hi, i’m jess!

the millennial professional

“they’re lazy” “they complain too much” “they show up late” “they don’t have a strong enough work ethic”… how many times has this been said to you? as millennials, we’re constantly placed under this stereotype about people our age & how we’re perceived in the workforce. there have been multiple times in meetings or at networking events where i have felt ashamed to disclose my age to people… with the lingering thought that if i shared, they may perceive me as “just another millennial”.

how do we harness our confidence and become the next generation of leaders while enlightening our coworkers that we’re not just a “millennial” stereotype?

we’re not lazy, we work smart. we’re not complaining, we’re attempting to bring about change in a new era of professionalism. we’re not showing up late, we have our email, slack, & phones with us at all hours around the clock. we have the ability to change what it means to be a “millennial professional”.

the future is female

one day i began thinking about the limited resources women have to learn from each other’s stories & experiences.

the ability to foster a support system from powerful & insightful women in different industries is invaluable.

i would often catch myself scrolling through instagram for an interview outfit, looking on linkedin for employees that worked for a company i was interested in, reaching out to old colleagues that could help me network with someone they know… all different platforms and searches to find a common ground with a phenomenal women leader. this is what sparked the millennial professional… a space for women to become the next generation of leaders.

where i am today

i often get asked… “so what do you do?”. i’ve really narrowed down this response haha and usually end up telling people “i work in software”. my day job is working at an AI company as a product director, developing and improving on software products. my career began while i was in college. i started off in the engineering school and eventually made my way into a major that bridged the gap between technology & business. this evolved into a product internship at a telemedicine company & has propelled my career as a product leader. the road to find my professional career wasn’t easy… i switched college majors 5+ times… had constant self-doubt on my abilities… changed career paths…

every decision eventually lead me to where i am today.

if i didn’t try out a civil engineering degree… i never would have come to terms that designing bridges wasn’t the career for me… if i didn’t decide to pursue an industrial design degree… i never would have found out that i’m not much of a “perfect artist”… if i didn’t try out architecture… i never would have found my passion for design. what did these teach me? i enjoy building things & love designing beautiful products… even if that meant getting a C- on an industrial design activity that i pulled an all nighter for. there’s no such thing as a “perfect path” to your career. it takes experiencing what you don’t want to do to find your true passion.

let’s build a network

the millennial professional is here for you - yes, you. it’s to empower women to become the next generation of female leaders. this platform is a resource to encourage you to explore a new career, to learn from other women your age, to ask authentic questions, & to build a strong network of inspiring women. thank you for coming along this journey - i’m excited for what’s to come as @the_millennialprofessional.