Advice for someone starting out their career: optimize for people and team, not company size

Last week I moderated and participated in a panel, “Unpacking Entrepreneurship: Mindset, Motivation, and Ingenuity,” at a local high school. At first, I was hesitant to participate given the fact that I’ve technically been an entrepreneur for one year and a corporate person for 30+ years. But I felt the pull to share my newfound perspective on entrepreneurship because I was eager to hear what the audience was curious about. 

One of the first questions asked by a young student was, “Would you recommend starting your career in a big company or a start-up?”

I paused, reflecting quickly. While I certainly started my career at a big company, I have seen many people thrive in other environments. In fact, many of the tenets that were important during my time in the corporate world are just as applicable to my new world of entrepreneurship. 

I gave her a non-answer, and said, “Try to prioritize surrounding yourself with other people whose values and missions are similar to yours. Regardless of the size of the company, look for an organization that is invested in creating environments where people can learn and perform to their potential. If you’re set up to learn and grow, you’ll start off on a great trajectory.”

Throughout my career, I’ve learned how to foster these environments for others, but I’ve also learned how to keep myself accountable for my own growth and impact. The following five things are key to being a proactive member of any organization:

1. Listening actively – Take everything in and be a student of your environment
2. Communicating clearly – Engage in conversation with those around you and learn how to effectively express your ideas
3. Seeking perspective – Seek out opinions and ideas from people who are different from you
4. Setting objectives to learn every day – Big and small things, because that’s how you grow
5. Being intentional about your actions – How does your work fit into your short and long term narrative? Continually evolve, pivot, and grow this narrative over time 

My final answer to the student’s question was, “Big or small company? Don’t worry about what will look better on your resume. Talk to both types of companies. During the interview process, really dig in on the opportunities you’ll have to learn. Find a manager who believes in you. This is just the start of your professional narrative and you will be set up for success if you start learning from day one.”

What do you think? What types of environments do you thrive in? Share in the comments.