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I grew up in a household where my parents never climbed a corporate ladder.
My dad finished high school, spent a few years at Louisville (Go Cardinals!) playing football before deciding that he was better suited to be a mechanic. He worked in auto shops, in welding, and then found his career in advanced machining where he worked for the same company for nearly 30 (!) years.
My dad was a badass. He raced motorbikes, cars, and did epic shit. I did not inherit his lack of anxiety and free spirit!
My mom finished high school and was so ready to get out of the house she took the first job she could find... working the deli counter at the local grocery. She worked all day in 110 degree printing presses, picked me up, and then went to cleaning office buildings at night with me in tow. She went on to get her Associate's Degree in Nursing and I've never seen her more proud than she was that day. She went from nursing job to nursing job, equally exhausted and destroying her body from working 12 hours shifts moving patients in the ICU.
My mom. In the words of Clueless, wasn't she a total Betty?!?
I grew up as an only child and the only in my family to do just about everything. My parents worked hard to move into the best school district around. They let me be exactly as I was and thought I was utterly brilliant even when I got a C in math once (which led to my people pleasing and perfecting tendencies 😂 ).
I used to be...blonde!
When it came time to go to college, I didn't have a clue about what corporate jobs were, let alone how to prepare for one. I had received the traditional career day advisory on "doctors, lawyers, engineers, creatives, and something called accountants." But that's where my professional knowledge ended.
I went to college and picked a major because a professor told me I'd be a great city planner. So into Urban Planning and Public Administration I went. No plan, no clue.
Once I graduated, I still had no idea what a corporate job was. I sold myself on my love of learning, my ability to communicate effectively, and my skill in solving problems that involved people not feeling seen or heard.
I landed my first job as an HR Coordinator at a unionized distribution center. I still remember calling my parents and telling them my new job title. My mom yelling to my dad, "She's going to be a secretary for employees in a personnel office!" 😂
Since then, I've spent 20 years navigating organizations of various sizes and industries through their people strategy. I've learned a lot about people (maybe too much!). And empathy. And about learning to accept playing the villain in someone's narrative (HR people know this well) And bias. And corporate toxicity (aka "politics"). And problem-solving.
As I've gotten more experience and watched thousands of employees' career trajectories, I started to put together the gaps that first generation college grads, corporate professionals, and other first titles experience.
Our parents didn't talk about the office at night. We didn't listen in on conversations about work politics, getting promoted, and raises.
Our families didn't pass down a tradition at a four-year college, prepping us for what lies ahead.
But nevertheless, we persist.
We become the best problem solvers because we've gotten used to researching until we learn.
We're empathetic and human-centered leaders who understand that everyone's home life doesn't look the same.
We're quick on our feet and work our hardest to make ourselves proud.
We hustle and troubleshoot until we achieve it.
I started my own business in 2021 so I could use all of the knowledge, skills, and insights I've picked up along the way to help other people in crafting their professional narrative through resumes, LinkedIn optimization, biographies, portfolios, non-jargony career advisory...and more.
Since I started my business, I've talked to (and worked with) a lot of first generation (insert titles). It's a reminder that we don't have to get around and over all of our barriers ourselves-- it's okay to lean in to others who have conquered and succeeded to get advice from.
At the end of the day, your career is more than just your job title or salary. It's about your story and building a path you're proud of while you exceed expectations.
📍Want authentic advice and insights on people + culture, job searching, and that 9-to-5 work life? Follow me on LinkedIn 🔔 and subscribe to my bi-weekly newsletter, Cup of Ambition!
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