Career Lessons for Sustained Success

One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned in my career is this: No one will advocate for you the way you can advocate for yourself. When I first entered the professional world, I thought my work would speak for itself. I believed that if I put my head down, worked hard, and delivered great results, recognition and opportunities would naturally follow. But here’s what I discovered: While hard work is essential, visibility is just as important. It took observing how others approached their careers to realize this: The people who often get ahead aren’t just hardworking — they’re intentional about making their contributions known. They speak up in meetings, share their goals openly, and make sure their achievements don’t go unnoticed. That realization changed the way I approached my career. I began to see the importance of not just doing the work, but owning my voice and advocating for myself. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way about self-advocacy: 1. Track your accomplishments. I started keeping a journal where I noted key projects, results, and positive feedback. When performance reviews came around, I didn’t have to scramble to prove my value. I had it documented. 2. Ask for what you need. Whether it’s a promotion, mentorship, resources, or even a clearer direction, I learned to be upfront about my goals. 3. Speak up. This was the hardest for me. I used to hold back, worried my ideas weren’t “good enough.” But I realized that staying silent wasn’t helping anyone, not me, not my team, and not the organization. Advocating for yourself isn’t about arrogance or entitlement, it’s about honoring your value. It’s about recognizing that your hard work, skills, and ideas are worth being seen, heard, and rewarded. If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: Don’t wait for someone else to notice your potential. Take the first step. Speak up. Celebrate your wins. Ask for what you need. Your career is yours to build, and no one else will fight for it as fiercely as you can. #StephSynergy

The path to becoming the CFO of one of the world’s leading telecommunications companies has been marked by challenges, learning, and enormous personal growth. I recently had the opportunity to reflect on my experience as a leader with Jack McCullough. We covered a lot of ground, from my personal journey of immigrating to America as a child, to my role as CFO, where I helped build the most talented team in the industry, and importantly, the strategic pivot AT&T has undergone over the last 4+ years.     Some of my most valuable lessons:     ⭐ Embrace Bold Decisions: Over the last four-plus years, we’ve been on a path to refocus the business on connectivity, which included divesting non-core assets, significantly reducing our debt, and cutting the dividend. All of these choices led us to where we are today- growing earnings, growing cash, and growing shareholder returns. Bold decisions, however challenging, are essential for long-term success.  ⭐ Build a World-Class Team: Building a strong team is foundational to the success of your business. A recurring theme in my career has been the importance of surrounding myself with the most talented, most inclusive team possible. This involves maintaining great networks, being an honest broker, and providing constructive feedback.   ⭐ Stay Curious: Throughout my career, I’ve sought opportunities to learn and grow. From a fellowship with the SEC, to earning my MBA at Columbia University, continuous learning has equipped me with the skills needed to navigate the evolving landscape of the finance industry. Encouraging a culture of learning within your teams can drive innovation and success – your colleagues have a lot to teach you!    Read more in Forbes:

I spent too many years thinking my boss was responsible for my career. Or the company. Or a magical fairy godmother. I thought it was everyone else’s job to advocate for me. To push me. To help me advance and grow. And I completely missed the fact that it was me. It was always ME. Our job is to be the biggest advocate for our careers. We are in the driver’s seat. And we can’t take a back seat and expect someone else to do the driving. Here are ten ways to start advocating for your career not tomorrow, TODAY: 1️⃣ Take a seat at front of the table, not at the back of the room. Be visible. Log onto that Zoom early, make sure people know you are there. Don’t shrink to the corner of the screen or room. 2️⃣ Raise your hand 🙋🏾♀️ Ask that question. Show you’re engaged and thoughtful and there to contribute. I always ask a question early on in the meeting to build my confidence to contribute more later. 3️⃣ Ask to be put on that assignment Make sure you are working on assignments that are priorities for the company. Especially in this market. 4️⃣ Coach your peers on their work You don’t have to have direct reports to have influence. Guide peers who ask for your help: position yourself for the next level by acting like you are at the next level. 5️⃣ Build a career development plan If your boss won’t help you do this, ask a colleague to be a sounding boarding or a friend outside of work. Understand what your goals are this year and what you want your next two roles to be. 6️⃣ Focus on one new skill you want to build What’s one new skill you want to learn that can help with your career growth? Pick it and commit to it. Block 30 minutes on your calendar daily to work on it. Make this time non negotiable. 7️⃣ Take credit for your work Even if they won’t let you in that meeting, share what you are working on with others. Whether that’s it in 1:1 conversations or in team meetings, make sure you let others know the impact you are making. 8️⃣ Get meaningful feedback If your boss keeps saying you’re killing it or avoids giving your feedback, ask others. Show up with what you think your strengths are and areas of opportunity to get their reactions. 9️⃣ Keep a track of your wins Start a Google doc or grab a notebook, and down all of your wins and the end of every month. This makes it easier to do your self evaluation during performance review time and update your resume. 🔟 Always have your resume ready Whether you are looking for internal or external, always have your resume ready. And make sure it’s not saved on your work lap, especially in this market where layoffs are happening every day. How do you advocate for yourself at work? #leadership #culture #inclusion #MitaMallick

After spending 10+ years in the U.S., working at top companies, and helping 500+ people land their dream jobs, here are 11 lessons I’d share with anyone navigating their career right now: These aren’t hacks. They’re hard-won truths. And I wish someone had told me earlier. 1. The people who laugh at your rejections will celebrate your offers. Let them, it does not mean you are doing something wrong. The same people will congratulate you when you crack that offer. 2. Rejections are part of the path. Even the most qualified people get rejected. Learn, adjust, and move on. 3. Perfect resumes don’t get offers, aligned ones do. Tailor your story, and show relevance. Make it obvious why you for that role. 4. Stop waiting to feel “ready.” You’ll never feel 100% ready. Apply anyway, text that recruiter, try it today. 5. Having no network isn’t your fault, but not building one is. Don’t wait to ask for help. People are ready to refer you if you just initiate the conversation. 6. Good interviews aren’t performances; they’re conversations. Learn to explain your decisions, trade-offs, and impact. Not just what you did, but why it mattered. 7. Consistency beats intensity. One hour a day beats ten hours once a month. Job search is a system, not a sprint. 8. The people you surround yourself with change everything. Join communities. Find a coach or mentor. Don’t job search alone; it'll cost you more time. 9. Big titles don’t mean big happiness. Chase alignment, and not just logos or compensation. 10. Most people aren’t underqualified; they’re underprepared. You don’t need more experience. You need more clarity, strategy, and feedback. 11. You are more capable than you give yourself credit for. Believe it, and act like it. Remind yourself often, especially when things are quiet. If you’re early in your career, mid-pivot, or feeling stuck right now, I hope this helped. Repost if you can relate. P.S. Follow me for real, honest career advice if you are a job seeker in the U.S. I share insights on job search, interview prep, and salary negotiation.

The long road to career success is a two-way street between the efforts of the manager and the individual employee. We traversed one way in a recent post discussing ways in which managers can help their teams and employees succeed. Now, I would like to take a stroll to the other side and share some insights from my own experiences as well as suggest some ways people can forge their path.   The most important way to take charge of your own career is self-advocacy. It starts by picking a destination or at least direction. Then looking at the different roads that lead toward the industry or discipline of your choice so you can start advocating for opportunities to learn and to take responsibilities that will get you there.   While a “road map” is important, I also recommend keeping an open mind in the face of an unexpected detour or fork in the road. In my own career there were several pivotal moments where I faced choices that seemed less than ideal at first. But these detours turned out to be invaluable learning experiences that shaped my professional journey. One such moment came early in my career. I was working on payload fairings for rockets, a role that I thoroughly enjoyed and found engaging, but one that landed squarely in the middle of my comfort zone. Sure enough, discomfort came shortly, in the form of the Berlin Wall falling. The event triggered a domino effect of restructuring, program cuts and workforce reductions. I was asked to shift my focus to working on boosters — a task I perceived as far less exciting.   Reluctantly, on my manager’s advice, I decided to give it a shot. I embraced the work with curiosity and immersed myself into learning about composites design, stainless steel tank design, and leading a comprehensive test and development program. The decision proved to be a turning point in my career. We presented our findings from the test program I led to NASA and the Air Force, and the experience broadened my perspective and skill set in ways I never anticipated.   A well-prepared traveler also keeps abreast with the conditions not only on their planned path but also alternative routes. For example, having knowledge about manufacturing and products makes for a better engineer. Another aspect that determines the quality of one’s journey is their fellow travelers. As vast as the industry space seems, it can sometimes be a small world. Maintaining good relationships and not burning bridges keeps you from getting lost with nowhere to go and no one to help.   For anyone embarking a journey for career advancement, my advice would be to stay open to embracing new skills, opportunities, and people. Who knows where the road may lead? In the famous words of Dr. Suess - “You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go.” I look forward to your comments on your own career journeys! Happy travels!