Wonder no more how to attract the best career opportunities. Beth Marmolejos is an example of how when you build a reputation of integrity and commitment, the opportunities find you.
Beth Marmolejos is an Executive Advisor in the IT Account Management area at Anthem (the largest for-profit managed care company within the Blue Cross Blue Shield association,) and she serves as the Chief of Staff for the Women’s Inspire Network Associate Resource group. But that’s just her day job. She’s also the President of the New York Chapter of Prospanica (formerly NSHBMA,) and the Vice Chair of the Passaic County Workforce Investment Board, among several other volunteer positions she holds. Beth has received many awards from local, state, federal, corporate and non-profit organizations for her leadership and community work. She has crafted a professional life that fits her style, her passions and her goals. It is through these multiple commitments that Beth Marmolejos creates career opportunities for herself and for those in her network.
RSM— You’ve had quite a career trajectory. Tell us about some of the highlights and how you tapped into the various career opportunities that presented themselves along the way.
Beth Marmolejos (BM)— I started my journey in the business world without a degree at an entry level in the Accounting Department at Express Scripts (formerly known as Medco Health Solutions.) While there, I was able to get my under graduate and graduate degrees, 80% of which were paid for by my employer —as long I got a B or better in my classes.
It took me over 10 years to obtain my education. I was able to move within the Finance area to different roles that helped me prepare for the role of “Controller/Director” of Finance for a subsidiary that my company bought. A subsidiary worth two billion dollars. That propelled me to a leadership position and it opened a world of career opportunities for me.
In 2013 I took a leap of faith and left to work in New York City for Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield under the leadership of the amazing Brian Griffin, who was a colleague of mine at Medco. The highlight of this move was that I got promoted within six months because I led a project that saved the company $1M.
Then, one of the senior leaders at Empire BCBS in NYC recommended me for an Executive Advisor role in IT as the Chief Information officer for the State of New York and Wisconsin at the Enterprise level for our Parent company Anthem.
How to find the most attractive career opportunities
RSM— You wear several hats. From being the CIO for NY and Wisconsin at Anthem to being the President of Prospanica NY Chapter and serving in different capacities on other non-profit boards. With all that’s already on your plate, how do you constantly find career opportunities to help you continue to grow?
BM— I don’t find career opportunities…they find me through senior leaders/mentors/sponsors who know my work, my commitment to their success and integrity.
RSM— What are some of the strategies that help you stay focused with each one of your multiple responsibilities?
BM— I have three main strategies:
- Remain calm and focus on what you are trying to achieve
- Surround yourself with positive people that help you stay on course
- Don’t get distracted with things that steal your peace, keep your eyes on the price
RSM— Do you find that creating career opportunities for others is a natural way of opening doors for yourself?
BM— Absolutely! When you lift others up and help them by opening doors it creates an advantage for you. What goes around, comes around!
Learning how to network strategically is another way to open up career opportunities.
RSM— What are three top pieces of advice you’d give people looking for greater career opportunities within their organizations?
BM— Here you go:
- Treat people with respect, be kind and a team player. That builds your good reputation which you can leverage to obtain better career opportunities within your organization
- Be a can-do type of person – that is key to getting opportunities for senior roles
- Be happy, positive and knowledgeable – that is a magnet that attracts people who want to work with you
RSM— Any different advice for those looking for career opportunities in a different company or who are currently out of a job?
BM— Yes, get involved in organizations such as Prospanica, of which I am the NY Chapter President, and you will have access to tons of career opportunities.
RSM— What’s the next big project you’re working on right now?
BM— I’m focused on a couple of upcoming events we are organizing with Prospanica. Celebration of Achievements – where we will give out scholarships on 11/27/17 at Oppenheimer Funds.
And in honor of the International Day of People with Disabilities we have an event with the UN Nations at S&P Global on 12/14/17
At a personal level, my next big project is to obtain my Agile SAFe Training certification.
You can connect with Beth Marmolejos on Twitter and Linkedin
