Birthday Party to Career Sponsorship: A Journey of Connection
“You never know what seemingly small event in your life will have a big impact on the rest of your life. For me, it was accepting an invitation to a 3rd birthday party with my daughter that changed how I spent the rest of my career.”
Executive Vice President at M&T Realty Capital Corporation, Christine Chandler shared a bit of her journey with me during our Road Show stop in Washington D.C.:
“You never think you’ll meet your sponsor while playing a game with Barney themes in the background, but connection and networking take many forms. We lived in the same town but didn’t know each other before this party. My sponsor was the person who constantly encouraged me to do more and talked to other people about the things they knew I could do – even if I didn’t yet. Someone who constantly pushed me to do things outside my comfort zone and encouraged me to take my current COO position.”
“Even though they’ve retired now, I keep that mindset. It may be uncomfortable, but keep pushing yourself to try new things. Make it a priority to find that one person to be your sponsor and champion. Sometimes it's a group, but often it’s one or two people who support and encourage you through these changes.”
“I’d tell my younger self now: don’t be afraid to take a risk. When you think you’re putting something you’ve worked your whole life towards for something that’s not a sure thing, go for it. You don’t get ahead in your career unless you take risks. Especially as a woman, it can be scary to take those risks. You think you have to have all 10 credentials for your dream job and can't even apply without all 10. A man will jump all in with just 1 or 2 of the requirements.”
“I’ve grown a lot since my last headshots in 2016. Alissa let me know that she’d be coming to D.C. on her Road Show and I said you know what? It’s time to invest. I wanted to have a decent headshot. She did a great job. The style she uses is very different. I didn’t realize that she would play the music I loved to make me feel comfortable and it helped set the mood a little bit. The whole process has been fantastic. I highly recommend anyone that wants a headshot to get them done with her.”
Thank you, Christine, for sharing your wisdom with us.