Melisa Cameron

How did you start building your network?

I started building my own personal and professional network by volunteering. Volunteering in your community can lead to new opportunities to strengthen your relationships and possibly find future career opportunities. In addition, you can build leadership skills while making a difference in our world.

What is the biggest challenge you had to overcome to get to where you are now professionally? How did you overcome it?

One of the biggest challenges I overcame professionally is working for a large company and navigating through changes and the reality of downsizing or layoffs. When this happened to me, I was fortunate enough to have a strong network of colleagues and leaders who helped me quickly find another position so I could continue working for a company I loved.

What is the most useful piece of career advice you got as a student, and who gave it to you?

As a student, one of the most useful pieces of career advice I received was to keep an open mind and not be opposed to trying something new. I majored in Music in my first year of college. I planned to earn my college degree and become a music teacher. However, after college, I was introduced to a great first career opportunity with a good salary and benefits. I was still able to use what I learned by majoring in music in other ways and was glad I kept an open mind about my career.