Meet the Experts: It’s Your Journey, You Choose: Navigating the Non-Traditional Career Path to Success.
The financial industry has faced many challenges in the past decade but at a panel discussion sponsored by Wells Fargo, four speakers recounted their non-traditional journey into the financial industry and recommended that attendees consider finance as well. Jimmie Paschall, executive vice president of diversity and inclusion for Wells Fargo, started her career at Marriott, then moved to a small telecommunications company and then to a large national volunteer organization. "Each time I changed jobs I felt as if I was jumping off a diving board into a deep pool and wondering if I could make it to the side of the pool," she says. Not only was she able to swim, she says the skills learned and challenges faced in each job, provided tools and experiences that make it possible to succeed in her current position. Experience in nonprofit organizations and academia gave Michelle Thornhill, senior vice president of African American, diverse market segment, a broad perspective that helps her today. When asked how she juggles the demands of a job with a family, she suggests talking with peers or acquaintances who are facing the same challenges. "Find out how they handle picking up children at school or juggling travel and family obligations," she says. "They may have found solutions that will work for you." Although waiting until later in life and career to obtain both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree would be an obvious regret, Daryl Mars, wealth management sales segment manager, says that he has never regretted pursuing a degree later rather than earlier. Early in his career, a manager praised him for an idea and suggested that he pursue a college degree if he wanted to move forward in his career. Although he could handle his job, his manager pointed out that as Mars moved up in management, the first question from a colleague or client would be, "Where did you go to school?" Having a degree or degrees at the start of a career is beneficial but don’t be afraid to go back to school if you think you need more education. "I appreciated the educational experience and could see how it would help me in my job at Wells Fargo." "This is one of the few industries in which you can enter at the beginning or midpoint of a career and find opportunities that will lead to a long career," says Greg Young. While Young’s path to Wells Fargo included a variety of positions – corporate, government and nonprofit – his advice to attendees is that "you never know when your journey will make sense; be open to opportunities that present themselves throughout it." |
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