Episode 13 (Season 2) of the Empowering Women Podcast

GUEST: Jennifer Braganza on Investing in Yourself & Your Career

BIO: Jennifer Braganza has over 20 years of professional experience in product design & development, process improvement, and leading strategic change initiatives. Her experience spans nonprofit and public boards at UNC Charlotte, University of Michigan College of Engineering, and the Society of Women Engineers. Braganza is an expert in project management and leading global and virtual product development teams. Her strengths include: Strategic thinking, business coaching, leading global and virtual teams, intercultural communication, project management, process improvement, project leadership, leadership facilitation, public speaking, training and workshops, non-profit leadership, product development, and program management.

Notable Quotes:

“I will tell you, if you really want to understand a company’s values, pay attention to what they’re doing right now. If they really are living their values, they’re living them now. They’re living them in times of difficulty, in times of financial struggle. This is when you see what companies are made of. ”

“I’m very aware of the fact that my experience as a female person of color is very different than that of a Black man, or different than a white female. We all have different experiences that we bring to the table and my job, as a leader and as a person, is to respect those differences and to invite them. And to ask questions to understand. And to love people regardless of all of those things. So that’s what I strive to do; that’s how I try to show up.”

“As you continue to grow in your career, you start specializing and niching down. You know longer think, ‘I can do all of these things!’ Instead, your messaging is very tight. Your brand is very tight about what it is that you do and what it is that you don’t do.”

“I’m a huge believer in the definition of luck - luck is when preparation meets opportunity. And the reality is that that preparation is all about you and how you’re willing to invest in yourself, in your career, in the growth opportunities that you challenge yourself with in order to be ready for that next career opportunity. Because if you leave it in your company’s hands, then it’s going to be about when *they decide you’re ready and they’re willing to invest in you. Why would you give anyone that kind of power over your career?”

“As individuals, we have to take accountability for investing in our own careers.”