Owning Your Destiny: How Self Advocacy Fuels Career and Company Growth

Do you believe your career success is in the hands of your manager, or do you take control of your own destiny? And how does this tie into the growth of the company? Early in my career, I realized that waiting for someone to advocate for me wasn’t the path to success. Instead, I took charge of my own growth, and in doing so, I helped my company thrive as well.

I was on a path. I couldn’t afford to wait or hope for the best or assume it was someone else’s responsibility to promote me. I took on the role of empowerment, taking charge of my own destiny.

I made a critical decision: I would be my own advocate. Rather than waiting for my manager to recognize my potential, I actively sought opportunities to showcase my skills, making sure I was visible and positioning myself for success.

The Opportunity

Early in my career, there was an opportunity to present at the Compaq Enterprise Technical Symposium. The catch? The presenter was tasked with presenting three products – only one I had strong knowledge of – to a room of 200+ technical experts. It was intimidating, but I sold myself as a confident and skillful presenter with the ability to learn the other two products quickly. Though I was nervous, I saw this as an opportunity to showcase my skills to a group that could potentially open doors for me. This was long before LinkedIn and Zoom, when it was more difficult to gain a large network, so this opportunity was important. So of course, I said yes! That one decision to step up transformed my career leading to new connections, opportunities, and the confidence to tackle future challenges.

The Importance of Self-Advocacy

Selling yourself isn't about arrogance or self-promotion, it’s about recognizing opportunities, showcasing your abilities, and taking ownership of your career path. By being proactive and stepping up to challenges, you build the confidence and network that will fuel your success. This example paved the way for future connections and opportunities for me.

Selling myself and getting others to “see me” has been pivotal in my career. That methodology led to every new job opportunity throughout my career. Starting as a software engineer through CEO and board member, each role was won by showcasing confidence and expertise. I know my growth trajectory would have been very different had I not made that difficult decision to find ways to be seen.

How Self-Advocacy Fuels Company Growth

So how does self-advocacy impact company growth? When everyone on a team is empowered to advocate for themselves, it creates a culture of innovation and accountability. Team members don’t wait for opportunities to come to them—> they seek them out. This proactive mindset leads to problem-solving, continuous learning, and ultimately drives the growth of the organization.

Developing Future Leaders

Fostering a culture of self-advocacy isn’t just about personal growth. It’s about creating leaders within your team. I focused on developing my team by promoting from within and providing growth opportunities. This boosted morale while strengthening the organization. By building leadership programs like the Emerging Leadership Program, I helped individuals grow their skills, take on challenges, and lead with influence and not authority. This program focused on personal strengths, effective communication, and leadership by influence. It prepared them to take charge of their own careers, just as I had.

Through mentorship and collaborative discussions, we fostered innovation, creativity, and a culture of continuous improvement. By encouraging everyone to take charge of their own career paths and providing the tools to grow, we built a culture of success that benefited both individuals and the company as a whole.

In the end, self-advocacy isn’t just about advancing your career; it’s about fueling the growth of your organization. By taking charge of your own success and empowering your team to do the same, you create a culture of innovation, leadership, and continuous improvement that drives company-wide success.

?I'd love to hear your moment where you became your own advocate!