Her Story
About Valerie
My career path has been a long and winding road through the entertainment and human resources industries. I started working at a major motion picture studio where I spent 10 years and 8 months - they gave me a retirement date, and I thought that was going to be my future and my career. When I was laid off, I was quite devastated. A friend told me about LinkedIn, and I connected with a former colleague who was working at a guard company. He asked if I could help him recruit 500 guards for the Academy Awards, and between 2009 and 2014, I did just that. During the 2008-2009 downturn, recruiting made me feel good because I was putting people to work. After losing that contract, I went through several positions and obtained my HR certificate through the EDD Workforce Center, which led me to O'Malley Productions where we produced a show called Food Paradise for Travel Channel. When Discovery Channel bought up channels and Travel Channel turned into a paranormal channel, our little food show didn't fit anymore - though it now runs in reruns on Food Network. I did government work and temp jobs, and then the pandemic hit. Toward the end of 2021, I found a position at Hertz Investment Group where I gained real, real human resources experience. I started as a temp and had to learn everything on the job - when my boss asked if I knew ADP at the interview, I said no and thought they wouldn't hire me, but they did. I learned ADP payroll, benefits, and so much more while also serving as office manager, organizing company lunches and monthly breakfasts. I've always learned everything on the job because I'm a bit older and didn't grow up with a home computer. After being laid off again due to serious downsizing, I looked at my resume and saw I'd been laid off from here, laid off from there, and thought, why don't I just go into business for myself? So I launched my mobile notary business on March 25th of this year and became a signing agent. I'm currently pursuing my SHRM certificate through University of La Verne and focusing on becoming more of a payroll specialist within the HR function. Throughout all these challenges, I've been able to land on my feet, find new directions, and learn new things to move into the next chapter.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Valerie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I've been able to land on my feet after all the layoffs and find new directions by learning new things. I really made myself indispensable at my jobs by getting my hands in all kinds of things besides just my core responsibilities. I was kind of the front office person too, and everyone would come to me and ask how do I do this, and how do I do that, and instead of just saying oh I don't know, I would say well I don't know, let's find out, and I'd find out. I learned a lot on the job and was able to help people even outside of human resources or outside of what my job description was. Everything I've learned on the computer has been all on the job because I'm a bit older and didn't grow up with a home computer, so I've had to learn everything as I go, which has taught me to be adaptable and resourceful.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I had a very good mentor when I worked at the Motion Picture Studio, a woman named Brenda, who taught me a lot of the procedural things that I know. Another piece of advice that stuck with me came from a woman when I was very, very young who said, keep your own money and make your own money - always have your own. That was one bit of good advice that has guided me throughout my career.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · California
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.