How Identity Has Influenced A Senior Manager Of Sustainability In A Global Events Company Career
Early career experiences in male-dominated fields taught Karen that "respect is everything," shaping a perspective of kindness and grace in leadership. The recent appointment of the company's first female CEO, starting July 1st, 2024, symbolizes a positive shift toward "acceptance of humans" and reinforces the importance of valuing individual capabilities.
Resilience, Leadership, Respect, Overcoming Challenges, Gender Equality
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Karen Young
Senior Manager of Sustainability
Global Events Company
Texas State University
n/a
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Consulting & Related Professional Services
Climate, Environment and Sustainability
Honors Student, Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Respect is crucial in navigating a career and should be given and expected in the workplace
2. Negative experiences can lead to personal growth and resilience
3. Having a female leader can be inspiring and symbolizes positive change in the industry
Transcript
As a woman, how has that impacted and navigated your career?
My first jobs in radio and advertising were, and granted this was 20 years ago, so times have thankfully changed. Respect toward women in those industries was non-existent.
There were a lot of very unfortunate situations and experiences that I was put through, and I am a much stronger person for it now. But I think the key is to find the human in everybody and respect first and foremost. The bad things that I went through taught me that respect is everything.
If somebody doesn't respect you, then that tells you everything you need to know. So when you are in a position to give somebody else respect, know that we are all going through things and dealing with a lot. We all have high expectations, whether on ourselves or being put on us by other people.
Just be kind and allow yourself the grace to be okay with who you are. In my current role, our CEO is, for the very first time in 97 years of the company's existence, a female. She just started on July 1st, 2024.
To have a female leader in this world is awesome. It's inspiring and it just gives me hope that everything's changing for a positive acceptance of humans. It goes back to respecting people for what they're capable of doing and for who they are.