by Alyssa Towns (Swantkoski)

I’ve worked in corporate America throughout my entire career. Over time, I’ve learned that projected growth for me often comes with a pre-defined corporate ladder and in landing management positions. To be honest, as a college student, I never thought about choosing a career based on what I value— I solely sought titles and paychecks. But over time, I’ve realized that we have the power to choose career trajectories that align with our core values, such as growth, even if that means choosing what some may consider a non-traditional career path.

In searching for reference points like these, I asked several Babes Who Hustle community members about their careers and perceptions on growth. Here’s who they are, followed by what they had to say:

Name: Emily Tarallo
Current city: Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Current hustle: Professional dancer, singer, actress, and choreographer

Name: Krystina Wales
Current city: Baltimore, MD
Current hustle: Director of Donor Relations & Stewardship for a community hospital

Name: Daniella Cabezas
Current city: Miami, FL
Current hustle: Associate Director of Special Events and Corporate Relations, Miami Children’s Museum 

Name: Alyssa Towns
Current city: Denver, CO
Current hustle: Business Operations Specialist

Does growth factor into your career trajectory? In other words, how important is the prospect of growth to you in your work?

Emily: Growth is extremely important in my line of work. I think every artist would like to eventually get to the place where work doesn't feel like work. When a casting director calls you directly and offers you a show—without auditioning, due to your experience and reputation—that’s the goal! The arts are CONSTANTLY growing and evolving, and as a performer, it is part of my job to grow alongside them.

Krystina: I definitely care about growth a lot. I love to learn, so I am always looking to improve. I don't necessarily have aspirations to be "top dog," whatever that role is, but I certainly always want to be learning and implementing new ways to do what I do. There is a difference between growth and advancement. Advancement is growth, but the reciprocal is not always true. I don't view growth as strictly vertical. You can grow up the ladder, but you can grow out and expand your tool belt with new skills, too.

Daniella: Being fairly compensated for your work is not only a reasonable personal goal every female professional should have, but can also be a tool to motivate growth. Starting off, I was severely underpaid, and I would inquire to understand the reasoning I was being paid that amount and what I could do (measurable goals) to merit a salary increase. Hearing that age and inexperience dictated pay scales, I put in the effort to take those excuses off the table and reached goals given to me. It's up to you to track how you benefit the company and communicate the data that shows your worth.

Alyssa: Growth and career pathing have always been important to me in my career. While I understand and can appreciate enjoying each stage and learning as much as you can where you're at, I think it's essential to have an idea of where you can grow into next. I thrive on having opportunities to grow and find it challenging to stay motivated in environments that aren't conducive to constant development.

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In your current role, do you feel like you learn because you want to, or because you have to keep moving up and be successful in your career?

Emily: Currently, because I want to. The Performing Arts are my passion, and I can't imagine doing anything else for work.

Krystina: I love to learn, so I do because I want to. I actually feel currently like I am itching to learn, but there is not a challenge being placed in front of me.

Daniella: Both go hand-in-hand for me. I enjoy what I do, and I hunger to learn more about the industry and have a natural desire to evolve. I’m also mindful that in order to reach the next level, I have to keep enhancing my skills as I want to set myself up for success in a higher role.

Alyssa: In my current role, I learn because I want to, and because I also feel pressured to keep climbing the corporate ladder. Corporate roles present unique challenges. If you aren't showing progression or a desire to learn, you potentially lose out on higher salaries and promotions. I've always felt that my success as a professional depends upon my ability to prove that I'm learning, even if I have to know about topics I'm uninterested in.

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Do you have any advice for babes determining their career path as it pertains to growth?

Emily: I truly believe that we, as humans, are constantly growing and evolving. Especially artists. Once you stop learning, you stop growing. It's as simple as that. My advice would be never to lose that fire that sparks growth. And if you do (because hey, we are human, life happens), pick yourself up and start again. Take the class, indulge in research, figure out how your "work" pertains to other areas of your life, never EVER lose your passion, and never fall into the trap of thinking you have all of the answers.

Krystina: Advocate for yourself. Know your strengths and weaknesses, and own what you want. Pay attention to what the organization is lacking or weak on and, if you are interested in that work, advocate to tackle it. Also, know when your growth isn't a priority. For example, when I had a baby, I could not effectively add more to my plate, so I tabled it until I felt I could tackle it effectively.

Daniella: Be proactively inquisitive, observe and learn from what others are doing, ask for feedback on how you can improve, and then work on it. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Be vocal about wanting to grow and back it up with action; this includes setting measurable goals with your supervisor and having open discussions about expectations/reality for payscale.

Alyssa: Choose a career path that enables your perspective on growth. If you need constant growth to stay motivated and you find yourself offered an opportunity that moves more slowly, take time to consider whether that's the right environment for you. If you're less growth-focused, look at paths that will allow you to be in control of your growth, so you don't fall victim to the pressure of having to prioritize it. Traditional and non-traditional career paths offer different benefits, so don't be afraid to explore them and find what works for you so you can flourish. 

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Personal and professional growth is an essential part of life, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all experience. Career growth doesn’t look the same for everyone, and ultimately, you have the power to define how it will look for you.

Alyssa spends her days working in the digital marketing industry and is passionate about sharing her personal experiences through writing growth, productivity, and wellness features. She spends her free time adventuring through Colorado and beyond with her high school sweetheart, reading self-help books, and practicing yoga in the comfort of her apartment, thanks to the Yoga with Adriene YouTube channel. Catch her latest musings here.