Bank of New York Mellon : Three Keys to Your Career

Written by: Lynne Marlor | Managing Director of Business Development, Americas, BNY Mellon Treasury Services

While attending AFP this year, I had a great opportunity to step out of my typical role in treasury services and take a more holistic view. Alongside all the changes to the payments ecosystem, there are changes to the career ecosystem, too. I joined a panel with Jim Gilligan, Assistant Treasurer, Great Plains Energy and Nicole Meyer, Managing Partner, The Meyer Partnership, to share my perspectives on navigating your career in the 21st century. We focused our discussion on the critical importance of networking. It's no longer enough just to be brilliant and do your job flawlessly.

Three main principles of networking emerged from the panel. Connect, Ask, and Get Involved.

People at all job levels should think about how to connect with others and remain both relevant and memorable. Hone your ability to start goal-oriented conversations by doing research on people, practicing your elevator speech, and focusing on the other person rather than yourself. Your goal should be to have them remember who you are, and that only happens when you engage with them.

People also have to know who you are and what you stand for. It actually goes hand in hand with networking. 'A comment from AFP a few years ago really stuck with me,' said Nicole Meyer. 'Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, and how you leave others feeling after having an experience with you becomes your trademark.'

I shared a simple, straightforward tip with the audience - when you want to make a connection with someone, just ask. You never know what you might have in common with them or how you might be able to help each other at some point in the future.

To make sure you're in the right place to make those connections, Jim Gilligan reminded the audience that you have to get involved. Whether you join in with groups in your community or professional associations such as AFP, they provide a great opportunity to demonstrate your value and what you stand for.

These factors can create a virtuous cycle of career growth. Character and performance are inherent to who you are professionally, and these factors help tap in to new opportunities.