On a day when many people were eating greens and black-eyed peas to celebrate the new year, Lauren Robinson went out to dinner with her family to commemorate a milestone closer to home: her 20th anniversary with MarketSource. “Staying with a company for 20 years felt improbable back in 2004,” she reflects. “But I’m so glad I have. I’ve really grown up at MarketSource and have reached so many personal and professional milestones during my time here.”
Lauren is a program manager, overseeing a team of about 30 salespeople, engineers, and recruiters for a MarketSource telecommunications client. Besides focusing on achieving the client’s business objectives, Lauren feels a tremendous responsibility to help her team achieve success. “It’s such a privilege to work with my team,” she explains.
She also acknowledges how other managers helped groom her for long-term success. “My leader hired me back in 2004 and has invested so much in my professional growth,” she says. “The fact that he was the program manager for 15 years prior to me taking over means a lot to me, because I get to now care for this part of his MarketSource legacy.
It’s no surprise Lauren’s favorite part of her job is the people—and the effects of her leadership are far-reaching. She leans heavily into MarketSource’s core value of building relationships and is appreciated for her desire to get to know others on a deeper level. “Be curious, not judgmental,” she quotes from her favorite TV show, Ted Lasso. “That’s my mantra to building relationships. I’m intentional about creating a space for people to be their own unique selves; and I build trust by asking questions, finding commonalities, and being vulnerable.”
“I’m intentional about creating a space for people to be their own unique selves; and I build trust by asking questions, finding commonalities, and being vulnerable.”
With two MarketSource decades under her belt, Lauren is a treasure trove of stories, learning moments, and advice. She advises team members to take advantage of the vastness of our company. “Get to know the larger MarketSource business, because there is way more to it than your small corner of the company,” she says. “There are also so many great people willing to speak with you about what they do and tons of different career directions for you once you take the time to understand the bigger picture.”
She continues, “Raise your hand high and often. Don’t expect opportunities to come looking for you—create growth opportunities for yourself by speaking up, seeking out new challenges, and finding ways to be the solution when a problem arises.”
Finally, she shares this pertinent piece of advice, a quote from Winston Churchill printed on a paperweight given to her by a previous manager, “Never, never, never quit.”
Judging from her tenure and career path, Lauren embodies that relentless determination…and we are all benefiting from it.
#WorkAnniversary #Leadership #MarketSourceStrong