to drive. Wandering conversations erode credibility. Precision matters. So does preparation. 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 Executive presence isn’t about dominating a room or having all the answers. It’s about clarity, connection, and conviction. And like any muscle, it gets stronger with intentional practice.

Are you really happy in your career, or are you just stuck in a path because it’s comfortable? Our priorities shift, and so should our careers. It’s not weak to change direction. It’s a sign of growth and a willingness to align what you do with who you’ve become. 9 Steps to Changing Your Career Path: 1. Reevaluate your priorities ↳ Does your current job align with what matters to you now? 2. Identify your core values ↳ What do you stand for today? Does your career reflect that? 3. Understand the financial impact ↳ What’s the real cost of switching? How will it affect your lifestyle? 4. Leverage your existing skills ↳ How can you apply what you already know in a new industry? 5. Network with those in the field ↳ Learn from people who are already doing what you want to do. 6. Test the waters ↳ Take on side projects or freelance work to get a feel for the change. 7. Update your personal brand ↳ Revamp your LinkedIn and resume to reflect your new direction. 8. Set clear goals and timelines ↳ Make the transition with purpose and action. 9. Let go of the past ↳ Release limiting beliefs about your career and identity. The best time to pivot is when you feel that discomfort. It’s a sign of something better ahead. When was the last time you thought about changing your career?

Most of us get at least 1 opportunity that changes our career trajectory; I am not referring to the biggest/ largest role we do but the role that prepares us for these bigger, larger roles. It is the role that sets us up for the future.   For me, it was moving from an HR Head role for a mid-size company in India where I managed a large team to an individual contributor role where I would work in a specialized area but at a global scale within the same company. I was advised by many not to pursue it but I was open. What was the attraction – it would allow me to work with HR & Business Leaders of over 50 countries and it was a new role; so I could shape it.   I got experiences I could have never imagined for myself. Conducting a goal setting workshop for the leadership team in Japan; piloting a leadership program for Western Europe and conducting a performance management training for the Bangladesh team. I worked with colleagues from so many different cultures and backgrounds. I changed – both personally and professionally. I was humbled with everything I didn't know. I learned how to adapt, I became less judgmental and a lot more open minded.   The role also gave me an opportunity to work with very senior leaders and it was a booster immersion in how they think; the questions they ask and how they make decisions. Most importantly, I learned to operate without authority. And that helped me do my next role better.   Here are 4 of my biggest learnings:   1. Don't judge roles by size/ scale; think about the potential to impact. A larger role (textbook definition) doesn’t always result in higher impact - the context is very important. 2. Careers are about skill stacking. And instead of mastering one skill, we need to take a step back from our core strength and build a winning combination of skill sets that are unique to us and make us more effective. 3. Experience is different from experiences. Too often we define learning very narrowly in the professional context. Joining a well settled team and making your place in it; managing demanding peers; building a team or keeping it intact in challenging times; navigating a large & complex organization; working for an inspiring leader; managing conflicting priorities of different stakeholders. These are all experiences. 4. Be open, take risks - it is a key quality in managing our careers successfully. And we all need some discomfort to help us reach our full potential. #experiences #careers

Almost every time I speak with juniors or college students, I get asked the same question: “I’m not sure what field I want to work in. How do I decide what to do?” It’s a completely normal feeling — and honestly, I’ve been there too. When I first entered college, I had no clue what specialization to take or what career path to pursue. But here’s the truth: You don’t need to have it all figured out right away. What you need is a plan to explore and narrow it down. Here’s what I tell anyone who asks: 📍 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 — 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 List a few things you genuinely enjoy or find intriguing — like writing, data analysis, designing, or public speaking. Don’t worry about how they translate into a career just yet Action Step: Write down your interests without worrying about how they translate into a career. The point is to recognize your natural inclinations. 📍 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 Try out your interests through short-term activities like joining a club, taking a beginner’s course, or volunteering for a project. Give it 2–4 weeks and see if you enjoy the process Action Step: Try something for 2–4 weeks and assess: Did you enjoy the process? Did it feel meaningful? 📍 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘁 Reach out to people working in fields you’re curious about. Ask about their day-to-day work, the skills they use, and what they enjoy or dislike about their roles Action Step: Message 3 professionals on LinkedIn and politely ask for a 15-minute chat. Most people are willing to help if you’re genuinely curious and respectful of their time. 📍 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀 Identify the skills you want to develop rather than getting stuck on job titles. Whether it’s data analysis, storytelling, or management, skills are transferable and will shape your career regardless of the role Action Step: Pick one skill you’re curious about and spend an hour a week learning or practicing it. 📍 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗶𝘃𝗼𝘁 Your first choice doesn’t have to be your final choice. Reflect every few months to see if you’re still enjoying your current path. It’s okay to change directions as you learn more Action Step: Set a reminder to reflect every 3 months: Are you still enjoying your current path? If not, what’s next? The Bottom Line: You don’t have to know your exact career path at 20. Just focus on exploring, learning, and building foundational skills — the clarity will follow. To everyone feeling overwhelmed — take it one step at a time. And remember, not having it all figured out is okay — it’s part of the journey. What’s one career option you’re currently exploring? Share below — I’d love to hear your thoughts!👇 #CareerAdvice #CollegeTips #FindingYourPath #SkillBuilding #CareerExploration #EarlyCareerInsights

A colleague recently asked me what I know today that I wish I would have known at the beginning of my career with the firm. I found it to be a profound and thought-provoking question, especially in light of everything I’ve learned during my 24-year career here. My husband has a theory that our lives are shaped by eight decisions. Those decisions are different and unique for each of us, but anyone of us can look back at any stage of their life and point to the eight critical decisions that made a huge difference. When I reflect on my eight decisions, they have to do with who I partnered with and, what I didn't know then but realize now, is the impact they would have. Joining Edward Jones is certainly one of those eight decisions – I believe that my life turned on when I came here. That decision felt like the right thing to do 24 years ago and has felt like the right thing every day since. (And as you can tell from the way my husband thinks, partnering with him and our family was the BEST decision ever!) With this perspective in mind, here are a few things I wish I’d known back then that I know today: - I should never disqualify myself or downplay my passions, enthusiasm, skills or ideas. I’ve got what it takes, and who I am today is enough. - At the same time, I recognize there is always a lot to learn, all the time, from lots of people. And yes, these first two things can both be true at once. - Being fearless is good…but fearing less is even better. What is there to fear? Making a mistake? Looking like I don’t know something? Those aren’t things to be afraid of. We all make mistakes, and I’ve never claimed to know everything. - Be bolder. Period. - You never know when you’re making an important difference for someone. An action may seem small, but it may happen at a meaningful time for someone else. Be fully present. Be where your feet are. Finally, and importantly, I understand that the opportunity to make a difference in the world is a blessing, and I can decide every day how much of a difference I want to make. When I arrange my commitments and my calendar according to my purpose and passions, I can make a bigger impact. And that’s what I choose to do. The ways that people at the firm have changed my life is something I aspire to do for others. I’m paying it forward. I’m grateful to the colleague who asked me this question. It created a wonderful opportunity to center myself on the blessings I have because of my career here, and the work we get to do together on behalf of the 8 million clients we serve.

The most dangerous career strategy in 2025: Following a path that worked for everyone before you. Over the last few weeks, my inbox has been flooded with messages of strife and anxiety from brilliant people blindsided by layoffs. To be honest, there is very little I can say to many. Most played the game of life perfectly. They went to great schools, got good grades, landed prestigious jobs, and worked hard. Their stories raises a critical question: What if it's not just specific jobs disappearing, but a fundamental flaw in how we've viewed careers and success? The linear world we've grown accustomed to is abruptly being disrupted. The ladders that guaranteed safety and success no longer hold their promise. For decades, we've operated under the belief that: → Business success comes from perfect execution → Career paths follow logical progression → Expertise can reliably predict the future My friend Gaetan recently said: "What if success was always more random than we wanted to believe? What if strategic planning was always more about the illusion of control than actual causality?" Navigating uncertainty now requires us to: → Judge the quality of our decisions not just results → Embrace uncertainty over false certainty → Recognize success as probabilistic For individuals navigating this shift: → Build skill portfolios, not linear paths → Combine skills uniquely; avoid single specialties → Design for uncertainty, not control → Test multiple career options → Adapt quickly; don’t chase perfection → Diversify income streams Following these principles won't just help you withstand career shocks, it makes you antifragile, allowing you to grow stronger from volatility and stress. The human cost of layoffs extends beyond financial insecurity; it's the painful realization that playing by the rules perfectly was never a guaranteed protection. Yet within this destabilizing reality lies a massive opportunity: to redefine success itself. Success shouldn't be a singular path to follow, but the freedom to create multiple paths of your own design. The true cost of clinging to old models isn't just stalling your career; it's missing the chance to discover who you might become when you stop following and start creating.

What actually makes a good career development conversation? Hint: It’s not an adhoc agenda item sprung on you during a standard one-on-one with your line manager! A truly meaningful career discussion requires dedicated time, thoughtful preparation, and radical honesty from both sides. If you're putting one on the calendar soon, here are three questions I highly recommend introducing to move past the usual scripts: "𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞?" Growth doesn't always mean moving to a new team; it can mean expanding your network or building a new capability right where you are. It can also mean creating opportunities for others on your team.  Need to make time to take on a new assignment that helps your growth? Consider transitioning a project or responsibility to someone else on your team to help them build their capabilities. "𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝?" We make too many corporate assumptions here. Is it about financial reward, public praise, more responsibility or a quiet thank you? Ask directly and answer honestly. "𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤-𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐰?" Careers are marathons not sprints, and they happen against the backdrop of real life. Whether it's caring for young children (or elderly parents) or navigating personal challenges, your development plan needs to reflect your current season of life. Growth doesn’t have to look just one way. Career conversations are a shared responsibility and a continuous partnership. If you invest the time in having a thoughtful conversation, you may be surprised at the outcome! #LeadershipLessons

I'm 3 years and 2 full-time jobs into my early career journey. Here are 3 lessons I've learned along the way to help motivate the soon-to-be/ new college graduate who's scared of what their future holds: 1) It's okay and never too late to pivot Spring semester of my senior year, I decided to make a career change from maternal and child health to tech. I dove into my job search with a loose plan, lots of manifestation, and a healthy dose of delusion. What's not seen is the 100s of crappy applications I submitted, a job offer I had to turn down, and the endless job rejections until I finally landed my offer at TikTok. My career pivot and the realization that there weren't a lot of early career resources for new grads led to the creation of The Ninth Semester blog, ultimately leading to my new career path in early career recruiting. One decision I made in college has positively impacted my career ever since and now I get to help 150,000 early career professionals navigate their careers. 2) It's okay to be multi-passionate, that's your superpower I used to (and sometimes still do) feel embarrassed for having an inconsistent career path. I went from a communications internship at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC, Inc. → a marketing internship at Penguin Random House → a public relations internship at Ulta Beauty → advertising at TikTok → early career recruiting/employer branding at WayUp. I quickly had to learn the art of painting a story with my career experiences and learned that my diverse career path is what makes me unique. There are skills, software, and niche industry knowledge that I've learned from every role that helped me become a well-rounded early career candidate. There's no shame in wanting to learn and explore something different, especially if you're able to take the lessons from past roles into a new one. Identifying and highlighting my transferrable skills has helped a lot with my career confidence. but the biggest lesson I learned? 3)You're on your own timeline. It was hard watching my classmates land opportunities before graduation while I was on my 20th job rejection of the month. Every step I took, including the mistakes I made on my first post-grad job hunt, brought me to where I am today. I wasn't "behind" or a "failure" - it just wasn't my time yet. And that's scary to believe when you're afraid of never landing a job and everyone around you is constantly talking about how the job market is trash. It's easier said than done, but you have to keep going. Even if you have to take breaks from applying or try something unconventional like a TikTok video resume (like me lol) to break through the void of endless job rejections. Or get real with yourself about what's working/what's not and make changes. But trust me, you WILL find a job and you will land exactly where you need to be. Everything always falls into place. #classof2024 #classof2025 #entryleveljobs #internships #jobhuntingtips #postgrad

If I were starting a new PROJECT today and wanted to plan it with ZERO prior knowledge, I'd do this: Step 1: Define Your Objective • Clearly articulate what success looks like for the project. • Break down the high-level goal into smaller, manageable milestones. • Ensure the objective aligns with stakeholders' expectations to avoid misalignment later. Step 2: Build Your Plan Backwards and Leverage Historical Data Most people skip this step entirely. But this is a huge mistake—because you risk creating a plan that doesn’t align with deadlines, resources, or realistic expectations. Here’s how: • Start from the final deliverable and work backward to define the timeline. • Gather and review historical data or similar project examples to understand typical timelines and challenges. • Identify key dependencies and create a logical sequence for tasks. • Use project planning tools (like Gantt charts or Kanban boards) to visualize your plan. • Clearly define roles and responsibilities for each stage. Pro tip: Don’t forget to account for buffer time—projects rarely go 100% as planned. Step 3: Identify Risks and Create a Mitigation Plan This isn't easy. But if you can do this, you will get: • Clarity on potential roadblocks before they derail progress. • Stakeholder confidence in your ability to deliver. • A proactive, problem-solving mindset that boosts your credibility. Here's a quick way to do this: List out possible risks, evaluate their impact and likelihood, and create a plan to minimize or respond to them. Collaborate with your team to spot any blind spots. Don't skip this step. It took me months of trial and error (and some chaos) to crystallize these steps—hope this helps! 🚀

I had a 6-page pros and cons list. New job. More money. Bigger title. But something felt off. It wasn’t fear—it was something deeper. And the question that cut through it all was this: “Am I running FROM something or running TO something?” The quality of your career isn’t shaped by the opportunities you say yes to. It’s shaped by the questions you ask yourself before you decide. So here are some of the questions I’ve asked myself at every turning point in my career: 1. When you're thinking of quitting... “Am I running from something or running to something?” “If nothing changes in six months, can I live with that?” 2. When you're offered a new opportunity... “Would I still take this if the title and salary were the same?” “Does this move me closer to the life I want—or just the one that looks good?” 3. When you feel overlooked or underused... “Have I actually asked for what I want—or just hoped someone would notice?” “What version of myself am I showing them—my current one, or the one from five years ago?” 4. When you’ve just been promoted... “Do I enjoy the work—or just the recognition that came with it?” “What part of this role gives me energy?” 5. When you're managing people for the first time... “Am I trying to be perfect—or just present?” “What would I need from me if I were on this team?” 6. When you’re constantly busy but don’t feel accomplished... “Am I producing real impact—or just staying in motion?” “What would change if I believed my time was valuable?” 7. When you want more visibility but feel awkward asking... “Who needs to know what I’ve done—but doesn’t yet?” “What’s one small way I can advocate for myself this week?” 8. When the job no longer aligns with your values... “What part of myself have I muted to stay comfortable here?” “What would I be proud to say at a dinner table about what I do?” 9. When you’re on a career break—by choice or not... “What parts of me have I rediscovered that I don’t want to lose again?” “What do I want more of in my next chapter—and what’s non-negotiable now?” 10. When you’re returning from parental leave or a sabbatical... “What boundaries do I need now that I didn’t before?” “What do I want to reintroduce intentionally—and what can stay gone?” 11. When you're bored but afraid of change... “What would I try if I weren’t afraid of starting over?” “Am I more afraid of change—or staying the same?” You don’t have to figure it all out today. You don’t need a 10-step plan. Sometimes clarity doesn’t come from a perfect plan. But maybe—just maybe—you need to ask yourself a better question. So if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or restless… You don’t need to fix everything. Stop asking "What should I do next?" Start by asking better questions. What’s the one question you asked yourself that changed everything?