How to Climb the Corporate Ladder with Jennifer Cooley
Today, I am blessed to be joined by Jennifer Cooley.
Jennifer Cooley is the Associate Director of Customer Experience for AbbVie, which is a Fortune 500 company and one of the Top 10 Pharmaceutical companies in the world. She has over 15 years of experience in the Esthetics industry and a Green Belt certification in Six Sigma.
If all of this wasn't enough, she is part of the emerging leadership program at Abbvie, which is only granted to 100 out of 47,000 employees.
In today's episode, we talk all about the value of being relocatable, knowing when to take a leadership role or when to step back and changing your career trajectory.
“Whatever position I'm in, I show up, I deliver and I don't live within the constraints of the job description" – Jennifer Cooley
Highlights
💫 2:18 What is a Green Belt Certification for Six Sigma?
💫 6:10 A little about Jennifer's career journey
💫 9:14 Are you able to relocate within your company?
💫 12:38 Some advice if you're considering relocating
💫 14:45 Knowing when to be a leader and when to take a step back
💫 19:02 There is no shame in changing your trajectory
💫 23:42 Some advice for those thinking of switching organizations
💫 29:13 What has Jennifer learned through the acquisition process?
💫 31:14 Three takeaways from today's conversation
Let's Connect!
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So most recently, prior to kind of this moment in my career, I was with the MIAD organization based out of Los Angeles, California. And there I was with the company for almost six years. I held many different roles, including sales rep, and regional sales rep. I did education and training for the organization. And then my final role before transitioning to where I am right now was more sales operations.
I have two children, I have a husband who also has a career. My kids are in school and so making the decision to relocate, I went in with a lot of thought and consideration as to, Is this the right decision? I know early in my career, I actually had a mentor who kind of advised me against relocating—a career move. And so when I had the opportunity to relocate, I really wanted to make sure it was the right decision for myself and my career and my family. So eventually I think what helped me in this situation was I was able to work in Irvine, travel to Austin, and had the opportunity to really get to understand the culture, the people, and the city itself. And so I think, you know, exposing yourself to maybe the new environment, if possible is a really great step in making that final decision.
Program To Refine Leadership Within The Organization
This is a program implemented within our organization to really elevate the leadership within our group by obtaining a six Sigma certification. It really allows a leader to approach projects with a different mindset in working through solutions to better the organization.
So basically you really look at a project where there's an opportunity for improvement and you take it through a kind of like five different stages of improvement where you kind of define what it is you help to analyze the data, to look at what might be some options and solutions. And really as far as within the organization and my specific group. It helped to identify areas like simplification and better workflow. And I know that's something throughout your career. And I know with your current company that you're with right now, there's been acquisitions over the years. And so you have these two different companies that are merging together and what one company did one way versus another company did another way. Having those processes find a way to merge together. With the merger that we've kind of gone through, we're in the midst of looking at the way that Abbvie kind of positions certain workflows versus Allergan or Allergan aesthetics. And just coming to an agreement as to what we do moving forward in the best interest of both sides of the business. I think has been a great opportunity with the certification.
I think ultimately my goal is to just find where the areas of opportunity are right and address them before it gets into implementation. And just kind of looking well where are the potential pain points for the end users. And let's work through those pain points before actually executing the program or the initiative.
When Do You Make the Decision to Relocate In Order to Take the Next Step In Your Career?
One of the things I know I get this question often where, you know, people want to level up in their career and there are kind of two ways of looking at it. You could either level up within the organization or you can move to a different organization. Now one of the challenges that a lot of people run into is if they're not relocating, it's understanding that it might be a longer timeline to get promoted because you're waiting on a position to open in that particular area versus if you are relocating and I recognize not everybody's relocating. I understand that if you are relocating it opens the doors to so much more out there because you're not just relying on that one position in your backyard. There's a wider job market. It helps to expand your professional network.
There's also potential for better compensation, so those are things really, to keep in mind when that potentially is an opportunity for somebody. You and I have both done that, you know, an experience where we've lived in one area and commuted to a whole another state for many, for a long period of time. And it's a unique experience. And obviously, it was amazing that our company supported us to do that. But it's not a long term, you know, you get to print out pretty quickly on that.
If you were just making that decision for yourself versus making it part of the family, kind of walk us through, how did that conversation go with your family? When you're talking about, Hey, Would you wanna move to a whole another state and relocate our entire lives? The opportunity to purchase a home was a lot more likely some, you know, in Austin versus in California. We are grateful enough. We're fortunate enough. I should say that my husband can really kind of be anywhere and still do his job. The biggest thing that weighed on me was with the kids and how they would transition from somewhere that's comfortable for them into a new environment, a new school, with new friends. And we just kind of talked through it and just, you know, decided as a family, that this would be what we would, we would do. And so I just think that the communication and everybody on board allow you to really kind of breathe through that moment.
The biggest one is COVID. So I think we moved in March of last year. So as California was closing down, we traveled halfway across the country and got to Austin. And the week we arrived, Austin closed down. So it was not only a really big milestone in our family's lives, but we also had all of that kind of surrounding us in the midst of being in a completely new environment. I think that we really managed it very well. And I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that we were all in agreement in making that decision. So it made it very easy for us to get here and just kind of settle.
How Do You Know When You Are Ready for A New Role?
Just do your research, like really understand where you're going. What is the company like, what might be within the same organization, but it's a different group of team members and it's a different site, and it's a different part of the country. So just expose yourself and have conversations with those that are already there. I think that's mostly what I can say is just do your research really. Be confident in the decision that you're making. Be sure everybody's on board with it, and then just go for it.
I recognize not everybody right now, I'm currently not in an option to relocate. But if there is a time in your life where you can open the doors to so many opportunities out there. I've met amazing people, just have been exposed to the culture of Austin and I'm very happy. I was so surprised at how happy I am here because I loved my life in California but had I not taken that leap of faith. I wouldn't have ever met the people that I've met and just enjoyed this city the way that I have. It's a beautiful city. Austin's gorgeous. And actually, I've had a lot of friends that moved over to Austin recently as well.
Taking A Step Backward Will Benefit Your Career
I have had to make lateral as well as step-down choices in my career. I think the lateral choice is a little bit easier to be perfectly honest. Taking a step-down was a difficult moment, right? Like nobody wants to move in that direction in their career. And I feel that the only thing that got me through that moment was staying positive about it and understanding that things happen for a reason. This isn't my forever, and just do your job, be successful, and good things will follow just as they always had. So, yeah, it was a situation where I went from a regional sales, manager role, and be due to an acquisition in a reorg. I found myself moving back into a territory rep position. I actually, interestingly enough, stepped back and looked at that moment in my career. I think it was a very valuable moment for me. I was able to kind of reset and understand what my priorities were and I'm very, very invested in my career to a point. Sometimes I think I pushed too hard, right? And at this moment, I think the universe was like, Hey, I think we need a reset. Let's go ahead and make this happen. And I was able to find time for myself, which I carry with me every day. I needed that reset in order to kind of refocus my priorities. Sometimes we can be, so go, go, go all the time. And so focused on our career. Sometimes it's beneficial to just take a step back and refocus and go, really what brings me the most joy and taking care of ourselves.
Look for Opportunities to Learn, Grow, And Connect With Others
My instinct is that I just show up, right? Whatever position I'm in. I show up, I deliver and I don't live within the constraints of the job description. I think that's how opportunities have always presented themselves. To me, I find myself being offered a position or promotion. Almost like, I don't even, I'm not even asking for it, you know, to be perfectly honest. I just feel so grateful for that, but I think it's because I don't limit myself to, Okay, well, this is what the role is. This is what I'm supposed to be doing. I really look for opportunities to learn, grow, connect, and network with others. To understand what their pain points are and how can I help them. You know, in the role that I'm sitting in. I think that was probably the company where I saw the most frequent changes within my career time.
So also being very flexible in understanding that, this is what we're doing now. But it's, again, not what you necessarily will be doing always. I was a territory rep and sales regional manager. Then I was a territory rep and an education manager. I was, then I went back to being a regional and then pulled into sales operations back to regional. Like it was very fluid with the organization and I think it was because again, I just offered help. How can I help? How can I support our business? Where do I need to focus my attention and just have that mindset open doors for me? You know what? There's a quote and I'm trying, I don't remember who said it, but it's it said something along the lines of people don't get promoted for doing their job. People get promoted because others see their potential in them. When you show up and you go beyond your job description, and you really just look at what's best for the customers, what's best for the organization, what's best for your team members. Doors will open for you for positions you'd even know that even existed because you're showing up and you're adding value and you're being supportive. I really enjoy learning. I think there's another quote that I love and it's gosh, it's something along the lines of like, say yes and you'll figure it out.
A lot of times that's what I've done. I am very happy about my career. We talk about saying to ourselves if somebody sees something in us and maybe we may not see it in ourselves, but if somebody sees something in us, and they believe in us, say yes. And you get to figure it out along the way, because a lot of these positions, I've interviewed people that are VPs and CEOs, and there's no school to be a VP. There's no school to be a director, of customer experience, but you figure it out along the way. And obviously, you have the skills and you bring value to an organization and that's why they approach you with these positions.
I am very grateful and happy, and blessed that people are able to see my potential. It's other seeing the potential within the employee that elevates and opens doors and just having that type of leadership support you is phenomenal. Definitely, leadership is important. I would say people don't leave a company, they leave the people they work for.
Taking a Leap of Faith in the Decision You're Making and Showing Up
I think there's a feeling of safety knowing that you're good at what you do. And you're surrounded by people who you're comfortable with. And just even thinking about it, right? Just the anxiety, the pit, and the stomach. I kind of remember those moments in my career when it was hard because I loved the people. I loved the products. I loved the company. And I was getting ready to leave it all behind for something that I didn't know was on the other side. I had an idea and it seemed to be the right decision, but you don't know, so yeah, I think, again, it's one of those leaps of faith. You just have to have confidence in your skills believe that you're making the right decision, and just show up, right? Just go out and do it. And more doors and more opportunities will present themselves because you've exposed yourself to them.
There's a lot of value in working for a different organization. I mean, there's value in having tenure with an organization. There's absolutely right. Cause you really get to establish yourself and really learn and master your job in the organization. And then there's also value in working for different organizations because the way that one organization may do something is different than another. And you've experienced that through working for different companies, as well as acquisitions and blending the two together, and streamlining things and, building these processes and saying, Hey, this worked really well here. Maybe it'll work here and vice versa. What I attempt to do every day is like, how do we make things better in the current situation that we're sitting in right now? And that doesn't happen unless you're exposed to other ideas.
Set a Great Example for Your Team to Follow
Everything I do is to help them succeed, develop, and be successful. And so just in and how can I help? What do you need from me today? What can I do for you? I just really care about my people. I think they feel that I always have led by example, I would never ask a team member to do something that I was not comfortable doing.
I think communication is essential. Understanding what expectations are and just everybody being on the same page. One thing I value very much with my current team is our ability to just hash things out, right? I may come to the table with an idea, somebody else may present it in a different way. We have a conversation about it, and we all walk away in agreement with what we're doing moving forward, right? Even if it was their idea on my idea, wherever it came from was just a unified group. And then, trickles down to everybody else, right? It comes from the top down. I think if you can lead by example and then, influence those or support those around you. No matter who is within the group or team, they'll feel that and they'll see that. And then they lead that way as.
You get to bring you come together and you lift each other up and having a variety of perspectives is beneficial. I know there are people who make this statement, like, I wanna surround myself with smart people, right? I rely on the expertise of others. I don't have all the answers. I don't know the right decision. I may have an idea, but at the end of the day, you may have a different perspective. And it's really important for us to hear everyone's perspective on this situation that we're trying to move through. I’m very happy that that's the environment that I get to work in.
The Impact of a Healthy Workplace
I love learning from others and like seeing how other people, and other organizations kind of function. One of the things that I think I appreciated the most about this recent acquisition, which was with Abbvie and Allergan is just the thoughtfulness of Abbvie and taking into consideration the culture of the company that they were looking to acquire.
I think Allergan and Allergan aesthetics has a very healthy culture and moving into Abbvie, was almost seamless cuz because that was one of my top priorities. When looking for a new position or finding a new job. I'm at a point in my career where I wanna make sure that I am working for a company that is supportive, that believes in employee development, is not political, that you can speak your mind, and be heard and make an impact. And that's what I found when I was able to join Allergan and knowing that's where we are right now with Abbvie is just so, it's a really great place too.
Three Things You Need to Speak Up for Yourself
Make sure that it's the right move for yourself and that you understand what you're getting yourself into, and then commit to it.
Take in mind that a lateral move or a step down could really be an opportunity to reset or learn something new.
Be comfortable in moving into a new organization
