Page 55 - 2018 Powerlist

understand those differences.”
In a role that involves overseeing THREE THINGS I LEARNT FROM MY CAREER
the marketing of the HSBC brand
across Europe, Nancy says it has been
a personal and career-enhancing The journey map can change. “At it’s not about cultural stereotypes,
experience moving to London. college my plan was to become a but more about the diverse working
“The greatest thing my time at HSBC lawyer. I studied economics because practices.”
has afforded me is the ability to see how I thought it was interesting, but the Business, Corporates, Financiers & Entrepreneurs
big the world is. In the States you do get plan was always to go to law school Careers are a mix of luck and
quite a limited world view. On the TV after I graduated. But my father, who strategy. “When I was at AT&T I was
news in the States you may only get a trained as a lawyer, passed away while getting what you call a bell-shaped
few minutes on world news. Watching I was at college and from then on the head. I wasn’t going to see how
the news on TV in the UK is world news. law no longer held the same appeal it the world really was. So when I was
I‘m much more informed.” once did.” presented with the opportunity to
The daughter of Haitian immigrants to go to American Express it was a
the States, Nancy was born and Make an effort to understand the combination of strategy and luck. I
grew up in Chicago. But her story is not cultural and working practices of saw American Express at the time
the clichéd one of the girl from a poor different environments. “In work as the pinnacle of service marketing
inner-city neighbourhood that made environments, I know now there is a and thought ‘man I would love to be
good. thoroughness and meticulous nature there’. It was strategic that I identified
“My father was the youngest attorney in some places and not others. When where I should go and luck that I got
in Haiti. My mother was an accountant. you talk about all the cultural things an appointment there. And it was a
They only moved to America because that you learn from different markets, fabulous place to work and grow.”
of the political instability in Haiti. My
grandmother’s brother had gone to the
Sorbonne and Howard University.” that any minority faces in a corporate Asked if she would define her own
It was a comfortable, middle-class world is to engage in a conversation to career path as mainly strategy or good
upbringing where a great deal of make others feel comfortable. The more luck, Nancy has a long pause to think.
emphasis was put on education. “I you do it, the easier it becomes. “With regard to the journey, a bit of
went to a private school in Chicago “I remember I was 23 working in a both. In regard to the destination, that is
and I absolutely think that coming corporation when a male colleague still open.
from an immigrant background made asked me if all black people walked on “The strategic part was enhancing
a difference. Doing well at school was the back of their shoes like they were my own personal tool box by learning
non-negotiable. You didn’t even know slippers? skills that help me in my next role. All
there was an option.” my roles have helped me to broaden
A French speaker due to her intellectually.
family roots, Nancy still has a strong “You can never plan everything
connection with Haiti. “My sister works because things happen outside of
for the US government as a contracts your control. My father died aged 55
specialist in Haiti. Since I was aged six I and my mother at 67. So things like
have gone back to Haiti every year and Lift your head that do make you evaluate your life.
I have spent every Christmas and New up and be My mother’s death made me leave
Year there for the last 10 years.” American Express just to take some
An Economics graduate from noticed – bet time to myself.”
Washington University in St Louis, on yourself Outside of a busy and demanding
Nancy started her corporate marketing job, Nancy makes time to mentor and
career at telephone giant AT&T before is currently mentoring a young woman
moving on to American Express, and from the Congo. Nancy is a member of
later MasterCard and Dun & Bradstreet. “I didn’t know what to say. Fast the Junior League of London charity,
So which role gave her the greatest forward and I’m in a meeting and and is supporting a local school and
work experience? the union shop steward has decided their literacy program.
“I would be doing AT&T a disservice to interrupt the managers’ meeting “I believe that the privileged few like
if I didn’t say it gave me the biggest because he has something he wants to myself have to give something back
contribution. I learned it from the say to a manager. One of the managers and help others. I am optimistic for
ground up. I picked up a lot about the leaves to speak to him and comes back the future that there will be greater
Hispanic market and covered places like annoyed at the interruption and says opportunities.”
Puerto Rico and Hawaii.” ‘who does he think I am, his nigger?’” So what career advice would she
After 20 years working in large She is also clear about why there give to a potential mentee? “Lift your
corporations Nancy is more than are so few black people in corporate head up and be noticed. Sometimes
aware of the challenges a black female positions like hers. “Someone once you keep your head so focused on
manager faces. said ‘talent is evenly distributed, your work that you don’t get noticed in
“It’s now more subtle. You are going but opportunity isn’t’. When you an organisation. Bet on yourself. To be
to be asked questions that other people broaden the diversity you broaden the noticed you need to have high
aren’t going to be asked. The challenge opportunity.” self-esteem.”

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