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Pathways for Women 2024: Top Career Tips and Takeaways

Pathways for Women 2024 speakers standing next to each other for group photo.

“Develop your network and find your voice.” – CalPERS Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marcie Frost

“Your personal brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.” – Hitesh Shah, Director of Business Development, BDO

“Don’t give up because all these experiences are preparing you to become the leader you’re meant to be.” – Lasha Boyden, U.S. Marshal, U.S. Marshals Service

“Leave room for magic in your career – for circumstances you may not expect.” – Pathways for Women Conference Keynote Speaker Kimberly Brown

The 2024 Pathways for Women Conference not only brought together 500-plus attendees for two days of inspiration and networking, but it also provided actionable steps for real-life situations.

We’ve gathered some top takeaways from speakers and attendees to keep the momentum going.

Career Tips and Building Your Personal Brand

“Match your actions with your words to reinforce your brand, otherwise who you tell people you are doesn’t matter.” – Hitesh Shah, Director of Business Development, BDO

“Surround yourself with people who love, support, and believe in you. Be the best version of yourself so others will believe in you. Stay healthy – if you look good and feel good, people respond.” – Grace Reyes, Chief Executive Officer, The Investment Diversity Exchange

“Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, even the little ones.” – Amanda Ray, Retired Commissioner, California Highway Patrol

“Every day is a job interview, even if you don’t know it is.” – Marcie Frost, CalPERS CEO

On Summoning Confidence and Navigating Career Uncertainty

“You have to be able to walk into that room and know you belong there.” Amanda Ray, Retired Commissioner, California Highway Patrol

“A mentor once told me that I needed to balance what I know with who I knew. You have to be excellent at what you do, but some opportunities are connected to who you know.” – Katie Koch, CEO and President, The TCW Group, Inc.

“I know in myself that I deserve to be there, and I have to remind myself of that sometimes.” – Lasha Boyden, U.S. Marshal, U.S. Marshals Service (Boyden is the first Black woman to serve as a U.S. Marshal in California, and the first Black person to serve in that role for the eastern district of California.)

Advice for Your Younger Self?

“Don’t limit yourself on what you think you can do – you don’t know what will happen five to 10 years from now. You don’t know how much you’ll grow.” – CalSTRS Chief Executive Officer Cassandra Lichnock

“Take care of your body – taking care of yourself is something we all need to do.” – CalPERS Deputy Executive Officer Kim Malm and breast cancer survivor

“You can’t see what’s ahead of you. It’s great to plan ahead, but you got this – be confident. And whatever you’re doing, do it to the best of your ability. And look outside yourself. It’s not all about you all the time, but when it is, make it worth it, make it count.” – CalPERS Chief Financial Officer Michele Nix

What Attendees Are Saying

Jalel Braden, San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association, Communications Specialist

“I attended the inaugural Pathways for Women Conference in 2022, and it’s incredible to see how much the event has grown in such a short time. The theme of finding your purpose, showing up authentically, and building your personal brand deeply resonated with me. I returned to work the next day feeling inspired and energized, carrying the positive and empowering energy with me.

“The intersection of work and personal life, the transparent and sometimes challenging conversations we must have with ourselves and others, the ways fear and doubt can cloud our thinking, and so much more were all brought to the forefront.

“I’m deeply grateful to CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost and her team for creating a safe and inspiring space that we can all experience together. This conference is so necessary, and I look forward to attending next year!”

Joyce (left) & Brittany Riggs (right)

Brittany Riggs (right), CalPERS Manager

“I really enjoyed our keynote speaker Kimberly Brown. I like how she got us thinking about where we are in our career right now and where we want to be. She gave the recommendation of taking your resume and crossing out the things that we don’t like doing (our weaknesses) and circling the skills we do like which manifest as our strengths. I plan to take her advice of evaluating my strengths, plus my skills and my values to make sure I’m on a career path I love.

“Hearing Marcie’s childhood story and that she was able to have young kids and still rise throughout her career was inspiring for me as a mom. She had the tenacity and grit it took to get where she is today and took advantage of mentors and sponsors along the way. She mentioned to not be afraid to move laterally in your career and take advantage of those opportunities because they can be a springboard for where you want to eventually end up.”

Joyce Kesteloot (left), CalPERS Manager

“My main Pathways takeaway was we must be intentional with making connections to find the right fit for us. This may be people we can learn from, whether it’s peers, coaches, mentors and/or sponsors that can help champion our success.

“It was great hearing how some of the panelists had help or catalysts in their journeys that encouraged diversity and created opportunities, along with their own hard work and persistence/resilience that led them to where they are today. Even the most successful people had some help along the way.

“Hopefully, we are all lucky enough to come across the right champions in our own journeys, but it’s truly up to us to seek them out to build and maintain those connections. These opportunities can also come in many different forms and when we least expect it, so we have to be open to seeing them when they present themselves.”