Julie Shain

Mentorship and persistence. I've had some phenomenal mentors throughout my career—managers and leaders who take the time out of their day to help lift other people up. Today, I have the privilege of experiencing that not only with my direct managers and leaders but from the leadership of my company downward. Truly excellent mentorship is like winning the lottery, allowing you to skip past roadblocks and accelerate your career.

The other piece is discovering your strengths and then, persistence. When I applied for my first job in media, I had to submit a resume. I had no journalism background at the time so I didn't get it. I was disappointed—I really thought I could do the job well if only I had a chance to prove myself. The next year, I applied again. This time I was able to submit a writing sample and I got the job.

If something is truly at the intersection of your passion and your skill set, don't give up. Find ways to develop your skillset and nurture your growth. Try again.

Give every single person you work with the benefit of the doubt. I think this applies to any workplace, regardless of whether you're working remotely, in person, or hybrid. It's so easy to misconstrue each other or to jump to conclusions. My husband was the one who always emphasized this to me. When you give everyone you work with the benefit of the doubt, when you treat ambiguity with grace, you have the potential to shape the course of that relationship, to impact your colleagues' days for the better, and to lift up your team as a whole.

Pay attention to the overlap between your strengths and your passion. I think sometimes we're taught to only focus on our passion, or to only focus on what is going to be financially viable as a career path, and I think the secret sauce is kind of in between. It's paying attention to what you're naturally drawn to—when you feel a sense of flow at work or beyond. For me, that was creative writing and making sure I was up to date on the news. By noticing where I started to feel that passion, it allowed me to pivot my career into news media and grow into a trajectory that combines my passions and skill sets.

There are two challenges that come to mind: the changing media landscape and the rise of AI. Both can feel daunting—but leave open opportunities. In a world of sameness and social media addiction, authentic human writing can feel like a breath of fresh air. Building your personal voice is essential. And don't get discouraged: there will always be appetite for excellent storytelling. How it reaches audiences may change, but the fundamentals—write clearly, concisely, and incisively—hold true.

Compassion, curiosity, and connection. We are only as strong as our weakest relationship—in work and in our personal lives. At the end of the day, all we have is one another. How wonderful is that? The depth of these connections, the compassion we bring, the relationships we have with one another—that's what matters most to me.

Curiosity meanwhile helps direct our energy toward tackling specific challenges and coming up with creative solutions. It affords us the opportunity to discover and stretch ourselves professionally and personality. Notice your own curiosity, what you're drawn to learning. Those can give you clues as to your passion and your skill set, and the potential for career success.