Vicki Steereby Vicki Steere, Executive Director

Soon after college, I said “Yes” to another opportunity… To run my own business.  I thought I was prepared with a strong GPA in a top business school.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  I started on what would be a 13-year journey (to start) of continuous learning.

Entrepreneurism is more than just facts and figures, theories and data.  It is people.  Working alongside of people, managing people, motivating people, selling to people, and growing yourself.  And entrepreneurism is more than running a small business.  I believe everyone can be an entrepreneur — of your own career.  OWN IT!  That’s right.  Own it.  While you interview for a job and offered a position with a company.  The only person that can own your career is you.

The biggest lesson I learned while running a business is that while I had others working for me, ultimately, the responsibility fell on my shoulders.  I learned a lot of things because of this rule.  I became self-taught in numerous technologies that I wouldn’t have attempted otherwise.  I became a skilled public speaker, even though I’m an introvert by nature.  I even learned how to balance the books.  I’m still not very good at my own personal checkbook, but I know debits and credits and how they affect the bottom line like nobody’s business. 

Take this lesson and turn this into your own career situation.  If you own it.  It is yours to manage.  No one gives it to you or takes it away.  You might change jobs, even be laid off.  Yet, the longer term.  Your career is up to you.  Take responsibility.  Learn from your mistakes.  And continually invest in yourself.  Just as if you were a business owner.