When I was growing up as a U.S. born child of immigrants I felt societal pressure to assimilate to the American way of life, and familial pressure to do the exact opposite. Mastering English was fine, but there was little interest in my mastering the American ethos and way of life. I, unknowingly, carried that with me for the first 20 years of my career. I exclusively worked in general market advertising, even though I was a bicultural Hispanic. I then retro-acculturated (or returned to my roots) and when I returned, I completely returned. I started a discipline (within the agency I was working for at the time) to target bilingual/bicultural Hispanics digitally, when no one else was doing so, and have stayed true to this segment over a decade later - constantly learning and demystifying Hispanics for the industry. So the first challenge was to embrace myself and the totality of who I was and what I had to offer. The second challenge was convincing my superiors that we needed to invest in targeting people like me. I also was challenged with co-workers who felt that I had diminished myself/my expertise by now working in minority marketing - the name itself implies a negative (multicultural is a better term). So the discrimination continued into adulthood. Finally, I had to convince clients that this was a segment that existed and mattered. Children of immigrants become the Sherpas for their foreign born parents: translating; interpreting; demystifying and informing purchases and decisions at a very early age. By marketing to them, brands secure a greater ROI. As I continue my role in corporate America today as a CMO, I have also founded my own company that targets children of immigrants in primary schools, via books and videos so they can both be seen and, more importantly, validated. This has brought its own set of challenges, but I was driven by the fact that these children feel second class because they don't see themselves reflected back in the media authentically. Had I had what I've created today as a child, my life would have turned out differently. But I'm grateful it turned out as it did. More at wearemarivi.com
My advice is to not be scared to leave a job that doesn't make you feel valued, heard, and seen. Throughout my career, I've had the same job title and responsibilities, but faced very different experiences across companies. My advice is to work in-house, agency side, freelance, etc. because this will show you what you want and don't want in a job. In my career, I've strived to not focus on job titles or industries but instead asked myself what company fits my current needs rather than if I fit that company on paper. I went to my local state university, had a standard GPA, and no professional connections, yet every no just redirected me to a better opportunity. As a first-generation professional, understand that obstacles are always going to be present, but redefine what "success" looks like and be open to changing what that means to you now and 10 years down the line.
My creative journey traces back to a small Caribbean island, where I discovered my love for drawing 80s cartoons. While other kids flew kites and played baseball, I was in my room drawing my favorite characters. This early spark of creativity ignited a passion that led me to become an award-winning designer, but not without facing hard times. The biggest challenge I faced was isolation due to the lack of diversity in the design industry. Throughout my career, I've often been the only person of color in my creative team and sometimes the entire marketing department. Thankfully, my desire for a supportive community was stronger than my fear of isolation, and it pushed me to actively seek out and advocate for designers of color.
As a first-generation physician, there were lots unknowns that I had to navigate. Black female physicians make up 3% of the entire physician workforce. As a child born to teenage parents that did not attend college, my educational journey was full of firsts. There were naysayers and roadblocks, but I had to find a community, as well as mentors, who become my personal board of directors, in addition to my family and friends, who I could lean on for guidance through unchartered territories. With their support, I was able to obtain acceptance as a student at Hampton University into the Early Medical School Selection Program at Boston University School. My time there was not completely full of roses, but I was able to take the adversity that I faced in in Boston, such as. when one of my supervising physicians told me to come up with a "Plan B" when he asked about my career aspirations since i was a "woman and a minority." Yes, he really said that! I decided not let anyone dim my light, simply because it was shining in their eyes. I went on to attend residency at the University of Maryland Family Medicine Program, serving at an underserved community clinic afterwards. Looking to serve populations from a higher level, I transitioned into leadership in telehealth, before the pandemic, when it became the "cool thing to do." Since then, I've become an author, podcaster, international speaker with her own TEDX, health equity leader, and healthtech innovator who took a big leap to start a digital health consulting firm. Obstacles have come each and every step of the way, but one thing that I have learned on my journey is to keep leaping to higher heights. Just because someone has not done something before, doesn't mean that it can't be done.
As a first-generation professional, I encountered obstacles that others might overlook, such as a limited professional network and a lack of guidance from established role models. However, through relentless perseverance and a commitment to personal and professional growth, I have navigated the corporate landscape, which is often characterized by gender, appearance, and communication-based barriers. Despite the challenges, I have drawn inspiration from influential industry authors and motivational speakers, leveraging their wisdom to shape my career trajectory. Through continuous adaptation and personal development, I have forged a fulfilling and rewarding professional path, demonstrating the potential of first-generation professionals to excel in any field. While role models can be inspiring, it's important to recognize that many have had advantages that you might not be aware of. My advice is to focus on doing the best you can for yourself and your family. Your hard work will pave the way for your future generations to close the gap, and that's what drives me forward each day.
Growing up as a First-Generation professional, I did not have a roadmap for navigating life's challenges. From selecting the right high school to identifying my ideal career path, I often felt lost and alone. I often dealt with Impostor syndrome, leaving me feeling inadequate and afraid to speak up due to fear of judgment. Over time, I've learned to overcome these obstacles. I've embraced self-love and acceptance, understanding that my journey is unique and valuable. I began to recognize that success wasn't solely defined by external accomplishments but rather by validating my journey and creating the success I desired from within. Rejection no longer defines my worth; instead, I see it as a natural part of life. I've learned to give myself grace and trust in my abilities. I've realized that my path is mine to control, and there's no single right way forward.
Being a first generation refugee and professional there were a lot of unique challenges I faced. My parents knew little of how to help me succeed in school or what type of resume markers I needed to get into a good university. These were all things I had to navigate myself, and learn from those smarter than me and mirror their behavior. Thank god for guidance counselors or I really would have struggled. Both of my parents worked in a factory assembling medical devices, and they just had to fill out an application and get a referral from an existing employee. It was a success for my mom to receive a 25 cent raise, both of my parents income combined was less than $50k a year. While they were extremely supportive of me going to college and obtaining a professional career, they couldn't help me write my resume, they couldn't help me even proof it. I had to utilize some of my older siblings for their experiences or beg for assistance from other mentors. As a first generation, I believe my scrappiness and problem solving skills came from the desire that I wanted more, and had to figure out my path to get there. I had grit, I knew I was behind everyone else and had to create my own opportunities. In high school, I went into office buildings that didn't have security and door knocked seeking an internship of any kind. I was fortunate that a start up was willing to take a shot on me, and signed my school credit forms. I went there everyday after school and I waitressed on the weekends for actual money. From there I was able to at least start building my experience. I have had to learn from my failures because no one was there coaching me along the way until I was older and found true mentors. I recall having a part time job in an office that did accounting work for a restaurant franchisee. No one ever taught me how to write an email or memo, and I am not sure I was ever taught how to properly pen a letter either. I learned quick that the way I wrote emails to the general managers to request things was a bit too direct, and gained an understanding that there was a hierarchy or politics in the professional world. Despite the obstacles, "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger." Continue to charge forward, and push yourself to continually be better. I never expected to become an executive, but I have numerous mentors, grit, and perseverance to thank for it.
Navigating the world of entrepreneurship as a first-gen founder has come with its unique set of challenges and benefits alike. When you grow up with immigrant parents, you learn from an early age the power of hard work, determination, and true grit (all the elements of a successful entrepreneur). However, as first-generation professionals, we face several hindrances to success, such as building professional networks from scratch, overcoming imposter syndrome, and accessing capital. Nevertheless, the fire to reach our parents' American Dream (Sueño Americano) fuels our stamina to carve our own paths, using our knowledge from education and family values to interact with different communities and become more well-rounded leaders for the next generation.
As the CEO of Create & Cultivate my journey to this leadership position has been shaped by the unique challenges I faced as a woman of color and a first-generation professional. Upon arriving in the US my anticipation of boundless opportunities quickly collided with the reality of systemic barriers, particularly evident in professional settings. In these environments my voice was often overlooked and my ideas undervalued. It was also a struggle to find a community where I felt supported and understood. This pushed me to work relentlessly to demonstrate my capabilities and assert my leadership. My experience involved a deep confrontation with and triumph over the biases that frequently sideline first-generation professionals in the workplace. Accessing opportunities was incredibly challenging, but so was tapping into the kind of information that could alter the trajectory and growth of my career. I realized quickly that pivotal insights related to professional advancement were often circulated behind closed doors, guarded by an invisible velvet rope. These conversations were happening in boardrooms, on golf courses, and other exclusive settings— places where I, and many others, found ourselves conspicuously absent. Being on the outside underscored the significant disadvantage at which we were placed, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change to dismantle these barriers. The realization that achieving success required not only hard work but also a determined effort to dismantle the obstacles and skepticism I encountered has been a driving force in my career. It underscored the necessity of resilience and perseverance in the face of seemingly overwhelming professional challenges. This journey has fueled me with a deep sense of responsibility to challenge and change the status quo, ensuring that future generations of women, particularly those of color, face fewer barriers to their success. Now, with the privilege of leading Create & Cultivate, I am dedicated to making a tangible difference in the lives of women navigating the professional world. More than a business, it's a movement aimed at eliminating the barriers I once faced by offering resources, mentorship, and a supportive community to empower women. By leveling the playing field, we strive to create a world where success is accessible to all. This vision for a more inclusive and equitable professional landscape is at the heart of everything we do at Create & Cultivate and my life mission.
I’ve had to overcome the thinking—that was ingrained in me by my family, by my community and then later confirmed by my achievements—that success is a linear, upwards trajectory. It is not. It can be lateral; it can be twisted and confused; it can look like a spaghetti noodle pathway to others. Achievement ultimately is not about climbing upwards on toward the next rung. And even if we could continue to progress in that way, it doesn’t mean that we must or should. For me, being a woman, a mother, an introvert, a writer, and a wide-ranging systems thinker have added up to a special set of skills that I bring to the table that cannot be replicated by anyone else. But it took me a lot of finding out the hard way that certain career possibilities may not be aligned with my strengths.
Adaptive Leadership Facilitator, Community Impact Consultant at Ellevated
Answered 2 years ago
The greatest obstacle I had to address in my career was addressing racism and microaggressions in the workplace. In my first role, a portion of my work was in the diversity space, and as a result, I had my finger on the pulse of what was happening with our limited employees of color (in the region). Whether it was speaking out when a coworker continued to say discriminatory/stereotypical remarks and jokes about me and certain communities, or calling out a questionable marketing choice for a selected venue for our company event, I decided I couldn’t remain silent. I'm fortunate there were allies in leadership who listened and addressed those concerns -I know not everyone receives the same support. Today, my journey in the DEI space still lives on and I continue to hold myself responsible for making sure the work environment is inclusive for everyone. Another obstacle I had to overcome as a first-generation professional was learning to negotiate my salary. No one advised me that I should and therefore I took what was initially offered. I didn't realize that not negotiating put me at a disadvantage for my earning potential for years. After reading countless articles, receiving coaching, and remembering my dad's advice "all they can do is say no," I've become more comfortable with negotiating, and that includes not just salary, but other benefits that are important such as time-off or remote work options. Salaries and benefits should be used to bring about equity for employees --the more transparency we can bring, the better we can avoid putting first-generation workers at a greater disadvantage than their peers which would truly allow them the freedom to become some of the best next-generation leaders.
Engrained in my brain are the eyes of my disappointed latina mother when I told her I'm switching majors from Social Work to Advertising Design. I felt her heartache as she brought up her "Coming to America" journey. How could I possibly dismiss all my parents hardships and sacrifices by throwing it away for the arts? I oftentimes wished for other lucrative passions like Nursing or Mathematics but I knew deep down inside creativity has been my calling since childhood. With no support from my family or quite frankly any knowledge in Graphic Design programs like Adobe Creative Suite, I took a gamble of a lifetime. As someone that constantly puts the needs of others before my own (like my family has taught me), I took a chance on myself and my talents. It wasn't a seamless journey knowing that I've almost gave up for a multitude of reasons, but through every hardship, I reminded myself of how I longed for my parent's trust. I'm happy to share I graduated from Kean University in 2021 with a bachelors in Interactive Design, I acquired many internship experiences including one that led to my first "big girl job" at R/GA NY. I fulfilled my dream role as a Art Director where I fulfilled creative work for brands like Samsung, HBO Max, ESPN+, and more. Overtime, my parents were able to understand where my creativity has taken me. I won't ever forget showing my soccer-obsessed father the Behind-the-Scenes process for a LaLiga commercial I was working on. I knew then and there that they understood me and my passions. To any creative pursuer reading this, please trust yourself and the process. Even when there's no support on your side, or if the obstacles feel excessive, remind yourself of what got you in the game in the first place. Don't expect the journey to be seamless or perfect either. I'm still failing and trying to unlearn cultural nuances that I was taught. Coming from a family that taught me that women are meant to be agreeable and obedient, I am constantly challenged at work to raise my voice and make my presence known. It is a daily battle but one worth fighting for in trade for an ever-growing career in what I love. Please continue on the pursuit of creating the life you want to live. You owe it to yourself to continue on with the baton that your family handed to you.
Wow, I am so happy to see this question being asked! This is something I have thought about often since starting my career in corporate America and noticing that first generation professionalism is not acknowledged or discussed, even with the emphasis on DEI in recent years. This was a huge culture shock for me coming from the University of Pennsylvania, which has an entire division dedicated to supporting FGLI students. I was born in raised in a small town in Mississippi, by a violent, addicted mother with a personality disorder and an exceptionally loving but often absent father. School was a sanctuary to me (despite the bullying and racism) and so were reading, writing, and drawing which I did quietly in my room whenever possible. I excelled as a student my entire life and went on to graduate from Penn with honors in 2018. My career in tech has been marked by exceptional achievements such as 3 promotions in a year and a half at VMware, where I won awards for my work and published an article with chief executives related to an initiative I was spearheading, as a 23 year old. However my traumatic background and first-gen status left me vulnerable to manipulation that resulted in one of the worst and most consequential career choices I could have made: leaving VMware for Pinterest, where I was targeted by my managers and peers for organized group bullying and harassment that went on for several months and gave me suicidal thoughts. In the 2 years since leaving Pinterest I have reflected a lot on how much navigating my life and career without parents at all (my dad died and I stopped speaking to my mother) - let alone educated, professional parents - leaves me vulnerable to making unwise choices and being targeted by professionals who lack integrity and security in their own abilities. Ultimately working at Pinterest is the most important thing I've done so far in my career because I have learned very early that these environments can literally be dangerous, wisdom I did not have access to previously and can now pass on. Happy and fortunate to say I'm currently in the best role I've ever had under leadership I trust, respect, and aspire to be like. Still healing, but doing well! I hope/am excited to see 'first-gen professional' become part of the typical professional lexicon and recognized as the significant dimension to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace that it is. Thank you for writing a story on this!
My story is one of resilience, determination, and unwavering vision. Growing up in poverty amidst the turbulence of the Balkans, I experienced firsthand the challenges of adversity. Despite facing the hardships of two wars and being forced to restart my life as a refugee twice, my ambition remained unyielding. Upon graduating from the University of Novi Sad, I set my sights on the U.S. with dreams of making a difference. I started my career at Google but soon ventured into entrepreneurship, establishing a consulting company. Every hard-earned penny was meticulously invested into developing software products, despite facing financial struggles throughout my 20s. My journey was not without setbacks, experiencing eight failures before finally striking success with Clockify. Despite initial challenges in securing investors and raising funds, I persevered, growing Cake.com into a suite of cloud productivity SaaS products, including Clockify, Pumble, and Plaky. Now, Cake.com has garnered a valuation exceeding $1 billion without ever receiving investor or outside capital. With its trio of award-winning products and an esteemed clientele that includes industry giants such as Disney, Netflix, Amazon, and Cisco, Cake.com stands as an industry leader in team productivity and project management software.
A small but powerful gap in my upbringing was absence of American idioms. When I hear an English/American idiom peppered into social or work conversations, I either don't react or have a delayed reaction. Having immigrant Chinese parents, our home language environment never spoke of "bite the bullet" or I "smell a rat." Why are idioms important? According to studies, " English idioms are formed in a particular historical period and passed from generation to generation, embedded with unique cultural connotations..." I believe that first-generation professionals start life and career two notches under everyone else in the majority culture, so we have to work twice as hard to move up that ladder. Nuanced differences in language, like the use of idioms, are essentially a kind of cultural setback.
In order to succeed as a first-generation professional, you have to learn hard lessons often and fast. First-gen entrepreneurs don't have easy access to mentorship or guidance. They don't have trusted sources of advice within their immediate family. Instead, they need to develop relationships with other entrepreneurs and seasoned business professionals to gather those crucial insights. Even still, they have to consider differences in category, industry, geography, and time. Moving to the US, I had to learn to navigate the American business environment alone. There was no playbook available to me. Building my business meant years of determination and trial and error. While you similarly might not grow up with the same advantages of someone with generations of business experience, it's important to remember that you can still overcome that through persistence and lifelong learning.
As a first-generation professional navigating the Ed-tech and AI landscape, my journey was filled with limited familial guidance and unique challenges. I relied on resilience, self-education, and a relentless drive to succeed. Overcoming financial constraints, I leveraged online resources and networking opportunities to hone my skills. I integrated AI-driven solutions into productivity tools, revolutionizing how researchers, students, and businesses streamline workflows. My story underscores the power of determination and innovation, inspiring others to forge their paths in the ever-evolving tech industry.
Early in my journey, deciphering the right path to career progression within a maze of options and advice was a significant challenge. Coming from a background where professional guidance was scarce, I found it difficult to identify the steps needed to advance. My approach involved setting clear, attainable goals and actively seeking out mentors who had carved successful paths in their careers. This strategy not only provided me with a roadmap to follow but also introduced me to a network of professionals who were instrumental in my growth. The mentoring relationships I cultivated became a cornerstone of my success, offering both direction and encouragement. This proactive stance on career planning significantly enhanced my professional trajectory, demonstrating the power of goal-setting and mentorship in overcoming obstacles.
I am a first-generation crypto professional. My journey has been both pioneering and filled with unknowns (reflecting the nascent nature of the crypto industry itself). With no family background in this field, I've had to chart my own course. I was driven by a philosophy of pursuing dreams over merely sidestepping risks. CoinLeger would have zero chances of becoming the #1 crypto taxation software in the world without all our team (including me) taking numerous risks. I've encountered days of intense self-doubt and hurdles that seemed insurmountable. Yet, my resolve to make a tangible difference and create real value in the lives of crypto enthusiasts just like me kept me anchored. My tips may sound too basic. But the biggest challenge is staying true to your big dream even after you made ten failed attempts in a row.
As a first-generation professional, I struggled with finding role models within my industry. It was challenging to envision my path to success without examples that resonated with my background and experiences. To address this, I actively sought out mentors, both within and outside of my organization, who shared similar backgrounds or had experience guiding individuals like me. These mentorship relationships were crucial in providing the guidance, encouragement, and advice I needed to navigate my career. Furthermore, I became involved in organizations and forums dedicated to supporting first-generation professionals, which not only expanded my network but also allowed me to serve as a role model for others following a similar path. This experience highlighted the importance of mentorship and community in overcoming obstacles and achieving success.