Significant Career Lesson From a Head of Product as an Independent Consultant
Addy's most significant career lesson involved finding mentors or sponsors who provided crucial support and encouragement; this allowed Addy to overcome challenges like public speaking, "getting past that moment of anxiety or fear," by providing opportunities and feedback, ultimately leading to significant professional growth.
Mentorship, Networking, Public Speaking, Career Development, Leadership
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Addy Spiller
Head of Product
Independent Consultant
UC Berkeley
MBA from NYU Stern School of Business
Economics
Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing), Technology
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Scholarship Recipient
Video Highlights
1. Finding a mentor or sponsor is crucial for career growth and development.
2. Mentors can provide support and push you outside of your comfort zone.
3. Don't be afraid to ask for help and guidance from mentors to improve specific skills, such as public speaking
Transcript
What is one lesson that you've learned that has proven significant in your career?
I would say finding a mentor or a sponsor, someone you look up to, was probably the most important and career-changing lesson I learned. Having someone who can push you when you're a little scared is incredible.
I've had a few really impactful people in my career whom I trusted enough to tell them which areas I wanted to grow in. For me, getting comfortable with public speaking was an area I knew I needed to improve.
I knew it wasn't something I would just naturally want to do. It's tough, and I knew I'd need someone to give me a push to get past that moment of anxiety or fear. So, I approached those mentors and told them I needed to get better at public speaking.
I asked if they could please present me with opportunities to do that. They did, and it was incredible. They came to me with opportunities to speak in front of small groups at first, and then larger groups as I got more comfortable.
I knew they had my back in case it didn't go well. They could jump in, be that positive person smiling and nodding in the audience, or review my talking points beforehand and give me feedback. They could also provide feedback afterward. It really allowed me an opportunity to learn a lot and take that jump, which can be really scary.