Her Story
About Candie
I started my administrative career in 2008 after spending 10-11 years doing payroll. I decided I wanted to make a career change and become an admin assistant, even though I didn't have any experience in that field. The EA to the CEO needed an assistant, so I applied for the position. She gave me a chance and pretty much taught me everything I know. What's even better is that we are still in communication to this day. I supported controllers in finance for 15 years before switching to the bioscience sector, where I've been supporting CMOs for the past 4 years - 3 years with one CMO and now 1 year at my current company supporting another CMO. Every day I wake up and manage the CMO's calendar, making sure everything's aligned, reviewing new emails, moving meetings as needed, and preparing agendas. I talk to a lot of clients for my CMO and work extensively with medical affairs as they try to meet with individuals. I handle all travel arrangements and conferences, and I also work with HR every morning going through talent acquisition meetings that I need to set up on-site or virtual for candidates. Even though I support the CMO, I still work a lot with legal teams, which is why I've been taking paralegal courses. I'm also a notary public, which adds another dimension to my capabilities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Candie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to taking a chance on myself and finding someone who believed in me. Back in 2008, I decided I wanted to make a career change from payroll, which I had been doing for 10 or 11 years, to become an admin assistant. I didn't have any admin experience at all, but the EA to the CEO needed an assistant, so I applied for it. She gave me a chance and pretty much taught me everything I know. What makes it even more special is that we are still in communication to this day. That opportunity and her mentorship really set the foundation for everything I've accomplished since then.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell them to go for what you're looking to achieve. Don't be scared to try it, even if you don't have experience. Pursue your dreams and your goals. If you don't have any experience, gain a little bit by taking some classes. Be confident, learn, and understand the position. And if you don't know something, always ask. Don't let lack of experience hold you back from applying for opportunities that interest you.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is always calendaring, especially when you're trying to coordinate meetings across multiple time zones. I work with people in Pacific Standard Time, Eastern Standard Time, Central Standard Time, Japan, and the United Kingdom. That's always kind of tricky because everyone has to be in the meeting and everyone is of importance. Trying to get so many people across the board in different time zones into one meeting takes a little bit of time and careful coordination. Those are always the trickiest situations and require the most attention.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important value for me is genuinely liking what you do. When you wake up and the alarm goes off, it's so much easier to get up and get to work when you like what you do. I don't have any issues with that because I truly enjoy my work. The same goes for my family and life in general. Life is good for me - we're here, I'm up, I'm breathing, we have a roof overhead, and I have a great career. What more can you ask for? It's about appreciating what you have and finding fulfillment in both your professional and personal life.
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