Dorothy (Dottie) Bennink, MBA

I attribute my success to perseverance, patience, adaptability, and prioritizing what matters most. When I was let go from 7-Eleven, I only went three days before landing a new job because I used my network - I started making phone calls that same afternoon, and the third phone call got me what I needed. It was someone I had hardly talked to in two years, but the timing was perfect because he had just let go of his last person. If I hadn't picked up the phone, nothing would have happened. I've learned that you have to be open to change - this job wasn't even in the field I was searching for, and it never once popped up in all my searches I had done earlier that day. Networking is huge, and I think younger generations don't always see the value in making those personal connections. You can't just shoot an email or text - you actually have to talk to people and meet them face-to-face. I also believe success comes from making things a priority. When I was working full-time, going to school full-time, and still being a hands-on mom while my kids were in high school, I was exhausted when I was done, but I made it work because those things were important to me. It's about prioritizing what is important to you.

The best career advice I’ve ever received was to invest in my own growth and never stop learning, a mindset reinforced by mentors like Jamal Odom, who encouraged my educational and professional development at Cal’s Convenience and Sunoco LP, and Billy Childers, whose leadership and guidance in Corpus Christi, Texas, helped shape how I approach challenges, leadership, and long-term career progress.

Be patient and understand that it's going to take time. You can't just jump in and be at the top - you've got to work your way up. I see too many of the younger group coming in and just expecting to be handed things, but you've got to work for it. I've put in my time, and heck, I've had to change industries. But I also want to stress that networking is huge. You've got to learn how to use the network. You have to pick up the phone, you have to make those phone calls, and you have to meet them face-to-face. I've had a hard time trying to explain to my children that you have to network in this world, but it's true. You can't just shoot an email or a text - you actually have to talk to them as much as possible and make that personal connection. That's how opportunities happen.

I think the AI piece - getting people to understand AI - is going to be both a challenge and an opportunity. The key is getting everybody to understand what AI can do for you if used correctly. AI is only as good as the information it is given, and that's what a lot of people don't understand. There's tremendous potential for businesses and professionals who are willing to embrace it the right way.

Family is absolutely the most important value to me. Even when I was working full-time and going to school full-time for my master's, I still made sure I was a hands-on mom. I had one son in travel baseball and one in orchestra, and I made the baseball games and served as treasurer of the Orchestra Booster Club. I still made time to do that while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. It's about prioritizing what is important to you - I had to have the job to pay our bills, I wanted to go to school so I could make more money, but I still wanted to make sure I was there for my kids. Now that they're older, I'm still that hands-on mom as much as you can be with college students, staying in the know and being there as that support system when things don't quite go the way they thought they would go. I've also made sure my boys know how to be self-sufficient - they know how to do laundry, do the dishes, and mostly cook. They don't need somebody to take care of them when they leave my house. Beyond family, I value perseverance, adaptability, and service - like creating those 14 quilts for my son's military unit, because my husband's retired Navy and I understand having something to take with you is very important.