PayPal VP Shares Career Advice For Future San Jose Business Manager
According to recent news from the Silicon Valley Business Journal, the professional and business services sector reached a one-year high in job gains between May and June. Much of the growth is credited towards the high-tech industry and San Jose continues to have the nation's highest average salary. But even the best and brightest candidates for management positions can use advice from an industry professional. Christina Smedley, Vice President of Global Brand and Communications at PayPal, offers her expert advice for job seekers and what she loves most about her career in high-tech.
What is your background and education?
"I grew up in Jamaica and received my bachelor's degree at the University of Kent, Canterbury, in the U.K. I have a great love for my island birthplace and am actively involved in fundraising for educational projects there. I am fascinated by the marriage of marketing and technology, and the idea that our lives can and should be more connected, more human and filled with deeper meaning through the products we use."
What do you love most about your career?
"I love helping people use technology to make their lives easier. Everyday people are making their dreams come true with a little help from tech innovation – which shows us the unyielding power of the human spirit."
What career advice can you offer for people interested in a career as a business manager?
"It's important to always remember your work is about the people. As a business manager, that means you need to stay aligned to your customers, but also to the individuals on your team, working each day to improve your business. You never know where the best new idea will come from, and you need to give the people you work with the opportunity to give their best. To give my team new sights, I participate in a mentorship program where employees across the company shadow leadership. This helps people learn from teammates and promotes fresh perspectives for ideas and opportunities throughout the global communications team. By empowering your team and helping them to thrive, you create an environment of growth and success."
Randy Yagi is a freelance writer covering all things San Francisco. In 2012, he was awarded a Media Fellowship from Stanford University. His work can be found on Examiner.com Examiner.com.