Jennifer McLeod Macey, CAIP’s Post

Scrolling through LinkedIn lately has been a mix of inspiration and introspection. Seeing my peers land at top-tier firms, sharing their exciting projects, and building impressive networks has undoubtedly made me ponder my own career trajectory. For years, I've dreamed of joining a mid-sized firm where I could have a more personalized experience and contribute directly to client work. However, influenced by societal expectations and the advice of others, I found myself applying to numerous big firms. When I finally landed my dream offer at a mid-sized firm, I realized that it was the perfect fit for me. It wasn't just about the firm's name or prestige; it was about aligning my values, aspirations, and long-term goals. And then I was able to connect with these beautiful lines about Different Paths : "We all walk paths, unique and bright, Each journey's winding, a different light. Some climb mountains, steep and tall, While others wander, near or small. One may race, with heart aflame, Another's pace, a gentler game. Some find solace in quiet seas, Others thrive in bustling trees. Though paths may vary, goals may change, The heart's desire, a constant range. So let us walk, with heads held high, Each journey's precious, beneath the sky." Remember, your career journey is unique. Don't let the noise of others' experiences drown out your own voice. Trust your gut, stay true to yourself, and choose the path that resonates with you. Here's to embracing the journey, one step at a time. #postarticleshiplife #careerjourney #selfdoubt #growthmindset #midsizedfirms

Let me continue my story by sharing how exciting the role started for me. You know that feeling of doing something new and the great energy/vibe it comes with. I took that energy and channeled it to searching for as much useful info as needed for the job. But here's where my adrenaline dropped; I and my boss started by analyzing what my goals would be and when I heard my target clients onboard for the year should be 50, lol, it seemed like a small fit. Little did I know that to get 50 companies, I needed to speak with at least 500 companies. Hahaha. I am sure I have your mouths open now. 500 companies you say? How many companies do I even know first? Okay, I believe there's always a beginning to a task. So, my first task was to check the company's current clients, what industry, and how they came on board. Undeterred, I channeled my initial shock into action. Analyzing current clients, I identified 500 potential companies and strategically segmented them. The task now seemed manageable - 60 calls a month, 15 a week, 3 daily. From Google searches to strategic LinkedIn prospecting, even my 9-5 friends couldn't escape my outreach efforts. Stay tuned, as this adventure unfolds, revealing the strategies employed and the challenges faced in navigating the path to 500 clients. #growthmarketer #professionaljourney #careerjourney #fromstarttofinish

My friend Shazia Ginai made a great post last week about the power of being a generalist. To quote "The version of truth we have been told encourages us to conform and fit a box. In the insight sector people tend to be quant or qual specialists but when you're in leadership you probably should have actual experience working across a range of methodologies as well as disciplines like sales, marketing and finance right?" I couldn't agree more. As someone who has pivoted from one specialization to the next in the data, insights and analytics career, my various roles (researcher, tech entrepreneur, investment banker) may look odd to some, but to me, they form the perfect Venn diagram. The traditional notion of a linear career path is increasingly outdated in this day where employers are increasingly fickle and employees have learned that, often, the fastest path to a promotion or salary increase is to jump ship for a competitor. As such, the concept of a "portfolio career" has been gaining traction, offering an alternative to the conventional notion of picking an industry or sector and then working over many years to perfect a narrow skill set (like accounting or plumbing) over the length of your career. Wondering what the heck a "portfolio career" is and how best to embrace this new way of thinking about work (and ensure you're not a "one hit wonder")? I've got you covered in this month's edition of Scaled (and I've tagged some of my favorite "portfolio career" folks, below). https://lnkd.in/gssCfqcd #mrx #marketing #portfoliocareer #careergrowth #marketresearch ScaleHouse Eileen Campbell eric salama Jamin Brazil Leigh-Brindeland (Brin) Moore Emily Della Maggiora George P. Slefo Owen Hanks Emma Cooper Alex Gelman Stephanie Sandler Marie Audier D'Alessandris Jason Thome Bree R. McKeen Tim Lawton Bruce Friend Crispin Beale Tiama Hanson-Drury Eric Meerkamper Jen Barth Gareth Schweitzer Melinda Moore Denis Cranstoun

Why would an undergrad consider a role in agency new business? Next week, a panel of agency execs will be discussing careers in marketing with a room full of undergrads. I'll be taking Q&As about the new business function. 🤔 I've got the 'naughty' list covered, but what am I missing from the 'nice' list of reasons to build a career in new biz? ✅ Business Growth: You'll play a key role in agency growth. ✅ Networking: Opportunity to connect with clients and industry professionals for your career growth. ✅ Creative Challenges: Innovate and flex your creative and strategic muscles to improve new biz success. ✅ Financial Rewards: Potential increased upside for winning. ✅ Professional Development: Develop a diverse skill set and transferable skills for future career shifts. #growthstrategy #newbiz #agencygrowth

🔥 From Struggling to Soaring: The Comeback of My Old Job! 🔥 There’s nothing quiet like helping turn around a business you used to be a part of—especially when it’s for your former boss! 🙌 When I saw my old workplace struggling, I couldn’t just stand by. Turnover was high, the team was not growing & people just could not grasp the opportunity they were giving up on! Something had to change, & fast! So naturally, I rolled up my sleeves, got in my zone & started mapping out ideas that could really make a difference. 🕵️♀️📈📊 I jumped in with fresh ideas, strategic moves, & some serious determination! 💡 thankfully I had a boss who was open & willing to hear out my ideas & open to implementing them. & that’s exactly what we did. Together, we implemented it & guess what? Now, they’re thriving better than ever before! 🤓🚀💥 But the real reward? Knowing that my ideas don’t just turn businesses around— they impact the lives of everyone who joins that company moving forward. Creating opportunities, shaping a positive culture, & driving success that benefits real people—that’s what fires me up! 🤭🔥 As an Muslim Arab American woman, I know people often underestimate us when they see the hijab 🧕 & modest dress, assuming we’re somehow limited or held back. Little do they know—we’re way more badass than they think! 😤 the truth is, I’m out here collaborating with business men & woman making waves 🌊 & im ready to keep doing it, over & over, with even greater ideas, reaching further each time... I did it for my old team, I’m ready to do it for my newest one… I mean, is there anything we can not do when it’s embedded in our soul? 🤗🥰 Whether it’s cracking the code on strategy, shaking things up, or finding that game-changing solution, I’m ready to dive in & make it happen. Can’t wait to do it againnnn!!! 😎☺️💪🏼🎉 #BusinessTransformation #DigitalTransformation #OldJobGlowUp #ImpactfulIdeas 🚀#NextLevelGrowth #BusinessAnalystInProgress #SalesAnalystTooMaybe? #OrMarketingAnalyst 👀 #StayTunedToFindOut! #TheWorldIsMyOyster 🦪😌

I’ve been observing some counterintuitive decision-making over the last couple of weeks in some people looking for new roles, new clients or a new purpose. What I know is you can’t panic and relax at the same time. We can’t be creative when we’re fearful. We have a choice, hard as it might be. Yes, it’s probably harder than it’s been for a longtime to find an ideal role or take a chance and start something new. But, our unemployment figures remain low and everyday on LinkedIn people are showcasing new roles, new succeses, new business milestones reached. I’m sure behind some of these successes is someone who got to the point where they just wanted to create some momentum and changed direction, or stopped, just before the finish line. But, tgey hung on. So, if you’re feeling like this, please take a breath and keep working towards your own safe landing. ✅ Keep going. ✅ You’ll find a new role. It might be taking a little longer but you’ll get there ✅ If you’re thinking about trying something new, do it. ✅ Times of upheaval offer opportunities. ✅ If you’ve got some twiddling-thumbs time, use that to work through what’s next, focusing on what you really want to do, while you have some space to think. 📣 I’m cheering you on. If you’re looking for support in your job search, the ProductYou Accountability Community could help And, if you’re thinking about what’s next, the upcoming ‘Career on your Terms’ Masterclasses could be for you. 🖐 Hit me up and let’s chat

"🌟 The Multifaceted Nature of Success 🌟 In the age of social media, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to the highlight reels of others. We see the impressive job titles, the awards, and the glamorous photos, and it's natural to feel like we're somehow falling short. But here's the thing – there's so much more to a person than what meets the eye. Behind every professional profile lies a unique individual with a rich tapestry of experiences, passions, and struggles that may never be fully revealed through a LinkedIn post. It's the late nights studying, the setbacks turned into comebacks, the personal challenges overcome, and the growth that happens behind the scenes that truly shape who we are. Success isn't just about the accolades and achievements we showcase here. It's about the resilience, the empathy, and the relationships we build along the way. It's about the lessons learned from failure, the personal growth we undergo, and the values we hold dear. So let's remember that social media is just a snapshot of someone's journey. Let's celebrate the diversity of talents, backgrounds, and stories that make our professional world so vibrant. Let's embrace the complexities and layers that make us human, both online and offline. #AuthenticityMatters #BeyondTheProfile #EmbraceYourUniqueness

Today is the first day in ten years that I haven’t had a job. To say I’m out of my comfort zone would be an understatement, but that’s where the magic happens, right? I want to preface this by saying that I am very grateful that this is a choice I can make, rather than a circumstance forced upon me. I am aware that many others have not been as fortunate in recent times and understand the stress that causes. So why did I decide to leave my stable, reliable job then? I have always struggled to see where I fit in the world when it came to my career. I knew I wanted to do something which created positive environmental change but wasn’t sure how that looked in a job. I couldn’t envision myself in any logical positions when I thought about where I might be in the next five to ten years. So, I decided to take a leap of faith and do something outside of my comfort zone. As well as being the first day in ten years I haven’t had a job, today also marks the first day of ever being fully self-employed. My real passion is sustainability and communicating it in a way that is easy for everyone to understand. What I loved most about my previous roles was making the science palatable to those without a scientific background, and translating jargon filled concepts into relatable content. My new venture will help product businesses understand where to start with sustainability and how to credibly communicate their impact. But before starting this next chapter, I am closing the last one out with a holiday. This week, my husband and I are off to Ireland and the UK for a month. We are long overdue a catch-up with much of the family we haven’t seen since before Covid and are hoping to catch some sun (forever the optimist… 🤞). To follow my journey and be the first to hear about the exciting news I have in store, subscribe to my Substack. https://lnkd.in/g6967ihk Right now, I’m embracing being outside of my comfort zone and looking forward to what this new venture will bring! #careerchange #selfemployed #sustainability #communications

Job seekers and career changers, it's not negative thinking that stops your success in getting a position. It's the feeling of being disempowered. The question to ask yourself is where are you giving your power away? I know this is not easy, as it does take reflection and meditation. However, think about this for a moment, are you giving your power away to the "ATS or AI" because you think it's hopeless to apply to positions because "no human is reading it anyway" or maybe you don't apply to positions because of being overworked and drained. This was the reality for one of my clients until she made the decision to prioritize her lifestyle and health, and search for a new career. She did not want to miss out on key family moments such as, her daughter's birthday or her son's baseball games, but she was feeling disempowered by her demanding career, and her boss. Now, after career coaching and lifestyle mapping, we have found companies that offer her flexibility and allow her to be present at home without sacrificing her professional success. If this story resonates with you, there are two things you can do! 1. View my page on mapping out your ideal career and get inspired by the video on the connection between your health, lifestyle, and career, clip from my webinar, and the experiences of my clients who had worked with me - https://lnkd.in/emxNWZqq 2. Join my upcoming webinar on Thursday 9.19.24 at 7 pm.

✨ Key Elements to Breaking Through the Career Plateau ✨ In every career, there comes a point where you’re no longer the newbie, but you’re also not the person the industry instinctively calls. You’re good at what you do—really good—and you consistently get hired. But it’s not always with the people, projects, or opportunities that match your aspirations. And when you’re running a one-person show, balancing the roles of agent, marketer, networker, and creator, it can feel like you’re stuck in a loop of hustle. So how do you push through? Here are the key elements I’ve been focusing on: 1️⃣ Clarity in Goals What do I truly want? Which clients, collaborations, or opportunities align with my ultimate vision? Staying laser-focused helps me say no to distractions and yes to meaningful work. 2️⃣ Building My Brand I ask myself: “What do I want to be known for?” Consistently showcasing my unique value and story across platforms ensures the right people see my work—and remember it. Also, wear your brand, first impressions do matter. 3️⃣ Strategic Networking Relationships are everything. I invest time in building genuine connections, not just for short-term wins but for long-term growth. It’s about quality over quantity. 4️⃣ Investing in Myself Even without a team, I focus on learning new skills, refining my craft, and creating systems that allow me to work smarter, not harder. 5️⃣ Knowing My Worth This one’s big. I no longer negotiate my value down to meet someone else’s budget. I work to align the value I bring with the pay I deserve—and I’m intentional about finding clients and partners who see it too. 6️⃣ Creating Space to Dream It’s easy to get caught in the grind, but I remind myself to step back and think big. The hustle is part of the journey, but it’s not the whole story. These aren’t overnight fixes—they’re daily practices that I’m committed to. And while the path isn’t always linear, it’s purposeful. What are some key elements you focus on to push your career forward? Let’s trade notes and inspire each other to keep climbing. 💡 #CareerGrowth #ValueYourWorth #FocusAndThrive #WomeninEntertainment