Significant Career Lesson From A Brand Partnerships Director At Neighborhood Goods
Christine, Director of Brand Partnerships at Neighborhood Goods, emphasizes the paramount importance of relationships throughout one's career, stating that "harnessing connections," whether through alumni networks or personal contacts, has been instrumental to her success. This approach, "putting time and care into maintaining those relationships," has yielded countless benefits, from securing initial roles to forging ongoing partnerships that continue to advance Christine's career trajectory.
Networking, Relationship Building, Career Success, Professional Development, Mentorship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Christine Waters
Director of Brand Partnerships
Neighborhood Goods
New York University, 2012
N/A
Entrepreneurship
Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
Sales and Client Management
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. The importance of relationships in career advancement is paramount. Networking through various channels, such as alumni networks, friends, family, and colleagues, can significantly boost career prospects.
2. Word-of-mouth referrals are incredibly powerful tools for career progression. Cultivating and maintaining strong relationships can open doors to new opportunities and partnerships.
3. Always act with care and kindness in all professional interactions. Positive relationships built throughout your career can yield unexpected benefits and support in the long run.
Transcript
What is one lesson that you have learned that has proven significant in your career?
One very important lesson that proves true in any industry is the importance of relationships. This starts even from your initial application, rather than submitting through LinkedIn or a generic system.
I've found so much more success, and my friends and colleagues have too, through harnessing connections. This can be through school alumni networks or friends and family. Word-of-mouth referrals are very powerful.
Even beyond that, from starting my career and working with brands and colleagues, I've found that building positive relationships and putting time and care into maintaining them has been beneficial. Countless times, those relationships have paid off in various ways.
I have colleagues from my first company at Forever 21 who I've still reached out to 10 years later. They have been partners in furthering my career at my current company, creating new business opportunities, and contributing to my success.
So, I think all relationships are incredibly important. It would be very wise to always act with care and kindness to any partners, whether they're within your work network, student network, or a client you're working with. You'll never know when they'll pay off for you.