Career Adviser Spotlight: Maureen McCann
- Posted on August 31, 2020
- Estimated reading time 3 minutes
The following blog post was written by Avanade alum Maureen MacCann.
As part of Avanade’s culture of mentorship and learning, every employee is assigned a career adviser (CA) who guides them through their career, helping everyone at Avanade grow professionally and feel inspired, confident and cared for. Career Adviser Spotlights shine a light on Avanade CAs who go above and beyond for their advisees.
This post features Maureen McCann, a Field Marketing Director based in Austin, Texas.
How long have you been a CA at Avanade?
The entire time I have been with Avanade which is now almost five and a half years. I have the great fortune to be partnered with 8 advisees currently.
That's more advisees than most. What’s the most rewarding thing about being a CA?
Seeing people progress in their confidence, accomplishments, expertise, and career! Describe a moment where you felt inspired, confident or cared for as a CA. I feel incredibly inspired when my career advisees tell me they appreciate my leadership, our partnership or that I’ve made a difference for them in some small way. Making a difference stands out.
Tell us a little about a CA (or mentor) that helped you grow professionally.
It’s been a life-long process and it’s been an intentional combination of what I admired in past CAs and leaders. I’ve blended the best of the best that I’ve observed or personally experienced. One experience has stuck with me that I have put into practice throughout my career. After 9 years in IBM sales and having virtually no practical marketing experience, a leader hired me into one of the largest high tech firms to lead marketing for a brand new industry development initiative. It taught me that people don’t have to “fit the mold” and to give people chances to grow in exponential ways.
How would you sum up your experience as a CA in a word (or few words)?
Best part of my job and day. And it sounds like you're the best part of their day, too.
What is the most important thing to do as a CA of someone just joining Avanade?
Be personally committed to their success and enable that with helping them acclimate to our culture, make critical introductions to build their network, participate with them in initial meetings, guide their initial planning. We want them excited and feeling that they belong; no buyer’s remorse. A few months in, be curious and ask what has surprised them in a good way that they weren’t expecting when joining Avanade and also the converse. Extract their best practices and experiences that they bring – it’s why we hired them.
What work-life-balance activities do you partake in, and how would you recommend other CAs do the same?
I’m not a great role model when it comes to this. My mother used to tell me I needed to talk more time to ‘smell the flowers’. However I love to walk, swim, bike, cook (even though my family won’t eat my cooking (sad but very true)), gardening, and anything to do with beaches including Texas beaches, the Jersey shore and the Caribbean. Lately for 1:1s, we sometimes do them while walking or sitting outside to change things up. That's a idea, walking outside can still be done together-but-virtually.
What other advice would you give to fellow CAs?
Be personally and deeply committed to your career advisees’ success and passion for Avanade.
Thanks Maureen, you shared a lot of great advice today. Thanks for being a great CA!
When asked about what kind of Career Adviser Maureen is, this is what we heard from one of her advisees:
"[You] ALWAYS make your entire team visible. You instill confidence and motivation in your team to keep progressing even when things get tough. It has helped me develop in my career to realize my potential and value – this is something only a true leader can do. Your patience, personalization & weekly 1:1s will forever be appreciated. For what it’s worth, you will forever be remembered as someone who has made a significant IMPACT in my career. Keep doing what you’re doing – the ripple effect is in motion 😊"
Category Career Focus
Larry Mathias
Maureen was one of the best Career Advisers I've ever had - not just here at Avanade but at any place I've worked. We talk about "the art of the possible"with our clients. Maureen takes that same approach with her people - talking about the unique "art of the possible" around the career journey of each and every person.
Comments