Her Story
About Mariann
I started my career as an educator in elementary education and early childhood, which led me to become a director managing a childcare center. From there, I slowly worked my way into business management, though it was never my career goal or something I went to school for - it just kind of happened naturally. Now, as a business manager for the past year, and four years in the field overall, I balance many different aspects including banking, financial decisions, human resources, and the daily running of the business like scheduling. I wear many hats and see myself as someone who plays in the background, making the jobs of front-facing team members less challenging. I've never been one to need recognition or be out there publicly - I'm the quiet force behind the scenes. What makes my transition into business management one of my biggest achievements is that it happened easily and fit my personality in ways I didn't even know, which feels incredibly rewarding.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mariann
01What do you attribute your success to?
Early on in my career, I would say sheer stubbornness drove my success. But now, at this point in my life, I attribute my success to my family. They are what keeps me going and motivates me in everything I do.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to be open to feedback and be open to criticism. Sometimes when somebody brings you a critical point, a critical thought, or a critical observation, it can really open your mind instead of shutting you down. Being receptive to constructive criticism has been invaluable in my professional growth.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't give up. I know this sounds cliche, but if one avenue that you have set your goals and sights on closes, keep trying. Something else is going to open up that is probably going to be better for you than what you initially had focused on. Sometimes the path that closes leads you to an even better opportunity that you hadn't considered before.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest challenges are the change in workforce and the change in the professional environment. You see AI coming to take over and becoming a part of your everyday work, but you also have to understand that AI comes with its own fallacies and issues. At the same time, if you don't use it and don't incorporate it, you are going to be left behind. The workforce coming in now is what they're used to, so you have to adjust because they're faster in some ways, but then less eager in a lot of ways than what I initially experienced early on in my career. It's about finding the balance between embracing new technology while managing the changing expectations and work styles of newer generations.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, trust, and openness are the most important values to me. I feel like if you are working with half information, inaccurate information, or false information, you're making decisions that are not correct because you don't have the correct information. I think this applies both at work and in your personal home life. If you're not open with the people you work with or your significant other, then you're just not forming a balance of trust and respect. These values are the foundation of everything I do.
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