Amber Baldet interviewed for her job the day before she was due to deliver her son.

It was a job she was sure she wanted: a role on the emerging tech team at JPMorgan Chase, an opportunity to blend her love of technology (she started playing with computers at age five) and economics (an area that allows her “to understand why the world operates the way that it does.”) And she had heard that the hiring manager could sometimes be tough, so when the interview was scheduled the day before she was due to have her baby, she was hesitant to ask for a rain check.

“I knew I was going to be down for the count for a while if I didn’t show up,” said Baldet. “[So] I said, ‘Fine. I’m leaning in.’”

As it turns out, the hiring manager had no idea she was pregnant until she arrived, and felt terrible about the timing. “He saw me and he went pale,” Baldet said. And all things considered, the interview went extremely well — she got the job.

Showing up for a high-stakes interview mere hours before one is scheduled to enter labor is an unusual sign of dedication. But such has been Baldet’s approach to much of her career in tech: she will go over and around any roadblocks as they appear.

So far, it’s paid off for her. She’s been the Blockchain Lead at JPMorgan Chase’s Corporate and Investment Bank for two and a half years, compiling a cutting-edge team of strategists and developers that looks more like a startup than a department inside a traditional corporation. Together, they are preparing the company for the next era of technology, a testament to the fact that JPMorgan Chase is a company that prioritizes innovation, and values technology at its very core.

On top of being bleeding-edge, high-stakes, and impressive, Baldet’s work within the company has allowed her to break major barriers in both the tech and finance worlds — two areas where women are infamously underrepresented. Despite the fact that 56 percent of the American workforce is comprised of women, women hold just 26 percent of computing jobs. And just 6.3 percent of S&P 500 Financial companies are run by women.

That, according to Baldet, is precisely the problem. On top of the social implications that come from of a lack of diversity, there are deeper, ethical issues with uniformity within an industry, especially when it comes to the tech world. Technologies are a product of human creation, after all, which means they often reflect the views and opinions of the people that make them. As such, inclusion impacts more than just basic user-friendliness; a lack of representation in Silicon Valley (or Alley, in Baldet’s case) can sometimes lead to situations where unconscious biases and flaws are programmed into the systems that we use day in and day out.

That’s something that the programming sector needs to become aware of, according to Baldet, especially as the world continues to be defined by the technology that it uses.

“If you’re surrounded by people like you, who agree with all your decisions and never question anything or think from a different perspective, that’s a problem,” she said. “You need to have different people with skin in the game. You need diversity at every step of development. Because without it, you’re going to have blind spots, and that’s going to lead to weaker systems.”

Baldet seems to be the beginning of the end of uniformity in finance and technology, and is a good sign of things to come. But there’s still a lot of work left to be done before we achieve total diversity and inclusion across society and within the workforce, she said.

The good news: There are steps that can be taken right now to get things closer to where they ought to be, according to Baldet. Taking people’s names off of resumes to remove some chance of gender- or race-based discrimination is one, as is active recruitment of underrepresented groups, like what’s being done by Tech Connect, JPMorgan Chase’s training program for emerging female tech talent. Salary transparency is also crucial, according to Baldet, and would remove a major limitation for underrepresented groups, especially women.

“We tell women don’t talk about money don’t talk about your promotions. When you’re good enough, someone will tap you on the shoulder and escort you to the next level. [But] that’s just not going to happen,” Baldet said, insisting that women must be encouraged to stick their necks out from time to time, to advocate for themselves and to make themselves heard.

And show up to interviews one day before your due date, ready to go. That’s how she did it, at least.

Sources: National Center for Women and Information Technology, Catalyst.

This content is paid for by an advertiser and published by WP BrandStudio. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content.Learn more about WP BrandStudio.

How one woman is making waves in two of America’s most competitive industries was originally published in The Lily on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Your friends are flying across the country for the ultimate New Year’s getaway. Your Facebook and Instagram feeds are full of lavish gifts, new cars and perfectly decorated homes. You find yourself wondering, “How can they afford this? And why can’t I?”

It’s easy to give in to the pressure to go along, post along and purchase along with those around you — especially around the holidays, when one-third of Americans say they spend the most, according to the Chase Slate 2017 Credit Outlook Survey. Fear of missing out, or FOMO, is a documented phenomenon that has young adults making constant comparisons between their lives and others — and drives them to spend more money on things than they can afford. Here are four reasons why that’s the wrong way to achieve your financial goals.

Living paycheck to paycheck isn’t fun. But for many people, it’s a temporary phase while becoming financially mature. Giving in to splurges to keep up with your friends only extends that period of time. If your goal is to get ahead, don’t rush. Living frugally will allow you to set money aside and grow financially while weathering the unexpected–especially important advice, as research shows that almost 40 percent of U.S. households will make an extraordinary payment (think: medical services, auto repair or a tax bill) of over $1,500 in a given year.

Sure, those perpetual vacation selfies project the perfect image of financial success, but you have no idea how your friend is making it work. The people you’re hoping to emulate could be uncomfortable with their own financial situations, or even deeply in debt. While eight in 10 Americans are at least somewhat satisfied with their credit score, most (55 percent) see room for improvement, according to the Chase Slate 2017 Credit Outlook Survey. So don’t overextend yourself financially to keep up with others.

Your friend’s budget may allow for two new pairs of shoes and three fancy Sunday brunches a month, because those things are important to her. You may make the same salary, but have a goal of paying off your student loan in three years or saving for a down payment on a house. Your goals don’t have to be the same as your friend’s. Join her for one brunch a month, keep it to a single mimosa, and you’ll be celebrating your own financial victories in no time.

You want to live big like your friends in a high-paying sector, so you get a job just like theirs. You may be making the money you desire, but if your heart was set on being a teacher, will you ever be happy? Or perhaps your dream is to become a lawyer, but you don’t want to trade your weekend trips with friends for tuition bills and all-night study sessions. The ability to buy and do the same things as your friends rarely brings the same satisfaction as following your own goals and priorities. In fact, having a career that is meaningful to you can improve personal empowerment and fulfillment, and decreases stress. Make your own decisions, and you’ll find your own happiness.

When you compare your life and finances to others, you’re letting their goals, priorities — and even their mistakes — become your own. Focus on your own aspirations and the right financial decisions will be easier and much more satisfying.

This content is paid for by an advertiser and published by WP BrandStudio. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more about WP BrandStudio.

Don’t let social media envy keep you from financial success was originally published in The Lily on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women in the military face unique challenges, both during and after service. But they also possess unique skills, ones that prove valuable across many phases of their careers — and their lives outside work.

Caitlin McGilley and Michelle d’Amico work in the Global Security & Investigations department at JPMorgan Chase. McGilley, Vice President of Global Intelligence, spent seven years as a United States Navy intelligence officer. D’Amico, Head of Global Intelligence, spent nine years as a career-civilian intelligence officer at the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Here, the two women reflect on their experiences and how one chapter of your life can shape the next.

What are some of the lessons you learned transitioning from the military to corporate life?

Caitlin McGilley: Being a Navy officer was a large part of my identity and it took some time during my transition to the civilian world to see that it wasn’t the uniform that defined me but rather my drive to serve and protect people. Once I figured that out, I realized that corporate security was the perfect career path for me.

Michelle d’Amico: While there are some cultural differences between the special operations culture and the corporate world, they are quite similar. The role of intelligence is not only to achieve the national security objective of a mission, but also to get all your friends back to base safely. Recommendations made have real life and death consequences for more than just yourself — none of that is taken lightly. That emphasis on strong teams is something I’ve found at JPMorgan Chase as well, and I’m grateful for that.

What obstacles have you faced, if any, as a woman in the military or the workplace?

MD: In a military setting, aside from deploying in very austere conditions, the main obstacle was always being the only woman in the room, or one of often less than a handful of women in any given location. However, as an intelligence officer supporting combat operations, you would always be listened to if you were good at your job because lives depended on it, and in that way, the military environment is a true meritocracy.

What qualities do you feel women/you bring that are an asset to the workplace?

CM: Strong leadership, integrity, competency, sound judgment — really any quality of an excellent employee will be found in all genders.

MD: The significant asset and quality that women bring, often very artfully, to the workplace is that of perceiving nuance in interpersonal dynamics. I believe it’s critically important for a well-functioning office to have that level of perception taking place.

How have mentors helped you make the transition to corporate?

CM: I feel fortunate to have amazing mentors, some with exclusively corporate careers and others who have served in the military before making the leap to the civilian world. Both have been critical elements to my transition, helping me to better understand the different and sometimes similar business cultures, lending advice and acting as a sounding board for various situations, as well as providing constructive feedback so I can continue to improve upon my abilities as both an employee and a leader.

MD: I have relied on trusted mentors throughout this transition, not only for advice, but also as models for how to respond to certain challenges or issues. I have one mentor in particular at JPMorgan Chase who is often the standard-bearer for “what would XX do?” I’ve also found it critically important to maintain strong relationships within my military network. This has helped me stay grounded in the values of selfless leadership and egoless teamwork that got me to where I am today.

What advice would you give to other women transitioning from military to corporate?

CM: The same thing I always told my teams: ‘If you do the right thing, you’re never wrong.’ It’s important that people continue to use sound judgment, act with integrity, and make the choice that does the most good. You’ll succeed wherever you land if you follow those principles.

What does a successful career mean to you?

MD: A successful career means several things to me — but chief among them is maintaining my integrity at all times and being able to sleep at night even if I fail at something. I am extremely grateful to have had the good fortune of spending a large portion of my adult life working in service of something greater than myself, protecting our country and saving the lives of citizens of other countries, as well. I was fortunate to do that at a time when it was needed. And now I am equally fortunate to have the opportunity to apply those experiences and skills to a company like JPMorgan Chase that is truly part of the critical infrastructure of the U.S. and the world.

CM: A successful career is continuously maintaining that balance of enjoying your job, learning something new every day, avoiding boredom, and making sure you get home for dinner — even if you have to work after dessert.

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Why military experience is an asset in the workplace was originally published in The Lily on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Keita Young surprised everyone — even herself — when she decided to take some time off from work to adjust to being a mom.

Always career-driven, Young poured herself into her work in commercial litigation and employment law upon graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. But after eight years and countless hours on the clock, it was time for a break. Just a short one, she told herself.

Three children and 11 years later, she was ready to get back to being a lawyer. She joined JPMorgan Chase as Assistant General Counsel through the company’s ReEntry Program, which helps employees transition back into the workplace after time away, for whatever reason.

Now, as a vice president and program manager for the bank’s Advancing Black Leaders strategy, she helps foster diversity throughout the company.

Here, she offers a few tips for making the most of any break and getting back to business when you’re ready:

1. Get involved in something outside the home

In 2006, I opened a children’s consignment store with a friend. My friend brought retail experience, while I was able to take care of the legal aspects of the business like setting up the partnership agreement and negotiating the lease. It was a good match and accommodated everyone’s needs — I brought my kids to a play area in the back of the store.

After closing the shop, I worked part-time in resource development for a nonprofit. It was a great opportunity that exposed me to something different and new, which helped me build out my skillset. Don’t underestimate the value of volunteering! Project management, budgets, marketing — it’s all part of the work volunteers like me took on. It kept me active, social and, again, introduced me to new work experiences.

2. Have a story that showcases your value

This one is big for me. You’ve got to have a story about your career path that you and others can grasp onto and get behind, no matter what!

My story was about branching out, trying new things and succeeding. In addition to opening a store, I wrote grants and helped a nonprofit fundraise for its annual symposium — none of which I had ever done before. But I knew I could be an asset and welcomed the challenge of learning something new.

3. Direct your path

When I started my fellowship in JPMorgan Chase’s ReEntry Program, I scheduled weekly meetings with my boss. I quickly learned how to improve my work and meet my manager’s expectations, so there were no surprises when it came time for performance reviews. Those meetings, while not required, allotted me an uninterrupted, scheduled feedback session every week. They also allowed us to develop a better working relationship — and I’m pretty sure they helped me land the position I’m in now.

4. Lean on your support system

Having a network of supportive family and friends is essential. My transition back to work wouldn’t have been possible without the help of my mom, who has taken on responsibilities I can no longer fully manage. She has been invaluable with meal preparations, school and activity pick-ups and drop-offs, and filling in when I am tied up at the office.

5. Find a mentor

My mentor, a female colleague at JPMorgan Chase, is one of my greatest assets. She was initially assigned to me during my fellowship in the company’s ReEntry Program, and quickly became a confidant, friend and vital resource. She helped me navigate the company, answered questions that I was reluctant to ask my manager, and offered an honest opinion about my work product. Even though I’m no longer in the program, she continues to be a great sounding board for me. You’ll recognize a good prospect for a mentor, whether assigned or informally chosen, as someone with whom you connect personally, who is eager to help and who has your best interests in mind.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff

When I returned to full-time work, I immediately realized that it was almost impossible to be a super-mom, super-employee, super-wife and super-friend, all at once. I had to learn what matters most at a given time, and give up on notions of perfection. It was a chance to develop all parts of myself — the parenting self, the professional self, the spouse self, and the friend self. Now, I recognize that it is not easy, but I embrace my situation and feel blessed and fortunate to have an incredible family and friends, supportive colleagues and the opportunity to return to the workforce at such a great company. Sweating the small stuff is not important.

This content is paid for by an advertiser and published by WP BrandStudio. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more about WP BrandStudio.

How to restart your career after taking time off was originally published in The Lily on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

32 cents.

That’s how much single women have for every dollar of wealth owned by their male counterparts. The disparity is much greater for single women of color, who have only pennies on the dollar compared to single white men.

The gender wage gap receives significant attention, which is important. We know women make, on average, 80 cents on the dollar compared to men. But less understood and perhaps even more concerning is the gender wealth gap, the discrepancies in net worth between men and women.

The statistics, like those above, are overwhelming. In 2013, the median net worth for single black women in the United States was just $200. For single Latina women, it was half that — a staggering $100.

While by definition wealth is the difference between a person’s assets and liabilities, our real-life experiences with wealth mean so much more. Wealth is the ability to pay for an emergency or other unexpected expense, the freedom to buy a home or pursue higher education, the security of saving for retirement. In short, wealth offers stability and opportunity.

Women suffer greatly from the negative consequences of lower net worth. They have less of a safety net and are more financially vulnerable. In fact, women are 80 percent more likely than men to live in poverty after retirement, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security.

In an effort to better understand the gender wealth gap and some of its drivers, the JPMorgan Chase Institute examined the gender gap in financial outcomes and the impact of extraordinary medical payments on the long-term financial wellbeing of more than 210,000 de-identified Chase checking account holders. According to the findings, women have 20 percent lower liquid assets and higher debt burdens than men.

Women also have a harder time regaining their financial footing after they pay an extraordinary medical bill. Every year, roughly 16 percent of American families make an unusually large medical payment, one that represents more than 1 percent of their annual income and is at least $400. The Institute found that women are more likely than men to postpone paying these larger medical bills until they experience a spike in liquid assets.

This suggests women are either postponing medical care until they can afford it — which could harm their physical health — or they are receiving the care as required but delaying payment, falling behind on their bills and potentially wreaking havoc on their finances.

The Institute’s data indicates that both men and women struggle to recover from unusually large medical payments; 12 months later families experience lower incomes, decreasing liquid assets and increasing revolving credit card debt. However, the financial fallout is far worse for women. One year after an extraordinary medical payment, women experience a 14 percent increase in the balance on their revolving credit card debt as compared to a 3 percent increase for men, further widening the gender wealth gap.

Collaboration and support are critical to addressing the issue. One example of a company working toward progress is JPMorgan Chase, which invested $17 million last year in organizations that empower women by focusing on four critical areas:

· Financial health: Providing access to relevant financial information, products and services that can empower women to better manage daily finances, weather emergencies and other unexpected expenses like medical payments, and meet long-term financial goals such as homeownership or retirement.

· Access to capital: Helping female entrepreneurs secure capital and technical assistance, and connecting them to the professional networks they need to launch and grow small businesses.

· Workforce development: Helping women gain the skills to compete for the millions of “middle-skill” jobs that are currently unfilled, like cardiovascular technologists and dental hygienists. These jobs pay good wages and are accessible with a high school degree and some post-secondary training.

· Community development: Creating inclusive neighborhoods where women have access to economic opportunity and affordable housing, supportive services and chances to build stability and wealth.

The challenge ahead is daunting, but together we can help improve women’s financial health and, in turn, increase the security of women and their families.

This content is paid for by an advertiser and published by WP BrandStudio. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more about WP BrandStudio.

The gender wealth gap is even more concerning than the wage gap. Here’s why. was originally published in The Lily on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Buying a home isn’t easy.

Aisha Blake, 26, learned that when she decided to purchase and fix up a century-old house in Detroit — on her own. Her journey represents a growing trend among single American women, who are scooping up more homes than their male counterparts.

Still, even if you do have a dual income household, the homebuying process can be difficult to navigate. But the more prepared you can be, the better experience you will have.

To alleviate (some of) the headaches that come with buying a home, familiarize yourself with these myths and truths:

There’s an array of loan options that don’t require 20 percent down — in fact, this amount is rare in today’s homebuying market. According to the National Association of Realtors, 60 percent of millennials are putting just 6 percent down on average.

Saving for a big down payment can be advantageous, but you don’t want to deplete your savings or risk coming up short on your mortgage payment. Instead, you should save as much as possible for unexpected expenses.

While bypassing the real estate agent or mortgage broker can save you money in some cases, rarely does the homebuying process go so smoothly that you couldn’t benefit from expert input. A professional can help you navigate unforeseen obstacles such as a bad inspection report, a low appraisal, or the discovery of liens against the home.

Loan approval involves an underwriter sifting through hundreds of pages of documentation, as well as considering other factors like the home appraisal report. A pre-qualification letter, however, is based on a quick, preliminary analysis of your credit report. Getting the letter is a recommended early step to show you’re a serious buyer, but it doesn’t mean a loan approval is guaranteed.

Nearly 40 percent of millennials check their credit scores every month, compared to 31 percent of Gen Xers and 28 percent of Baby Boomers, according to the Chase Slate 2017 Credit Outlook. But credit score isn’t everything when it comes to buying a home.

Although it might not be ideal, many borrowers are able to secure a home loan even with not-so-stellar credit, especially if they have a significant down payment and strong income.

One thing to note: Your interest rate will likely be higher, since the lender is taking a bigger risk on you.

It takes 46 days, on average, to close on mortgage loan applications.

In other words, don’t count on finding and closing on a home before your rental lease ends next month. However…

Almost half of the homes sold in August 2016 were on the market for less than one month. People who casually go out and find something that’s perfect, but who aren’t really ready, can find themselves scrambling.

The difference between a 3.5 and a 4 percent mortgage interest rate equals thousands of dollars over 30 years.

If you’re looking to buy a home and want to secure a better interest rate on your loan, try these strategies to boost your credit:

· Pay down credit card balances

· Correct errors that may be on your credit reports

· Don’t open new credit lines

· Maintain a clear payment history

The people who have the best homebuying experiences are the ones who take the process seriously. Educate and prepare yourself, and you’ll be opening the door to your new home in no time.

This content is paid for by an advertiser and published by WP BrandStudio. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more about WP BrandStudio.

Myths and truths about buying a home was originally published in The Lily on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The night before Aisha Blake bought her first house, she rode her bike to the property. She wanted to see it up close. To most people, the old brick duplex in Detroit’s Virginia Park neighborhood wouldn’t stand out. The porch was crumbling, some windows were broken, and the interior needed a major face-lift.

But when Blake saw kids playing on the lawns of nearby homes, she was sold.

“I loved the first impression I had of that community, and it cemented my decision to buy it and fix it up on my own,” Blake said.

Her journey to home ownership represents a growing trend of single American women buying homes by themselves. According to a report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 17 percent of all homebuyers in 2016 were single women. That’s double the number of single men scooping up homes, despite earning more than women.

“With job growth holding steady and credit conditions becoming somewhat less stringent than in past years, the willingness and opportunity to buy is becoming more feasible for many single women,” Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist, said in the October 2016 report.

Blake, 26, also isn’t alone among her millennial peers. According to the Chase Slate 2017 Credit Outlook, one-third of millennials plan to purchase a home within the next four to five years. And they’re serious about preparation — nearly 40 percent of millennials check their credit scores every month, compared to around 30 percent of Gen Xers and Boomers.

For Blake, buying her house was a dream come true. She found it while browsing an auction website where Detroit residents can bid on abandoned homes. In May 2015, Blake won the auction for her home with a bid of $13,700 — a steal for a 2,700-square-foot house near the city’s Midtown section, which in recent years has been revived by artists, young professionals transplanted from more expensive cities, and longtime Detroit residents. But like most of the fixer-uppers on auction, Blake’s home needed serious work. So she budgeted $120,000 to turn the 1914 house into a modern-day gem.

As rewarding as it is to call the house her own, Blake admits buying alone can be stressful. There’s the obvious disadvantage of having only one income instead of two. Blake earns nearly $100,000 a year as a freelance web developer, and has carefully budgeted to avoid debt. This discipline helped her secure a $130,000 loan at a low-interest rate of 1.375 percent from a non-profit that provides mortgages and renovation loans at below-market interest rates for people purchasing property in low-income communities.

For solo buyers like Blake, scoring a mortgage at a favorable rate can be tricky, but there are some fundamental steps that can make navigating the home buying process easier. If you’re a prospective homebuyer, be sure to take the time to collect all the documents you’ll need to get approved, including the last two to three years of tax returns and recent pay stubs. If you’re self-employed, like Blake, you’ll need to double down on paperwork. Another useful bargaining chip is to have at least 15 percent of the down payment ready to go. This makes it more likely for you to get a good interest rate on your mortgage.

Blake immediately paid $1,300 after winning the auction, and paid the rest of her winning bid within six months. Even after she got her financing in order, she wasn’t prepared for the rehabilitation process, which presented a lot of complications.

Since closing on the house in November 2015, she was hit with one unexpected cost after another. The two-tone windows she adored would all need to be replaced, and extra walls had to be opened up to fix the electrical wiring.

“Every time my contractor found something wrong, it meant so much more was taken out of the loan,” Blake says.

So far, fixing the house has put her over budget by $15,000, which she paid out of pocket.

After a fresh coat of paint, Blake will soon be able to move into the home’s upper unit. She plans to rent out a room to help pay for additional upgrades, like installing a new deck. Blake’s dream is to transform the home’s lower unit into space where travelers can stay overnight and learn more about Detroit.

She advises single women who want to buy a home for the first time to pick places they can move into immediately — or else be prepared for a long road of renovations.

“Even after all this frustration, I still love this house,” she says.

This content is paid for by an advertiser and published by WP BrandStudio. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more about WP BrandStudio.

When it comes to buying homes, more women are going solo was originally published in The Lily on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Whether you’re lounging on the beach, waiting in an airport, or just taking a long lunch break, summer is the perfect time to crack open a good book.

We asked women leaders at JPMorgan Chase what they’re reading — or recommending to friends — as the weather heats up. Here, they share some of their favorite books about female empowerment, friendship and perseverance:

“This inspirational, true story proves that no matter what your background, or where you come from, if you dream big and work hard, you can achieve great things. It’s also a great reminder of how we can raise others up, even from the most inhumane conditions, and bring out the best in them.”

Thasunda Duckett, CEO — Chase Consumer Banking

“This is my absolute favorite book. It covers so many life themes and is relatable to women from all walks of life. It’s a little bit magical, thrilling, and, ultimately, a book that teaches you to create your own path and not to follow anyone else’s no matter what”

Devin A. Graham, Campus Recruiter

“This book gives you a tangible kick in the seat that reminds you that you ARE amazing and not to let various people or circumstances impact your faith in that fact. Women in the workplace too often suffer from Imposter Syndrome, and this book affirms that you EARNED EVERY BIT of your success.”

Karna Crawford, Head of Marketing Strategy, Media and Digital Development — Chase Consumer Banking

“This is an engrossing story of friendship between two young girls that starts in post-WWII Naples and follows them through their coming of age as women and leaders. Not only is it a fascinating read; it provides a good perspective for young women on life, leadership and independence.”

Julia Bates, Chief Control Officer — Commercial Banking

“A great, quick, nonfiction read about a young career woman in NYC who has everything going for her until a freak medical condition turns her world upside-down. Her story reminds us that life can throw us curveballs, and you must sometimes be relentless to get the information that you need — in this case to save your life.”

Erica Dardaganis, Executive Director of Business Banking Sales Finance

“It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day ‘process of orchestrating life’ and forget who we are, what we are striving for and what we truly want to live for. The story of Alice Love is a great reminder to not let society’s expectations dictate our priorities or lose ourselves along the journey of achievement.”

Laura Miller, President — Small Business, Chase Merchant Services

“I absolutely loved this book. Each of the four chapters focuses on a different hardship that all young women can relate to. This book is a collection of poems that helps women face adversity and even find joy in the difficult areas of their lives.”

Marissa Hart, Sports & Entertainment Marketing Associate

“This book is for new and experienced managers, but the insights are also useful for those starting out in their careers. It walks you through learning your role, leaving past experiences behind, setting personal timelines for growth, gaining credibility, understanding team culture, building coalitions and achieving wins.”

Dionne Fraser, Vice President & Assistant General Counsel — Chase Business Banking

“So simple yet so influential, this book empowers you to listen to your heart and pursue your dreams irrespective of the obstacles that arise. The story serves as a reminder that we need to be fearless with our endeavors in order to fulfill our purpose with an open mind and heart.”

Yanilsa Frias, Financial Analyst

“We all need determination and motivation to work hard and achieve success in the face of fatigue, boredom or the desire to do other things. This collection of compelling sports narratives is what I pick up when I need to refresh my drive in the workplace or elsewhere in life.”

Annie Goldman, Global Technology Associate

This content is paid for by an advertiser and published by WP BrandStudio. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content.Learn more about WP BrandStudio.

10 summer reads for the working (or vacationing) woman was originally published in The Lily on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

We’ve all been there. It’s a slow day at the office, or maybe you had a disagreement with a client or coworker, or maybe you just haven’t had your coffee yet. You find yourself thinking, “Am I really doing what I love?”

If the answer is yes, great. If the answer is no, it can be scary to think about what to do next. Changing jobs — let alone careers — is intimidating, but it can also be incredibly rewarding.

Karna Crawford, Head of Consumer Bank Marketing Strategy, Media and Digital Development at JPMorgan Chase, knows a thing or two about changing career paths. She studied Biomedical Engineering, transitioned into marketing and eventually earned an MBA from Emory University. Her career blossomed at marketing agencies, as well as corporations such as Miller Brewing and The Coca-Cola Company, before she joined JPMorgan Chase in the fall of 2014.

Here, Karna offers some insights on her road to success, career mobility, and taking control of your own future.

What were your early years like?

I grew up in a lower-middle class family, raised by a single mother. When I was in the 5th grade, we moved from Indiana to Atlanta, so I claim the A as my home. My mom was a federal government paralegal, and she made many sacrifices so my younger brother and I could live in a relatively nice neighborhood and receive a top education.

Much of my success is thanks to my mom making deliberate choices about where we were raised and where we went to school. She worked multiple jobs and worked hard to give us the best chance at achieving success in our lives and careers. Whether it was choices in managing household bills, foregoing simple “pleasures” for herself, or basically having to live a more challenging life financially to be able to plan ahead for our future, she was willing to do what was necessary for us. We didn’t struggle as much, financially, as many of my friends growing up did, but we certainly had challenges making ends meet from month to month. I remember one year, when I got my braces off, I couldn’t get a retainer because we had to choose between the retainer and the school bill. It seems small, but that’s what a middle-class squeeze looks like. I share this example because it helps explain what laid the foundation for who I am today, and how I got here. I am tenacious, deliberate, and always striving to be my best, to make my mom’s sacrifices worth it.

Growing up, what’d you think you’d want to do professionally?

When I was a kid, the jobs that people around me talked about were mostly trade, retail and modest professional roles. The aspirational ones included law, medicine and engineering. I’ve always been good at math and science, so I thought it made sense to study engineering. I was just thinking about being a good engineer — becoming a corporate executive wasn’t even in the stratosphere of consideration.

Once I began my degree work in college, I realized that my passion is connecting with people, more so than with things. I began working in basic roles at a marketing agency, on huge programs like the Olympics. I remember one of my first jobs was spending six hours a day plunging my hand into an ice water bucket to give away free samples of POWERade at an event. As simple as the job was, it provided me an opportunity to connect with people directly. Over time, I gained more experiences, and I learned that marketing was not only a viable and energizing career, but ONE that I LOVED. I began to realize that marketing was the truest marriage of my strengths in analytical thinking and my passion for creativity and connecting with people.

How have you grown as a leader in marketing?

I think in my heart, I’m inherently a builder and a tinkerer, evidenced by my engineering bent. Thus, my nature is to continuously learn and improve the work and the businesses that I and my teams lead in order to drive the business forward. This was true, even early on in my career.

The pivotal point when I recognized my abilities as a leader and change agent came when I was at Coca-Cola. I was tasked with transforming how we delivered media and digital for brands like Coca-Cola, Diet Coke and Sprite in North America. This change included not only evangelizing great ideas, but also shifting mindsets, motivating a team in an entirely new way, building new skills and capabilities, and adapting how we got work done. It was an extremely challenging experience, and I loved it tremendously. It made me truly realize that I run to challenges and I thrive in setting a vision and guiding a team through the change management to get there.

So, that was a key turning point. I put myself on the path to become a Chief Marketing Officer — rooted in all of the well-rounded capabilities I was building.

What’s the most misunderstood thing about career mobility?

That it’s your boss’s job to drive your career. Too often, I’ve heard people ask their bosses, “What are you going to do to help me do X?” Or “I’m not going anywhere because my manager isn’t doing Y.” My job, as a manager and developer of talent, in support of your career growth, is to do a couple things: First, if you don’t know what you want to do with your career, I’m here to help you find clarity and focus. Once you have clarity, my job is to present opportunities, support skill and capability development and eliminate barriers, so that you are best positioned for career mobility. But you have to own defining, seeking and driving that mobility to fruition.

Most recently, I’ve helped one of my employees define her career path and map out a development plan. She had been struggling to find a path and remain excited about her future. I guided her through how to network throughout the firm, and she used that to meet new hiring managers, establish new relationships, expand her existing projects to create connections with those new hiring managers, and as a result, find roles that fit her plan. She has just recently been promoted into a new Executive Director role, in a different part of the business. Her tenacity and ownership of working the plan paid off.

Ultimately, we control our own career mobility.

This content is paid for by an advertiser and published by WP BrandStudio. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more about WP BrandStudio.

Take control of your career — and don’t be afraid to change directions was originally published in The Lily on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.