Jenny Child: Making good career decisions, getting the most out of her commute and her main asset
May 6, 2024
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Jenny Child, the CEO of Oroton and former McKinsey consultant, shares her journey from contemplating a medical career to leading a luxury brand. She discusses how her charity work fueled her career and highlights the importance of problem-solving skills. Jenny emphasizes making thoughtful career decisions and the value of using commuting time productively. She also shares insights on effective communication in business and reflects on personal growth through family travel, blending professional ambitions with core family values.
Jenny Child emphasizes that career decisions are not permanent, encouraging individuals to embrace change and informed risks for personal and professional growth.
Effective communication is vital in leadership, as Jenny learned that clear messaging and innovative strategies ensure team alignment and understanding of objectives.
Deep dives
Embracing Change and Uncertainty
The conversation highlights the importance of recognizing that no decision is irreversible, encouraging individuals to embrace the possibility of change without fear of uncertainty. Jenny Child shares advice from a mentor who emphasized taking informed risks while reminding young professionals that career paths can shift without the pressure of permanence. This perspective allows individuals to move forward despite uncertainties, particularly regarding life decisions such as marriage or parenthood. The discussion underscores the necessity of making choices based on current knowledge and personal truths rather than being paralyzed by doubt.
Lessons from Experience and Reflection
Jenny recounts a pivotal moment during her career at McKinsey when she contemplated leaving out of frustration but was advised to reflect on the benefits of her current situation. This moment of introspection led her to realize that she was running away from her insecurities instead of seeking growth. Following this reflection, she embraced her learning opportunities and shifted her focus to what inspired her professionally, ultimately making her more resilient and adaptable. Such experiences highlight the significance of mentorship and reflection in fostering personal and professional development.
Effective Communication in Leadership
The importance of communication is emphasized as Jenny discusses a past failure related to ineffective strategy sharing within her company. She learned that clear and continuous communication is crucial, as teams require frequent reminders and varied methods to fully grasp strategic objectives. This realization guided her to adopt innovative communication strategies, such as engaging presentations and consistent messaging in meetings, to ensure alignment and understanding among her team. Ultimately, maintaining open lines of communication proves essential for successful leadership and collective goal achievement.
In this week’s episode, Oroton CEO Jenny Child chats about the problem-solving skills she developed at McKinsey, how working for charity supercharged her career and why she decided not to become a doctor.