How to build a legacy - Lessons from my 20 years at a global PR agency

This week, I celebrate my 20th anniversary at Porter Novelli. Yes, I said 20 YEARS! Most people are a bit surprised to hear this because for those who have worked with or in an agency, you know it is a tough environment, one often fraught with long hours, challenging client engagements and high turnover. And in this day and age, who stays at a job 20 years? Gone are the days of retirement pensions or longtime loyalty like the generations before. And, if I’m being honest, there have been times in the midst of these 20 years when I wonder myself, why did I stay and was it the right choice. Did I unintentionally stunt my career or my earning potential? Will I be able to make another successful career move in the future if that is my desire?

Well, I don’t have answers about the future but today, I can say that my time with PN has been an incredible experience. When I walked through the Washington DC office’s doors to join the health practice, all I was thinking about were the possibilities. What I didn’t know was that it would be the start of a journey filled with invaluable lessons about myself, how the world would change and what matters most in business. If you indulge me for a minute, I would like to share three of those lessons.

See the opportunity: When I look at my 20 years at Porter Novelli, it feels as though I had a career change ever 4 or so years. In Washington, DC, I focused on health working on an array of topics before moving to Atlanta and joining teams working CDC and the Dept of Health and Human Services. I loved the work and the team. I was happy but when a need arose in the corporate practice, I jumped in to help. It was a career and life-changing experience. And, while I wasn’t the perfect candidate for the role, I used what I knew to do what I could. Taking that risk allowed me to travel around the world, tackle enormous challenges, experience seasons in business (divestitures, acquisitions, crises, etc) and GROW professionally and personally. As I look back, I realized that I chose not to stay in my comfort zone. In my role today as Chief Client Officer, I get to use all my experiences, including the years before my time at PN, to do just that, see opportunities and push forward. Many of you may be at a point in your career at your company where you see an opportunity in front of you and are not sure what to do. I say trust your instincts, LEAP and don’t look back.

Mentors Matter: We often hear that mentors matter but seriously, they do. In my time at PN, I have had amazing people pour into, create room for and challenge me. First, they reinforced the concept of servant leadership, which I saw modeled during my first agency stint. I recognize this is a key reason I stayed at PN. Being exposed to compassionate leaders who understood their role in creating an environment that allowed people to reach their full potential was transformative for me. I also had managers who were willing to provide honest feedback on how I could grow as a professional. I learned to see feedback as the only real gift we have to give to our colleagues because no one shows up every day to be mediocre and it is hard to grow in the absence of good counsel. I am grateful to Kathy Bremer, Brad MacAfee, Karen van Bergen, Joe Russo, SoonMee Kim, Melissa Taylor, Patrick Resk, Lori George Billingsley, Bill Marks and David Bentley for all the counsel, coaching, mentoring, support, engagement and kindness you have shown me. For those of you who are serving as mentors and coaches, your effort matters. And for young professionals who don’t have a mentor, schedule a virtual coffee with someone whose career you admire and get advice on steps to take to keep growing.

Create a universe of stars: From the first day on the job, we all endeavor to become rock stars! Like I said above, who comes to work every day to be mediocre - NO ONE! However, as I moved from young professional to manager/coach, I learned there needs to be an accompanying shift in mentality. I could no longer focus primarily on just being a rock star. I could only do so much and without other stars around me, my impact would be limited. As I worked to build a universe of stars, high-performing professionals who feel seen, supported and engaged, I saw that was where the real magic could happen (award-winning magic). Over the years, I have seen the impact of the stars I have helped cultivate and the universes they have built. That is my legacy in the business world. It’s not about the billable hours or the new clients. It’s about the careers built and professional lives changed. If you are a manager and a star of one, please take a moment to reflect on that, identify those under your influence who have star potential and invest in them. In a matter of time, your universe will shine brightly!

I share my lessons because I have seen so much over the years, from people leaving a company just as they were on the cusp of achieving their dreams or a manager losing good people because they were “too busy” to invest in others. We each have to decide what we want our legacy to be. I hope you join me as one who will seize the opportunity to invest in yourself and others and bask in the light of your universe! ?