Ana Varela
Executive Administrative Assistant & Office Manager
2XL Imaging, Inc.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-m-varela/
1) What does “making your move” mean to you at this stage of your career?
As a management and administrative professional of over 25 years now, at this stage in my career, “making my move” means something different than it did when I was a young woman starting my career. Whereas 30 years ago the saying would have meant a desire to learn everything that I could through mentorship and new role opportunities, today “making my move” means confidently utilizing the skills, knowledge, and lessons that I’ve gained throughout my career to support others, sharing knowledge, and continuously seeking new ways and solutions to support a business and its employees in being successful.
2) Can you share a moment when you took action that moved your career forward?
Yes, when I decided to leave the healthcare industry – specifically working in large hospitals in NY and NJ – and pivot from managing staff and operations on hospital units to utilizing my management and organizational skills in an office setting in the biotech pharma space. Later, I made another pivotal career decision and moved from pharma to an industry I had never imagined working in, which was the printing industry. These were two important decisions that changed the course of my career, and I never regretted making them.
3) What helped you recognize the right time to make that move?
It took time, patience, trust in myself, and Faith. After many years of gaining experience in front-line operations management in hospitals, I began to create a new vision in my mind, of taking my skills into a smaller business/office setting, trusting that eventually I would achieve that goal.
4) What advice would you give women in print who are considering their next move?
To women in print who are considering their next move, I would say trust yourself, confide in good, trusted mentors and people in your life who know and care about you and can help you navigate important moves, and know that you can do and achieve whatever you dream in your mind’s eye. The sky is the limit. Believe in yourself and remember to be kind to yourself and others along the way!
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