Personal Stories: Advocacy and Mentorship

In my current period of transition, I’m seizing the opportunity to reflect on my career and share some pivotal stories and lessons I’ve learned. The first is about advocacy and mentorship. When I started my first job after college, I worked at the Asia-Pacific (back then it was called Far East) headquarters in Japan for a global, US-based consumer goods company. I focused on learning the protocols of being an office worker and the job-specific skills I needed for my role. 

As a recent graduate, I was accustomed to the structured environment of academia, where success meant fulfilling predefined requirements, like completing homework assignments and passing exams. You received grades, and when you completed the curriculum for your major, you got a diploma and degree. Your job is to follow. 

So when I entered the workforce, I didn’t think about getting a promotion, because I was oblivious about how they worked. In that era, before widespread internet and social media, knowledge was primarily gained through immediate social circles. I didn’t know that I was supposed to ask for what I wanted, or even that it was a consideration. No one told me that I should. Looking back, I cringe at my naivety and ignorance. My parents worked in academia and were immigrants, so they didn’t give me advice on how to succeed in the corporate world. They taught me to work hard and do quality work. So I expected to be told what to do, not asked what my wants were.

A couple years into that job I received a promotion, despite being aware of the specific criteria. I remember being told that I was being promoted, the new title, and that I would have an increase in salary. The story was similar at my second job; one day I’d be told, I got promoted and my pay increased. 

Fortunately, along the way I met many people who generously gave me advice. I worked as a Marketing intern during graduate school. A colleague I often chatted with was a contractor there, and when I shared about my job offer for a Marketing role at a dotcom, he told me I should ask for more money. I had no idea that was an option! I attempted to negotiate, and while the base salary remained firm, they offered a signing bonus.

Later on at that company, I had the chance to move to another department by someone (I’ll call him Willie) who was impressed by my work on a project we did together. My manager tried to get me to stay and offered me more money, and when I told Willie about it, he matched the higher salary. I took the job, and enjoyed working on Willie’s team for a few years. When he eventually left the company, he told me I should ask the big boss for his old office. I did, and I got it.

Not long after, I got restless at that job and asked Willie for a referral at his new company. I got a job offer with a better job title. The pay was a little higher. When I gave my notice, my boss pulled together a counter offer that included a considerable raise and promotion to a role where I had more perks as an executive. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse (no horse head needed), and I remained for another year or so before I left for Google.

These experiences stand out in my memory for a few reasons:

• When you’re new to the workplace, it’s fine to keep your head down and work hard in the early years, but proactive goal-setting and communication become increasingly important. There’s no longer a pre-set curriculum that lays out the path to success. You are in charge of your own career.

• I was lucky to get a few promotions earlier in my career based on my diligence and capability, but I wonder what would have been different if I were more intentional.

• I am deeply grateful for the guidance from my experienced peers, who encouraged me to advocate for myself. I have since tried to pay it forward to those around me.

The lessons from these experiences planted a seed for me, and I have continued to explore and practice ways to take ownership of my career. I hope that by sharing here, I can inspire you in your journey to be intentional, seek (or accept) guidance, and confidently pursue your goals.