Our Woman of the Week now includes career advice, insights, and feedback from our clients and friends.  Meet Natasha Chou, Associate Vice President, Personal Lines Auto Claims, at Nationwide.

Natasha’s Top 3 Pieces of Career Advice:

Most Fun Job I’ve Had: Reflecting on my career, the most enjoyable roles were those filled with camaraderie and a shared mission. Nationwide’s culture of integrating fun into our work means that most of my positions here have been a joy. Volunteering with fellow Nationwiders, fostering teamwork, and striving towards common goals have all contributed to a fulfilling and engaging work environment. Ultimately, finding joy in your job often comes down to the people you work with and a culture that celebrates inclusivity and positivity.

Best Mentor/Sponsor In My Life: The most influential mentors in my life have been my parents. Their example of diligence, perseverance, and kindness have been a guiding light. Observing their leadership in academia and pastoral work over three decades has taught me invaluable lessons about leading with excellence both at work and at home.

Best Career Advice I’ve Received: Remember that you have earned your seat at the table. Never doubt your self-worth and the value of your voice. This advice has deeply resonated with me, particularly during moments of self-doubt or when impostor syndrome lurks. Always remember the hard work that has brought you to where you are. Your unique perspective is invaluable, and self-belief is the cornerstone of success.

Our Woman of the Week now includes career advice, insights, and feedback from our clients and friends.  Meet Ruth Milligan, Founder and Managing Director at Articulation.

Ruth’s Top 3 Pieces of Career Advice:

Best Career Advice You’ve Received: Do a good job with the one you have and the future will take care of itself. That was one of Governor Voinovich’s mantras he instilled in all of us that worked for him in the early 90s. I still carry it with me today.

Most Stressful Time In My Career: Without a doubt, COVID. My entire practice was flattened within two weeks. It caused a stress in every corner of my business and life. Luckily, we finally feel like we are back to 2019 levels and a stronger company for it.

Best Investment In My Career: The literally hundreds if not thousands of hours I invested in starting TEDxColumbus. Nothing changed the trajectory of my focus or business like it did.

 

Our Woman of the Week now includes career advice, insights, and feedback from our clients and friends.  Meet Nicole Neal, Executive Vice President, Employee Xperience at One10 LLC.

Nicole’s Top 3 Pieces of Career Advice:

Best Career Advice I’ve Received: “Look at a situation from every side of the Coke can”  This analogy reminds me of the importance of examining situations from all angles before forming an opinion or making a decision. By applying this mindset, I’ve been able to navigate complex situations more effectively and make more balanced, thoughtful decisions.

Most Stressful Time In My Career: The most stressful time in my career was when I led the HR integration of a company that was acquired, while also trying to be a good mom to my four-year-old daughter. Through this experience, I learned valuable lessons about time management, resilience, and the importance of seeking support. It taught me how to prioritize effectively and reinforced the importance of maintaining work-life integration, even in the most demanding times.

Most Memorable Moment In My Career: The most memorable moment in my career was when my team and I won Cargill’s HR Business Partner award.  Winning this award was a milestone that inspired me to continue striving for excellence and innovation in my work. It was a reminder of the power of teamwork and the importance of recognizing and celebrating successes, both big and small.

Our Woman of the Week now includes career advice, insights, and feedback from our clients and friends.  Meet Marti Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, OhioRISE; Vice President at Aetna / Medicaid.

Marti’s Top 3 Pieces of Career Advice:

Best Career Advice I’ve Received: If an opportunity comes your way, grab it. You can’t predict exactly how your career will unfold but you can use all new opportunities to learn and create new skill sets for your long-term career trajectory.

Best Mentor In My Career:  I have had many but I’ll call out two from early in my career who continue today as professional and personal mentors.  The first is my first nursing director, Wanda Bride. Wanda supported me through my first medication error and pushed me to not give up as a nurse but rather to learn from my error and ensure others never made the same mistake.  I have carried many of those learnings with me throughout my career as I have been in a position of decision-making of errors made by team members.   The second is Dr Rob Califf our current FDA commissioner.  Rob taught me the definition and value of excellence in health care. Excellence in continuously challenging assumptions that are not based on evidence; excellence in constantly applying quality improvement principles to the healthcare ecosystem. Rob also pushed me to advance my education but not worry much about the “initials” behind my name but rather what I learned and applied during those educational moments.

Best Investment In My Career:  Hiring an executive coach.  Having someone unbiased and focused on my personal and professional development has been invaluable.  Many think when you have a coach something is “wrong” with you rather than recognizing it’s about moving from good to great:).

Our Woman of the Week now includes career advice, insights, and feedback from our clients and friends.  Meet Brandi Braun AL-Issa, President and CEO at Habit for Humanity- MidOhio

Brandi’s Top Pieces of Career Advice:

Best Career Advice You’ve Received: Honestly, I have received a lot of bad career advice. While well-intentioned, many people give advice through the lens of their own values and beliefs, which have been shaped by external forces. Often, these same people have followed career paths (and well meaning advice) based on what other people want for them – not what they want for themselves. I’ve had to get comfortable not following most advice. When people come to me for career advice, I start with asking the person what they actually really want in life through questions about their values, beliefs, vision, and strengths. However, I will share one piece of advice I received early on from our Chief of Police in the City of Gahanna that has become a bit of an ethos: “When in charge, be in charge.” To me, this means: have the courage to step into your role and leadership. Act “as if” and don’t wait for permission or to be told. This is particularly important for women from my perspective and experience. We’re often taught or encouraged through societal and familial systems to ask for permission and/or wait for approval. This behavior does not translate well to many professional work settings. You have to boldly and courageously (appropriately, of course) take action and speak up. You won’t “get in trouble”.

Best Investment in Your Career: This is easy. Coaching. I recently accepted the role of President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity and one of the first people I told was Suzanne Roberts, who was the coach I worked with for 8 years. I would not be the leader I am today without the work I did with her. Now, coaching itself is not a panacea. The act of being “coached’ does not simply make one more effective or better. Coaching involves a lot of “homework” including reflection and practice. But, an effective coach will help a person develop self awareness, grow emotional intelligence, and develop action plans for growth. I would not have been “President and CEO” ready had I not done the deep work presented to me through coaching.

Best Mentor/Sponsor in your Life: There are really too many mentors to name. I’ve had mentors since my first job at the City of Gahanna; many of whom are still mentors and friends, and even former bosses. I’ve continued to seek out mentors with every new position through my career. I believe in having many mentors to learn from and turn to for advice and counsel. I hear some individuals say they don’t have a mentor because there is “no one they look up to” and that is such a missed opportunity for growth in my opinion (also an opportunity to develop awareness of oneself). I don’t believe mentors are “soul mates”; where there is a “perfect” mentor for you. Each of us needs a “team of mentors” to be consulted on various situations and areas of growth and development. As I move into my new role at Habitat for Humanity Mid-Ohio, I’m adding mentors for this new chapter; I believe it’s essential. There’s a book by Marshall Goldsmith, What Got You Here Won’t Get You There, where the premise is: the skills you’ve developed to date aren’t the same skills you need moving forward. Mentors can help you identify the skills you need and a path for development.

Best Book, Podcast, Resource: The Tim Ferriss Podcast is my absolute favorite. He interviews “word class performers” from all areas and I learn a great deal from all his guests – even ones I assumed I wouldn’t. Secondly, Tim is an excellent interviewer; it really is an art and many podcasters seem to spend more time talking rather than harvesting the wisdom of their guests. I’ve incorporated so many books, articles and ideas I’ve learned about from the Tim Ferris podcast into my actual work and classes at Ohio State that I can’t even begin to count.