Name: Rebecca Thorman
Age: 24
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Education: B.S. in Interior Design and Environmental Studies from University of Wisconsin–Madison
Job Title: Executive Director for MAGNET, a nonprofit organization that attracts and retains young professionals in the Madison area
What She Does: As Executive Director, Rebecca spends a lot of time networking and building relationships on behalf of her organization. “I’m not doing my job unless I’m meeting and engaging with a lot of people,” says Rebecca, who averages 15 or 20 meetings and events a week. She meets with everyone from bloggers to CEOs, discussing ways to improve Madison’s career opportunities for young people. Rebecca also writes about community service, professional development, public policy, and how these issues impact young professionals on her blog, Modite, which stands for “modern urbanite.”
How She Got Her Gig: Rebecca already knew several people in the organization through networking, so when her position opened up, it seemed like a natural fit for her. “I applied and went through three rounds of interviews,” she explains. “During this time, I positioned myself in many ways as the best choice. For instance, I strategically wrote [blog] posts on Generation Y and leadership that I knew the decision makers would read, and actually quoted my blog. I knew I had the job when I walked out of the last interview.”
Mind the Generation Gap: Rebecca networks with a lot of influential people in Madison, where she says it’s “easy to be a big fish in a small pond.” On a given day, she might be discussing Madison’s economic development over lunch, commenting about gender issues in the workplace on a blog, and chatting with other young professionals at one of MAGNET’s monthly happy hours after work. She’s actually more intimidated by young people than older ones. “My intern makes me nervous,” Rebecca admits. “She’s a freshman in college and is very smart. She keeps me on my toes. Also, she’s a Facebook fanatic. I think I’m not as cool as her because I mostly use e-mail.” Rebecca says that the key to impressing someone is to “always ask for advice.”
Work in Progress: As the public and private face of her organization, Rebecca is always working on her presentation and interpersonal skills. “I smile a lot. I communicate well. I’m still learning, though. I believe communication and interpersonal skills are the most important skill in any job, so I read about this constantly.”
It’s Lonely at the Top: The one downside that Rebecca experiences is that “it’s difficult not to be able to talk with someone who understands my situation. When we hire someone else, I’m considering hiring a ‘2EO,’ someone who will be on the same level as I am and share the responsibility.”
This Job’s for You if: You are a natural communicator who can get others excited about a common goal. Rebecca says, “It’s the perfect job for someone like me who loves to people-watch. I get to observe young talent, interact and learn about them, spread the word, and see them succeed. It lifts my heart to help others. That’s the best.”
