I’ve always had the desire to succeed.
However, when I found myself feeling unfulfilled years into a successful career at Goldman Sachs, I wanted to know why. I transferred from department to department, certain I would find a position that would feel right...one that would make me tick. I never stopped pushing myself to be the strongest performer in my field, but I still felt like I wasn’t reaching my fullest potential. I was missing creative control.
I was missing my voice.
The inherent connections that a name like Goldman won me were not enough. Sometimes, in business, we assume working for your dream company is enough, right? Or gaining a new, coveted title. But if you (i.e., your voice) get(s) lost in the shuffle, then what’s the point?
Frustrated with not being satisfied, I began using my vacation days to build up a network that was completely my own. I went to lunches and coffee dates to fuel my creative needs by meeting new people, ultimately widening my circle of influence. I built meaningful, productive relationships and identified what I had been missing at my corporate job.
At the time, I felt what I think many solo and entrepreneurs feel—a deep love for connecting with people and an equally strong need to do so on my own terms. This isn’t something I learned on the job—it’s just who I am. I am a connector and above all else, I value the sincere relationships I cultivate both professionally and personally. However, I was not ready to give up the resources and stability of a well-established company.
Via the network I built while still at Goldman, I was able to change my career and secure my next position in a role that would foster my entrepreneurial spirit. My role running business development at SCB, a prominent commercial architecture firm, allowed me to have control over my time, gain flexibility in my integrated professional and personal life, and maintain the autonomy to build the business in a creative manner.
Over time and with more experience in the commercial real estate community, I cultivated an even larger network, and it led me to where I am now, building a business not only for CBRE, but also for myself. I work for an exceptional brand that is world-class and has instant credibility.
Though I am now where I want to be, and am able to fuel my inner entrepreneur within the structure of a corporation, there were a few things that helped along the way:
Maintain the authentic desire to form and nurture real relationships. I’m not talking about careless networking that comes off as social climber-y. I mean making it a priority to really get to know and care about people. To succeed in business, you have to understand how people operate. Especially if you want to contribute to the growth of not only your company, but also of clients who are loyal to you and the business you conduct. It can be easy to lose your voice under a behemoth of a company, and the best way to keep it is by setting yourself apart as a real, caring professional to potential clients and partners.
Stay self-aware and self-confident. When you go against the grain and commit 100 percent to the brand you represent and the work YOU do, people will undoubtedly have an opinion. I remind myself that their criticism comes from a place of fear. When they see you build your business in a different way from them, they begin to doubt their own choices. Their harsh words are a form of self-affirmation and the only thing you can do is ignore them and trust in yourself. If people are talking about you, then you must be doing something worth talking about.
Find your grit. There will be hard days, weeks, and months. If you don’t have an unquenchable desire to build your business, you won’t. That’s all it comes down to. Working for both yourself and a corporation is hard work. It’s competitive and emotionally draining at times, but if you’re committed to what you’re doing, it’s worth it.
Exemplify leadership and respect. I believe 100 percent in bringing my whole person into business. The days of separating work and personal life are a thing of the past. These days, it is all intertwined just like the web of a network we build through work, friends, and our communities. I operate as a leader and genuinely want to help and guide people toward being better versions of themselves. It’s easy to get bogged down in life circumstances, but nothing is permanent in this ever-evolving universe. You never know what’s coming, so conduct yourself in a respectful manner at all times.
Be a risk taker. Jumping into the unknown can be scary. Starting a new business. Learning on the fly. Making mistakes. Not being intimidated that you don’t know everything. It’s okay not to have all the answers; it’s okay to be newer at the role than the people who have been doing it for 25 years. You don’t have to be great at something to start—you just have to start it to be great! Trust me when I say: take the risk. Jump. Stay out of your comfort zone and instead step into the learning zone. That’s where real growth happens.
Keeping an entrepreneurial spirit alive while remaining successful in the corporate world requires constant self-reflection. I am always reassessing what I’m doing and how I can be better. Whatever you’re looking for—whether it’s autonomy, a promotion, or complete professional independence—remember that you have your own set of skills and experience.
Use your voice. It makes all the difference.
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