Episode 291: Navigating Career Transitions: Embracing Risks, Self-Belief, and Family Support

Looking to step into the new year with an empowered and driven approach to your career transition?  Join us as Jennifer Manry, Principal of Corporate Systems at Vanguard, shares invaluable insights that can supercharge your confidence & drive during career transitions. Uncover indispensable tools and strategies designed to infuse purpose and unwavering determination into your professional journey.   With more than two decades as an IT professional, Jennifer embodies a treasure trove of wisdom and insight crucial for career transitions. Her evolution from a mechanical engineer to a key leader in information technology at esteemed financial institutions such as Capital One and Vanguard showcases her remarkable resilience and adaptability. As a prominent female executive in traditionally male-dominated sectors, Jennifer's journey imparts invaluable experiences and lessons, offering a distinctive outlook on embracing risks, fostering self-belief, and the importance of seeking mentorship. Her inspiring narrative not only motivates but also furnishes invaluable guidance for individuals maneuvering through career changes. In this episode, you will be able to: Learn valuable career journey lessons from Jennifer Manry's experiences. Discover the importance of seeking mentors for career advancement. Explore navigational upskilling strategies for career advancement and growth. Uncover effective work-life balance and self-care strategies for a fulfilling career. Highlights: [00:00] Podcast Intro [00:31] Jennifer’s Words of Wisdom [02:12] Career Journey - Pivots & Taking Risks [05:27] Jennifer’s Biggest Inspiration [11:20] Overcoming the Fear of Asking for Help [14:05] Continuous Improvement and Practice [14:59] Prioritizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) [15:58] Getting Involved with Women Who Code [18:38] Empowering Daughters and Future Workforce [21:33] Overcoming Self-Promotion Challenges [29:56] Daily Rituals for Productivity [30:50] Managing Inner Monologue [33:54] Work-Life Balance & Personal Refreshment [38:55] Lightning Round Questions Quotes If you fall down, get up, dust yourself off, and keep going. It's the perseverance, the resilience, the willingness to get back up that truly defines success. Jennifer Manry List-making helps me feel like I'm in control of the day and then checking in with myself to see if the inner voices are chatting too much with me. Jennifer Manry on Daily Habits There are always people to learn from, and they're generally very apt to teach you if you ask for help. The willingness to surround yourself with a personal board of directors or personal advisors is what has gotten me through pretty much every step of my career. Jennifer Manry I have this group of humans at home that I care very much about. So I stay grounded by ensuring that I have the right amount of time to do things outside of work that bring me joy. We do a lot of family things. Jennifer Manry Lightening Round Questions Q: What book has greatly influenced you? A: Brave, not Perfect by Reshma Saujani and Mamba Mentality by Kobe Bryant Q: What is your favorite inspiring quote or saying? A: Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again by Nelson Mandela Q: What is one word or moniker you would use to describe yourself? A: Change Agent and Continuous Improver Q: What is one change you've implemented that made your life better? A: Inner monologue questioning Q: What power song would you want playing as you walk out onto a stage? A: Levels by Avicii About Jennifer Manry As Principal of Corporate Systems at Vanguard, Jennifer leads a team that builds and runs the technology that powers Vanguard’s enterprise-wide operations, including Human Resources, Legal, Risk, Marketing, and Communications. She’s also responsible for supporting technology needs of Vanguard crew (employees) so they can fulfill on the firm’s mission of giving investors the best chance for investment success. Jennifer is also passionate about finding ways to support and empower women to consider careers in STEM fields, and currently serves as Board Chair of Women Who Code, a nonprofit organization focused on building diversity in tech and empowering generations of female engineers to succeed.  Prior to Vanguard, Jennifer was the Vice President of the Global Industry Solutions group at VMware where she was responsible for defining VMWare’s global industry strategy and creating industry-specific solutions across the Financial Services, Healthcare, Retail, and Government industries.  Before VMware, Jennifer held executive leadership positions at both Bank of America and Capital One.  Jennifer was the CIO and Managing Director of Employee Technology & Employee Experience at Bank of America where she was responsible for the technology used by over 200K+ employees, globally. In addition to those responsibilities, Jennifer lead both the Global Human Resources and Chief Administrative Office technology teams. At Capital One,  Jennifer served as Managing Vice President - End User Computing, Digital Workplace, and Identity & Access Management where she drove the transformation of the employee experience, creating a contemporary, digital workplace based on consumer- grade technology at enterprise scale. Jennifer has also held technology leadership positions at GE and Genworth Financial.  She earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. LinkedIn  Women Who Code Vanguard