Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Taking risks
Christiana Shi didnt get to where she is today by playing it safe. As Chief Operating Officer of Global Direct to Consumer (DTC) at NIKE, Inc., Christiana oversees DTCs Global Store Operations, Real Estate, Finance, Supply Chain Operations, and Information Technology. When asked what proved most helpful in arriving at her current position, she replied, I asked for what I needed. If you dont ask, you dont get. Christiana took a number of risks throughout her career. As a management consultant with McKinsey & Company, Christiana built a deep expertise, established a supportive network, published numerous articles, and became well-respected among her clients. But after returning from maternity leave, Christiana almost quit her job: I didnt get to the point of quitting casually. It just wasnt working. I wasnt spending enough time with my son, and I was exhausted. Her boss stopped her by asking, what would it take to make you stay? This question revolutionized Christianas approach to her career. When flexible schedules were barely beginning to emerge into public consciousness, Christiana asked to work a 40-hour four-day workweek. I was sure the firm would say no, she explained. But with the support of her mentors, she was able to create this non-traditional schedule. You cant even imagine how many people told me that was just career suicide, completely. She expected the firm would only allow such an unusual schedule for a few months. But Christiana worked this
schedule for nine years, and she was the first woman with a non-traditional schedule to be elected to Partner and then Director (Senior Partner). Soon others followed in her footsteps; now more than 30 men and women have been elected partner on flexible or part-time schedules. By taking a chance, Christiana was able to achieve greater balance in her own life while paving the path for others.
Advice
Christiana advises those just beginning their careers to take a leap of faith. You have to have a no-fear attitude. Compassionate, but no-fear. You cant be afraid of downsides. I think people overestimate career risks. People stay in unhappy situations at work too long and are afraid to ask for the change that they need. She admits she never could have achieved what she did without the help of her mentors. When asked how to cultivate a solid mentoring relationship, Christiana gave simple advice: listen to your mentors. If somebodys mentoring you, part of the compact is, you have to take their advice sometimes. They have to see that their advice is paying off.
Its a give-get kind of relationship. If youre going to be a good mentee, you cant always say thanks for the advice, but Im going to do my own thing. If you do decide not to listen to a mentor, Christiana advises explaining your reasoning. Make sure your mentor knows why you are choosing to go another direction, and demonstrate how his or her advice helped you reach your decision. Thus relationship-building and networking are key skills Christiana used throughout her career. Becoming a Senior Partner in a management consulting firm is about really being able to serve clients well. Having terrific interpersonal skillsand I actually think women have an advantage in that way, because I believe were more attuned to gaining relationships, building them, deepening them, and being interested in people as people. Christiana also believes the best consultants ask thoughtful questions. If youre a good listener, thats going to help you be better at asking thoughtful questions.
Alison Perlberg is a graduate student in the Department of Sociology. She is part of the Clayman Institute Student Writing Team covering gender topics at Stanford.
Founded in 1974, the Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University creates knowledge and seeks to implement change that promotes gender equality at Stanford, nationally, and internationally.
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