Whether You're Looking For A Job Or To Move Up, You Can Make Your Own Serendipity Happen

Andrea Onilude is a multichannel B2B and content marketing expert who is Vice President of Marketing Strategy for Teradata. She has held senior marketing roles at IBM and Prudential. (This is Part 2 of our interview. You can read Part 1 here.)

Other than the executive coach who made a key introduction for you, is there anybody else that was instrumental in your career success? And why do you think that person decided to mentor, sponsor, or champion you?

"I’ve known my current boss for over eight years.? I've been in enough rooms with her to understand how she works, how she thinks, and how she is always looking at the bigger picture. She is such an empathetic, fair-minded person, and she is hard working.

"I think she appreciates that I’m a sponge and solutions oriented. I observe and soak up as much as I can. I also seek to solve and bring the right people and processes in place to drive our organization forward. I am forever grateful. My boss has seen things in me and encourages me to bring those forward. I am not afraid to try new things, and comfortable asking for help."

Is there anything that you would have done differently in your career when it comes to business relationships?

"Tell everybody what you’re looking for, and I mean everyone.? Friend, significant other, neighbor, the lady that’s in your yoga class, the guy you always see in line at Starbucks. Everyone!"

:Whether you are looking for a new job, a new assignment, a board seat, or launching a business. Open yourself up and be proactive. You just don't know who knows who. I’m not suggesting you become a weirdo and walk into Starbucks and loudly broadcast.? LOL!"

"Early in my career, what held me back was I thought I would be imposing on people if I shared what I wanted. So now I tell young people that I mentor to open up, be unafraid."

"If they don't know somebody that they can introduce you to, no harm, no foul. But if they happen to know someone or know of something that could help you, then it’s just as they say, serendipitous."