As a marketing executive with more than 15 years of experience helping companies connect with the head and the heart of their customers to drive revenue, I know that navigating career growth as a woman in sales, marketing, revenue operations, or customer success can be both rewarding and challenging. According to Grant Thornton International, women hold 32.4% of senior positions – more than ever before! But the growth rate has stagnated, increasing just a smidge – half a percent – since 2022. Breaking through requires strategic planning, intentional actions, tapping into supportive communities, better policies and more. Every woman deserves a clear path to success, and fortunately, Women in Revenue is here to help. In this blog post, I’ll share four actionable steps I’ve learned along the way to help you grow in your career and take your rightful place in leadership with confidence and purpose. They are…
- Become a Vocal Champion of Your Impact
- Align Your Career Goals with Company Objectives
- Build Your Personal Brand with Intentionality
- Leverage A Side Hustle to Gain Diverse Experiences
Become a Vocal Champion of Your Impact
Being a silent doer who quietly excels isn’t enough to drive your career forward. You need to communicate your impact – loudly! People are often overlooked for promotions or other opportunities because leaders aren’t aware of them. Managers can be too overwhelmed to invest in the growth ambitions of every individual on their team. What is in your control is making sure you are someone that can easily be seen.
Don’t assume your good work will be noticed. I spent far too long in my career making this mistake. Speak up about your accomplishments in meetings or team settings or ask to present in team all-hands. If that makes you uncomfortable, consider that articulating your accomplishments is not boasting but highlighting value to the organization. For example, sending out regular slacks about little wins can help keep you and your work top of mind. But don’t focus on what you did. A list of activities won’t impress anyone. Keep the focus on business impact. Explore other techniques for executive presence to successfully navigate the corporate world.
Find an advocate to help you amplify. A mentor or sponsor who is on your side can help open doors. Something that helps attract a sponsor? Having a strong personal brand (see above). Obtaining a sponsor is one of the best tactics to advance your career. Professionals with sponsors are 23% more likely to receive a promotion compared to their peers. Check out this article for other suggestions on how to find one.
Align Your Career Goals With Company Objectives
Career growth is most effective when your personal goals align with your organization’s objectives. Understanding how your role contributes to the bigger picture helps you position yourself as a valuable asset.
Understand your company’s business and how they make money. Even if you’re not in the C-suite or finance, if you want to pursue leadership opportunities in your company, you need to understand your company’s business and how they make money. Familiarize yourself with your company’s mission, vision, and strategic goals. Read annual reports, attend company meetings, and speak with leaders to understand where the organization is headed. Showing you understand and care about the company’s future is a great way to stoke interest in you for future leadership opportunities.
Create a personal development plan. Based on your organization’s objectives, outline a personal development plan that includes specific goals, timelines, and the skills or experiences needed to achieve them. For example, if your organization is focusing on digital transformation, consider learning new tools or methodologies that can add value. Regularly review and adjust your plan in collaboration with your manager or mentor to ensure your plan stays relevant.
Seek out high-visibility projects. Volunteering for high-visibility projects that align with company goals is a great way to showcase your skills and get noticed for new opportunities. Speak up in meetings, propose new ideas, and be willing to lead initiatives. Being proactive about your career growth shows leadership qualities and can position you for the career growth you are looking for.
Build Your Personal Brand With Intentionality
Your personal brand is the professional identity that shapes how others perceive you. Think of it as a shorthand to help you be more memorable, and a platform on which to establish authority. A strong personal brand can open doors to new opportunities and position you as a leader in your field. A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that personal branding leads to greater career satisfaction and outcomes.
Start with your differentiators. Start by thinking about what sets you apart. What skills, experiences, and qualities make you unique? What are you passionate about? Are you a great seller? Do you know what it takes to launch a new brand to market? Have you seen how great writing can transform a campaign? (This article can help you hone in on your unique differentiator if you want some guidance). Whatever your differentiators are, they should inspire you, because the key to a great personal brand is communicating consistently and frequently.
Put your differentiators into a tagline. Use your differentiators to introduce yourself. Your goal is to articulate a phrase that is not just factual, but interesting and memorable. As an example, I use the tagline “Using data-driven creativity to help companies connect with the head and the heart of their customers.” I lead with this statement when asked to introduce myself at an event, in an interview, or in this case, a blog!
Curate your online presence. Develop a brand experience online that really showcases your brand platform. Consistency is the superpower of product brands and the same is true for your personal brand. Make sure your social channels, resume, and website are all telling the same consistent brand story about you. For example, the background and description on my LinkedIn profile both reinforce my brand tagline and platform.
Share with your network. Share content regularly that aligns with your brand platform. This could be articles, speaking engagements, webinars, and panel discussions which not only enhance your visibility but help build credibility. For example, I appeared on a podcast talking about data-driven creativity. Social media platforms, alumni newsletters, or organizations like Women in Revenue are great places to mine opportunities.The WIR Speakers Bureau and Resource Center, which showcases articles written by members.
Leverage a Side Hustle to Gain Diverse Experiences
A side hustle is a way to earn extra income and a strategic way to build skills and experiences that may not be available in your current full-time role. Whether freelancing, consulting, or launching a passion project, a side hustle can offer unique opportunities for growth.
Identify skill gaps or interests. Consider what skills or experiences you want to develop that your current job doesn’t provide. Do you have gaps in leadership experience, functional knowledge, or something else? Whatever your skill gap or interests may be, name them outright to help you stay focused.
Choose a pursuit that will help you grow. Maybe you can volunteer for a non-profit or even start your own business. My original side hustle, an indie music fan site, helped me break into social media management. My second side hustle, a clothing brand, helped me gain strategy and marketing automation experience.
Apply learnings. At the least, a side hustle can help you grow in your current field. The social media knowledge I learned as part of my side hustle helped me land a new job, for example. The other outcome is that the side hustle turns into the main hustle (think Sara Blakely of Spanx), a win-win for sure.
Conclusion
Career growth is a journey that requires deliberate planning, consistent action, and a supportive network. By building a strong personal brand, leveraging diverse experiences through a side hustle, amplifying your impact with effective communication, and aligning your goals with your organization’s objectives, you can navigate this journey with confidence. Remember, you’re not alone. Check out the Women in Revenue Resource Center for more tools and resources, and, if you’re not already a member, you might consider joining our community! Membership is free and you get access to our Mentorship Program, Speakers Bureau, and lively Slack workspace.
Shanda Boyett is the head of marketing at Covenir BPO. She’s passionate about AI, data-driven creativity, and amazing customer experiences.
