What I've learned working for a large enterprise over the past 10 years

2020 is the start of a new decade with infinite possibilities. For me, it’s also an opportunity to look backward and reflect as I celebrate my 10-year anniversary at Citi. While it’s becoming uncommon to stay at a single company for even 5 years, let alone 10, I’ve learned some indelible lessons from the opportunities I’ve had at Citi. In all honesty, when I joined I thought I would be here for 18 months and now a decade later, this is the longest time I’ve spent with a single company. 

When I meet with prospective employees or students through Citi Ventures’ CUPID program, I am often asked about the benefits of working for a large enterprise versus a startup. I’ve had many different professional experiences and, especially through our work at Citi Ventures investing in startups, I’ve seen the pros and cons of developing your career at different size companies. Ultimately, everyone, no matter the stage of their career, should try different things. I have been lucky enough to work in a wide variety of settings—from teaching junior high as a part of Teach For America to running data and insights for Yahoo! to being the Chief Innovation Officer at Citi. I’ve found that people typically learn the most through change – and by putting yourself in challenging, sometimes uncomfortable situations. The unspoken thing is that these challenging settings occur just as often in large companies as small ones. I believe there are some significant benefits to working for a large institution like Citi, which is why I’m thrilled to celebrate 10 years.

Here’s what I’ve learned:  

Scale. While I will be the first to admit there are often frustrations when trying to move quickly in a large organization, the flip side is that your reach and scale can be exponential when you succeed. The launch of CitiBike, which I had the opportunity to spearhead in 2013, is a perfect example of this. It started as an advertising campaign to build brand awareness in one of our largest markets and, through Citi’s commitment, it helped to transform urban mobility. Cities around the world now have bike sharing programs and for some New Yorkers CitiBike is even a verb-- should we CitiBike to work or take the subway?

Opportunity. I’ve worked for the same company for the last 10 years, but within this decade I’ve had three fulfilling careers. First as head of marketing in the consumer bank, second as head of venture investing in Citi Ventures and now as the Chief Innovation Officer for the enterprise. When you work for a company as large as Citi, there are unending possibilities and career paths you can pursue. By raising your hand to take on different projects and being willing to learn about different parts of the business (even those that put you out of your comfort zone), you can open new doors to broaden your career without having to exit the building.

Skills. When I was a teacher for almost six years, my father, whom I am very close to, used to ask me each week when I was going to go back to graduate school. He wanted me to have many options in front of me, and I am grateful for his counsel and his nudges. What was harder for him to see from the outside was how the skills I learned as a teacher would be valuable in other settings over the course of my career. Even today people sometimes ask me how I navigated a difficult meeting or managed a tough board meeting—and I ask them when is the last time they had to engage 43 8th graders for several hours at a time? I have learned to never underestimate what you are learning in each role and how it might be applicable in another role or setting.

Network. Everyone talks about the importance of networking externally, but networking internally within your company is just as important. Over the last decade, I have made it a priority to meet and spend time with colleagues across Citi – especially those who work in completely different parts of the organization. The diversity of talent and experiences within a large enterprise like Citi can’t be beaten. 10 years in and I still feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface. I learn something new in every meeting. I stay because my colleagues continue to teach me, inspire me and challenge me in ways that I could not have expected when I first joined.

When you think about your own career path and what skills you bring to the table, it’s important to consider the opportunities your company will offer, the colleagues who will help you grow and enhance your capabilities, and the mark you want to leave. As they say, if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life. Like me, you may wake up one day and realize 10 years has already flown by!