Critical Careers - Women Building Careers in Digital Infrastructure - Book - Page 17
“I’ve always
tried to go a
step further than
what’s expected.”
What do you wish more senior leaders
understood about what it’s like to be
starting out in your career in today’s work
atmosphere?
I wish more senior leaders understood how important early exposure and
trust really are.
If mentorship isn’t built into a company, if new hires aren’t paired with
experienced colleagues or encouraged to attend networking events,
then they’re often kept at a ceiling. There can be an unspoken attitude
that because previous generations had to 昀椀gure things out alone, the
next one should too. I’ve seen young professionals ask to attend events
or step into visible opportunities and be told no, even when cost isn’t the
barrier. When that happens, it can feel less like a strategic decision and
more like a lack of trust.
That’s what quietly chips away at motivation. When someone shows
initiative and is met with resistance, the message they receive is to stay in
their lane and wait their turn. In today’s work environment, that approach
feels outdated. Careers are more 昀氀uid. Visibility and relationships play a
signi昀椀cant role in long-term growth.
Senior leaders sometimes underestimate how powerful those early
opportunities can be. Being trusted to attend an industry event, to
represent the business externally, or to contribute meaningfully in a room
builds con昀椀dence quickly. It also builds loyalty. People are far more likely
to stay and grow in organisations that invest in them early.
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