: Advize Career Interview

Hear from a Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard, a startup revolutionizing connections!

This career path began with a journalism focus in college, leading to pivotal experiences at NBC, a Dallas PR firm, and CBS in London, ultimately pivoting to tech, nonprofit, and startup ventures.

This role drives platform growth through spearheading marketing, managing collaborations, and maintaining a visible media presence.

A typical day involves a dynamic mix of sales and marketing activities, including partner meetings, platform demos, conference attendance, and storytelling through various channels.

Success hinges on curiosity about people, relationship building, networking, and effective communication. Impact is the most rewarding aspect, witnessing the platform's success and sharing those stories with the team.

Navigating boundaries is a key challenge, requiring careful management of time, energy, and network. The ever-evolving tech industry, particularly the influence of AI, adds excitement to the role.

Diverse personalities thrive in tech, with opportunities for both introverts and extroverts. A key lesson learned is the importance of constant networking and mentorship.

Recruiting is an accessible entry point, providing a foundation for career advancement. Finally, remember that each job is a stepping stone, fostering growth and valuable connections.

Hands-on experience in college cultivates resilience and openness to feedback, while proactively seeking help and mentorship shapes a non-linear career journey.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Heather Trumpfheller

Chief Growth Officer

Switchboard -- https://globalswitchboard.io/

University of Missouri

Creative Writing, Journalism

Technology

Sales and Client Management

Honors Student, Greek Life Member

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Career Path of a Journalist With Career Pivots in the Startup World

Always knowing that journalism was the path to take, this career professional focused heavily on relevant experiences during college, working at an NBC affiliate and interning at a PR firm in Dallas, as well as doing "a work abroad visa in London for CBS," but ultimately wished they had explored other career paths and networked more broadly, which led to pivoting from the PR firm to the tech, nonprofit, and startup worlds later on. Getting hands-on experience in college was beneficial despite feeling "restricted on what [the] path was gonna go" due to the initial narrow focus.

Career Path of a Journalist With Career Pivots in the Startup World

Main Responsibilities of a Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard

As Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard, responsibilities are varied given the startup environment and position's focus on driving growth of the platform through spearheading marketing and managing "collaborations and partnerships with organizations," leveraging career pivots in media, sales, tech, and the nonprofit world. Position requires a main media presence as an "external and outbound person" to build new relationships and manage existing relationships to drive product improvement.

Main Responsibilities of a Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard

A Day In The Life Of A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard

A Chief Growth Officer's day at a startup like Switchboard is dynamic and varies depending on the ebb and flow of supply and demand. Much of the role revolves around sales and marketing activities like meeting with partners, doing platform demos, attending conferences, networking, recording videos, and "telling the story of how the platform's working" through testimonials on social media and newsletters, a stark contrast to the more routine days experienced in previous tech consulting roles.

A Day In The Life Of A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard

Most Important Skills For A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard

For Heather, a throughline in various career paths has been "a curiosity about people and their stories," which translates to a strength in relationship building, networking, and effective storytelling, all skills vital to the role of Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard, demonstrated by having initially met the founder through networking.

Most Important Skills For A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard

Favorite Parts Of Being A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard

As Chief Growth Officer, Heather most enjoys "seeing the impact" of Switchboard's platform, particularly because partners in other roles, like product and customer support, don't always get to see the "success story" that results from their hard work, and it matters to them to feel like what they do matters. They make an effort to communicate these success stories, ensuring others understand "what the success of our platform is having."

Favorite Parts Of Being A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard

Heather, as Chief Growth Officer, identifies "boundaries" as the biggest challenge in the role, recognizing the need to be available and helpful while also protecting time, energy, and network. Taking time to decompress and add in boundaries before stepping into the role was crucial to avoid burnout.

Biggest Challenges Faced by a Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard

Favorite Parts of Working in the Tech Industry as a Chief Growth Officer

Heather enjoys being in the tech industry because it is "ever evolving" and exciting to observe the impact of shifting trends like AI, which Switchboard is leveraging to provide personalized assessments, giving consumers valuable insight. Being "on the forefront of technology is really exciting" and it enables professionals in product and marketing to learn so much about their consumers.

Favorite Parts of Working in the Tech Industry as a Chief Growth Officer

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Technology Industry According To A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard

Heather, as Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard, suggests that diverse personality types thrive in the tech industry because it offers roles for both introverts "behind the scenes, coding" and extroverts "on the sales side" and that the industry's evolution is thanks to "everyone has different perspectives and strengths." Ultimately, Heather believes that success in the tech world depends on the specific role rather than a fixed profile.

What Type Of Person Thrives In The Technology Industry According To A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard

What A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Tech Industry

Heather wishes they had known to network before needing it, emphasizing that "networking constantly" builds trust and opens doors, even when not actively job searching. Building a strong network and finding mentors outside of one's company are crucial, as these connections can be a "saving grace" when exploring new opportunities and can even give less experienced candidates an edge.

What A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Tech Industry

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Tech Professionals

Heather suggests that recruiting is "a really easy way to break into the tech field" because it allows one to build a network, learn about different skills and companies, and determine what skills to lean into, enabling individuals to assess whether a required skill is simply something they haven't had a chance to learn or a skill they don't want to develop. Learning what types of things one wants to do is an important part of breaking into any company or industry.

Entry-Level Positions for Aspiring Tech Professionals

Significant Career Lesson From A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard

Heather, a Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard, advises against putting too much pressure on the next job, especially for recent graduates, as "each job is a stepping stone" where valuable connections are made and new skills are acquired, emphasizing that a career is forever evolving and not solely meant to fulfill one's purpose. Removing pressure from the next job allows for openness to internal opportunities and a realization that "you're gonna learn something, you're gonna meet someone new that's gonna probably be impactful into your career."

Significant Career Lesson From A Chief Growth Officer At Switchboard

College Experiences That Helped a Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard Succeed

Heather, a Chief Growth Officer, attributes success to gaining hands-on experience in college, which fostered a "less afraid to make mistakes" mentality that allowed for risk-taking and better receptiveness to feedback, however she wishes she would have applied this mentality upon entering the workforce. She also encourages college students, especially women, to actively seek help, mentorship, and feedback throughout their education and career, recognizing that "your career path is going to be more like a jungle gym than a ladder."

College Experiences That Helped a Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard Succeed

Advizer Personal Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathertrumpfheller/