Diversity City Presents: D.C. Forum: Tips for Breaking Through D.C. Forum: Tips for Breaking Through

About Me  Born and raised in Kentucky  Attended Emory University in Atlanta  Studied abroad in Paris  Received my Masters of Science from the London School of Economics in Information Systems  Interned in Parliament  Pursuing my Doctor of Laws Degree (JD) at Harvard Law School  Born and raised in Kentucky  Attended Emory University in Atlanta  Studied abroad in Paris  Received my Masters of Science from the London School of Economics in Information Systems  Interned in Parliament  Pursuing my Doctor of Laws Degree (JD) at Harvard Law School

London vs. America  Both economically, socially, and culturally London and the Southeast of England have just as many opportunities as the United States  Don’t think you have to move to the States in order to have the career of your dreams  But you can…  Both economically, socially, and culturally London and the Southeast of England have just as many opportunities as the United States  Don’t think you have to move to the States in order to have the career of your dreams  But you can…

Getting in to Harvard  Harvard Law School gets over 10,000 applications  But only students are accepted  Approx. 3,000 applicants are academically qualified  Most of these people still don’t get in  Leadership & service make the difference  Harvard Law School gets over 10,000 applications  But only students are accepted  Approx. 3,000 applicants are academically qualified  Most of these people still don’t get in  Leadership & service make the difference

So what makes you different?  Have you worked in politics?  Have you traveled somewhere interesting? (Caribbean/Africa)  Have you participated in any big community service projects?  All of the above? A community service project in a foreign country looks stellar.  Have you worked in politics?  Have you traveled somewhere interesting? (Caribbean/Africa)  Have you participated in any big community service projects?  All of the above? A community service project in a foreign country looks stellar.

Networking - It’s Half the Battle  Many of the people who apply for jobs and places in exclusive academic programs are qualified  In addition to leadership and service, knowing someone can make a huge difference  Although you may not be connected now-- you can be!  Many of the people who apply for jobs and places in exclusive academic programs are qualified  In addition to leadership and service, knowing someone can make a huge difference  Although you may not be connected now-- you can be!

Be Bold!  Identify people who can help you  Write to them!  Ask to meet them for afternoon tea/coffee  Never ask them for help with a job out-right  Identify people who can help you  Write to them!  Ask to meet them for afternoon tea/coffee  Never ask them for help with a job out-right

Ask for Advice  Ask them about how they got their start  Ask them about the work they do  Ask them what they love about their job  How did they get their foot in the door?  Ask for advice on how someone in your position might get a start  Never ask for help finding a job out-right  That crosses the line from ambitious to obnoxious  Ask them about how they got their start  Ask them about the work they do  Ask them what they love about their job  How did they get their foot in the door?  Ask for advice on how someone in your position might get a start  Never ask for help finding a job out-right  That crosses the line from ambitious to obnoxious

Follow up!  After they meet with you, be sure to send them a thank you letter/  Put them on your holiday card list  Successful people are busy and they meet new people all the time  You’ve got to make sure that they remember YOU  If you can, try to offer to help them in some way  Volunteer some time to help them  Research something for them  After they meet with you, be sure to send them a thank you letter/  Put them on your holiday card list  Successful people are busy and they meet new people all the time  You’ve got to make sure that they remember YOU  If you can, try to offer to help them in some way  Volunteer some time to help them  Research something for them

Making it to the Executive Level  So what happens when you actually get the job?  There are two tracks in any company  The fast track to the executive level  Flat-line  There’s no reason you can’t make it onto the fast- track  Even if you’re not from the “traditional” background  It may require some strategy and creative thinking  So what happens when you actually get the job?  There are two tracks in any company  The fast track to the executive level  Flat-line  There’s no reason you can’t make it onto the fast- track  Even if you’re not from the “traditional” background  It may require some strategy and creative thinking

Benefits of the Fast-Track  Managers and executives make time to give you inside tips and training that no one else gets  You’re entrusted with responsibility earlier than others  You work on high profile projects  You build important relationships both inside and outside of your company  Managers and executives make time to give you inside tips and training that no one else gets  You’re entrusted with responsibility earlier than others  You work on high profile projects  You build important relationships both inside and outside of your company

Organizational Structure Pyramid  In any company there are:  A few senior managers and executives at the top  More managers in the middle  Relatively larger number of entry-level, junior positions  Senior managers and executives don’t have time to mentor everyone  But their help is the most critical to success  In any company there are:  A few senior managers and executives at the top  More managers in the middle  Relatively larger number of entry-level, junior positions  Senior managers and executives don’t have time to mentor everyone  But their help is the most critical to success

Show Them What You Got!  High Grades (No debate about that)  Reputation of your University/School  Previous experience  Competence  You may have to prove yourself more than once in order to make it onto the fast-track  Passion: Love what you do and it will show in your work  Repeatedly demonstrating your competence at your current level is enjoyable, not tedious  High Grades (No debate about that)  Reputation of your University/School  Previous experience  Competence  You may have to prove yourself more than once in order to make it onto the fast-track  Passion: Love what you do and it will show in your work  Repeatedly demonstrating your competence at your current level is enjoyable, not tedious

Finding a Mentor…  Managers tend to favor people who remind them of themselves  Whatever the manager likes -- you like!  Try to socialize with your boss (drinks and dinner are critical)  Ask to work on high-profile projects  Particularly projects that will allow you to build relationships with people in other businesses  Managers tend to favor people who remind them of themselves  Whatever the manager likes -- you like!  Try to socialize with your boss (drinks and dinner are critical)  Ask to work on high-profile projects  Particularly projects that will allow you to build relationships with people in other businesses

Look Outside of Your Job Too  There are a myriad of organizations where you can find mentors and build relationships with other successful people  BME Organizations  Women’s Organizations  Political Organizations  Organizations centered around outside activities (like sports or other common interests)  There are a myriad of organizations where you can find mentors and build relationships with other successful people  BME Organizations  Women’s Organizations  Political Organizations  Organizations centered around outside activities (like sports or other common interests)

Networking Makes You Valuable  The more relationships you build the more value you can add to your company:  Expanding the reach of your business which can lead to new clients and business  Receiving training and mentoring from outside individuals makes you a more productive employee  It gives you more career options for the future  The more relationships you build the more value you can add to your company:  Expanding the reach of your business which can lead to new clients and business  Receiving training and mentoring from outside individuals makes you a more productive employee  It gives you more career options for the future