333: Keep A Growth Mindset and Question Everything with Maura Charles

In this week’s show, Phil talks to Maura Charles, the founder of Keep it Human, a digital innovation consultancy. She has 25 years of experience working in digital transformation and digital product management for beloved brands like Bloomingdale’s, Real Simple, and the New York Philharmonic.

She loves helping teams get unstuck by finding the right digital processes to build bridges between the technology side and human side so that they can work together. She uses a human-focused approach that helps companies both connect with their customers and prioritize their own people.

Maura talks to Phil about the value in keeping a growth mindset. She also discusses why it’s vital for us to pause, reflect, and question everything.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

 

TOP CAREER TIP

Focus on learning new things at all times. By keeping a growth mindset and always looking for ways to develop, new pathways will open in your career.

 

WORST CAREER MOMENT

During the first years of her career, Maura did not always know how to stand up for herself in the face of bias and discrimination. After several bad experiences, she has since gained the confidence and experience to do so.

 

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

While working for Time Inc, Maura had worked her way up to the level of Executive Director, and was responsible for overseeing a wholesale restructuring of technological systems.

 

THE FUTURE OF CAREERS IN I.T

We are at an incredibly interesting and transformative time that means far more inclusion and far more in the way of opportunity.

 

THE REVEAL

What first attracted you to a career in I.T.? – The fact that is was new and uncharted.

What’s the best career advice you received? – Take time to reflect on the things you’ve done well.

What’s the worst career advice you received? – Keep your head down and just do your work!

What would you do if you started your career now? – Maura would try to stay big and not let things scare her away from a particular path.

What are your current career objectives? Learning more about the psychology of leadership

What’s your number one non-technical skill? – Emotional intelligence.

How do you keep your own career energized? – Building a network of people with similar aims and purposes.

What do you do away from technology? – Spending time with family, yoga, reading and art.

 

FINAL CAREER TIP

Don’t take everything you see or hear at face value. Find your blind spots and question everything.

 

BEST MOMENTS

(4:54) – Maura - “What I’ve learned from having a growth mindset is that you will challenge your own assumptions and learn new pathways”

(6:57) – Maura - “You’re not always going to have the answers laid out for you. It’s not a script. There’s not a right way to do everything all the time”

(19:50) – Maura – “Innovation and technology are the future of our business and personal worlds”

(21:27) – Maura – “Celebrate your wins”

 

ABOUT THE HOST – PHIL BURGESS

Phil Burgess is an independent IT consultant who has spent the last 20 years helping organizations to design, develop, and implement software solutions.  Phil has always had an interest in helping others to develop and advance their careers.  And in 2017 Phil started the I.T. Career Energizer podcast to try to help as many people as possible to learn from the career advice and experiences of those that have been, and still are, on that same career journe