Her Story
About Mary Claire
I have been in my field for about 8 years, all with my current company. I started out as a case manager and have worked my way up to my now project director role, which I've held for 2 years. Before that, I was involved in early childhood development. My main area of expertise today is performance management. I oversee a team of around 65 people statewide in Montana, so a lot of my day involves support for my team, meetings to talk about our results and performance outcomes and the economic impact that we're having in the state. I work closely with our client, collaborating to make sure that we're meeting their needs and expectations. We run a workforce development program and support the most vulnerable of our population. My most notable professional achievement so far is being selected for my current role. The role involved implementing a new program design, which was a lot of fun and very exciting!
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Mary Claire
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my parents. They're very hard working, and that has really shaped who I am and how I approach my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Be honest and open about successes and challenges and ask for help when you need it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't let the challenges make you forget about the success, or about why you are doing this work. It is really easy to focus on the negative, but there's so much good happening and so much important work to be done. Stay energized focused on where we are going and the impact the work has on local communities.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field is that the only thing constant is change. We run workforce development programs for individuals receiving government assistance, so there are always challenges and lots of changes, and we need to adjust constantly. But I also see this as an opportunity, we don't move forward if things stay the same.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are honesty, respect, compassion, and accountability.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Montana
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.