I was invited to speak at the ASTRA Women In TV annual breakfast last Thursday. I feel a sense of responsibility as a senior woman in the media industry to assist in the development of the next generation of female media executives so I agreed without hesitation.
Outgoing ASTRA CEO Petra Buchanan was surprised at my quick and decisive response. I am nothing if not decisive and the speed at which I returned her email request speaks to the number of emails I receive with requests for meetings, interviews, information.
If I see something that is a definite no or yes then I need to respond immediately before 100 other emails pile on top.
It’s fair to say it was one of the biggest responses I have received following any speaking engagement. I have been swamped with emails and twitter messages offering a positive review. The speech covered how I initially got into the media, key career tipping points and how I transitioned to management. Whilst traversing my CV I offered up a tip or two along the way.
The millennial generation of women in the 600-strong audience seemed to identify with my theory on the importance of telling people your dreams and aspirations.
A young woman who was at the breakfast tweeted: “can’t wait to tell all what I want…now just have to work out exactly what that is!”
The best jobs in my industry, and perhaps any industry, are never advertised. When I was starting out I realised if I wanted to be a magazine editor then I would have to let people know it. It was because I shared that piece of information about my career aspiration that I found out about the vacancy at Dolly magazine when I was a Daily Mirror reporter. The features editor on the newspaper had heard about the opportunity and told me to go for it. There is no way that I would have found out about that job any other way. It was a career tipping point for me. I continued sharing my dreams with the right people who could potentially point me in the right direction or alert me to a role that
would get me to where I wanted to be.
You would be surprised how many people are willing to help you if you are prepared to reach out. But you have to know what it is you want. Plan your career step by step. Be realistic and be open.
Have you been assisted in your career once you opened up about your goals?