The Typing Test

In 1965, my mom, Carolyn Byham, was 24 and recently completed her master’s degree in communications. She had talent and optimism and was planning a career with a network television station, public broadcasting or a top advertising agency.   

“My parents drove me into New York City, and I had only enough money to for seven days at the local YWCA,” as Carolyn would tell it. “Within that time, I had to secure a job, an apartment, and start my life. If not, I’d be moving back to West Virginia.” 

The first five days were the same. Carolyn would arrive at a personnel office with her portfolio and prepared for a lively interview.  

The first question was always, “can you type?”   

She would answer, “of course,” and take the test. But, alas, while she was a good writer, creative and a born influencer, she couldn’t type above 30 words per minute.   

“I failed out of every interview before I even got in the door,” she said. 

The following Friday was her last opportunity. She arrived at the office of the mega advertising agency, BBD&O. It would be the same story – she could see it all play out. She would hand her impressive resume over to the office manager, be ushered into a room of typewriters for the typing test, and be told, “thank you very much, we’ll call you if we have an opening.” 

“But at BBD&O it was different,” she explained. “I had a chance to meet the account manager for Campbell’s Soup, one of their biggest accounts at the time. We talked for an hour and then he said, ‘Carolyn, you look very promising. And, we do have an opening on the Campbell’s Soup account team. As I look at your speed-test score from the typing test, it’s obvious that typing is not your strong suit. Instead, I need to ask…can you cook?” 

Yes, she could cook – exceptionally well – and she got the job! It was her career defining job, and it put her on a completely different path.   

Carolyn created a cookbook featuring New York’s top chefs recreating their recipes using Campbell’s Soup. It featured gourmet French onion soup and the green bean casserole many families make for their Thanksgiving dinners. 

Campbell’s Soup was also working to regain their market share for teenagers. Their research showed soup was popular with families with little children and adults, but was “not cool” for teenagers.   

Carolyn worked to change that image by taking on a project with a US Olympic gymnast as Campbell’s Soup spokesperson. They put together NFL halftime shows broadcast across the United States in the 1960s. The gymnast would be on the field with hundreds of students from local gymnastic clubs, and Carolyn would confidently call the shots from the press box.  

And while she was in the press box, she was eight months pregnant with me! 

When the system was stacked against her, Carolyn found her voice. Instead of settling, she found a different path. 

I’m sharing this story of #GritAndGrace in honor of Mother’s Day on Sunday. In this story, it’s easy to see why my mother is my role model. She inspired my love of cooking and entertaining, and my tenacious spirit! 

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there foraging for dinners from their pantry each day, and please drop me a note if your family makes green bean casserole with Campbell’s Soup for the holidays! 

This story will be one of many stories highlighted in my next book, Amplify: Power Moves for Women and their Allies to Ignite Change, with the talented Ellen McGirt.  

The world has forced us – and everyone else, for that matter – to pivot, so it’s still a little early to determine when it will be published. Meanwhile, stay safe and stay tuned!