This week the B.A.M.G provided my peers and I, the opportunity to gain advice and insight from guest speaker, Kendra Patterson. Deeming her role as Customer Digital Journey, Senior Specialist at Volkswagen of America, the advice she expressed was knowledgeable and quite motivating. After going in depth about her personal and professional background, it was made clear that her vital communication skills consist of problem-solving and network building.
During our session with Patterson, she elaborated on her status with Volkswagen. She stated the role as a digital marketer, it’s important to “understand the environment” and that you shouldn’t be “zoned out” to approaches that can help you better understand how people interact, preferably consumers. Furthermore, she specified on approaches she even partakes herself, to gain better understanding of the consumer experience. Patterson emphasized, that her role as a digital marketer, is to provide strategies to make a consumer’s digital experience simple and less time consuming. Moreover, Patterson stated, that not only is it her role to provide consumers with a positive digital experience, but to also influence her colleagues and departments on why and how specific strategies will conduct themselves.
Though Patterson provided excellent advice, her stance on overcoming adversity and personal growth remained with me the most. I really appreciated her transparency on both topics, because it was a humble reminder that though my professional journey may not always be ‘rainbows and gold’, during every endeavor, I can and will overcome it. While testifying on her own battles facing adversity, Patterson emphasized the need to always keep one’s composure, persevere through obstacles, and to never compromise our integrity.
Patterson’s experience on developing as an individual and professional was quite encouraging. She spoke about her time in college, and how wrong choices led her to jeopardizing her college scholarship. After making certain decisions, she realized that she had to carry herself in a different manner, to lead her where she is today.
Patterson stated, “Your major doesn’t define you; your experience does.”, advice I found deep comfort in. Her testimony was inspiring, because my duration at North Carolina A&T, I’ve changed my major three times. In the beginning, I was faced with the dilemma of not having an exact idea of what career path I wanted to follow. I always knew I would pursue a career path in Mass Communications in Journalism, but I was indecisive about what my concentration would be. After learning about her experience and hearing her advice, I was left with the notion that it’s okay if I don’t have everything figured out right now, because everything will align itself the way it’s supposed to.
To conclude, guest speaker, Kendra Patterson provided advice and insight that I will not only use to grow as a professional, but as an individual in general. Patterson emphasized that a major doesn’t define us, but our experience can speak volumes on our professional development. She expressed the need of building allies and connecting with other individuals. Most importantly, she testified on keeping one’s integrity and finding balance between work and life.
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