Her Story
About Laureen
I started my career in various managerial roles across different sectors including mortgage companies , finance, retail, and a diagnostic center. After getting married, divorced, and finding myself needing to re-enter the workforce, I went back to school and put myself through college, which helped me expand my career to where I am today. I transitioned into accounts payable, working at CF Industries in the accounts payable department, then got promoted to team lead at Mosaic when they bought out CF Industries and ultimately to AP Manager of North America for Mosaic. I consider myself an accounts payable geek - I just love everything about it. After being laid off from Mosaic, where I seriously believed I was going to retire, I interviewed with both Microsoft and ENSTAR. Even though Microsoft was an amazing company, it was an independent contributor position, and I just love working and leading teams and mentoring and helping other people be successful. Currently, I work 100% remotely as the Global Head of Accounts Payable and Travel and Expense at ENSTAR and couldn't be happier. I manage an incredible global team and every day involves getting online and meeting with them to ensure we stay connected even while remote.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Laureen
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents, my faith, and my family. I'm a survivor of domestic violence. I have shared my story with many women who've also gone through it or are going through it, because you can come through it and there can be success on the other side. I have a strong faith that I rely on, and I want to be an example to my daughters and now to my 5 grandchildren. Family means everything to me - that's what gets me up in the morning. When I lay my head down at night, I can rest knowing that I gave 100%, and I hope I've made my family proud.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to never give up and never underestimate yourself. I've had amazing mentors in my own life, and that's why mentoring others is so important to me. I think women do this quite often, where they think 'I'm not qualified for this position,' while men look at jobs and think 'I could do that' whether they have the experience or not. Women look at it and go 'I don't have that experience, I'm not going to apply for it.' My advice is to go for it. Take the opportunity, take the chance, and give yourself the ability to learn it. You don't learn unless you try. I've lived by that by saying I'm not going to take the easy route, I'm going to take the more difficult route, because I can do it. Watch me do it.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I don't know if I would even call them challenges, but I think the biggest challenge is job security. When I was let go from Mosaic, the last thing I ever expected was to be laid off - I seriously believed I was going to retire from Mosaic. I think that's the biggest challenge for anybody, anywhere - your job may not be here tomorrow, so be prepared for it. The biggest challenge was then applying and finding a new position. You have to utilize people, LinkedIn, contacts, anybody you can to assist. Then market yourself and be confident in your skills. You got this!
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I had a scare a couple years ago, physically, where I was working so much it literally put me in the hospital. Its true that nobody at your funeral is going to quote the hours that you worked in a week. To me, family is priority, and finding that balance between the two is necessary.
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