Name: Incoming Citi CEO Jane Fraser shares pivotal career advice
Uploaded: 2020-09-30
Duration: 5 min 48 s
Description: 'You don't have to be superwoman, we can be normal,' shares Fraser.

 Claire Zillman: Can you identify if one or two junctures that were really critical to getting you where you are now? Jane Fraser: So I was up for partner. And it was the same time my husband and I were wanting to start a family. And I got quite a lot of advice that don't get pregnant in your partnership. And I just thought that was nonsense. And I was fortunate to. And then I made the decision that my husband was working hard. And I said I want to be a mom and I want to be a professional. So I was lucky I got my partner just a couple of weeks after my son was born. But I work part time for the entirety of my partnership at McKinsey. And I think that that's one of the pieces of making sure I did have balance my juggling act. But there was a balance between my family priorities and my professional priorities. And sometimes one will take priority over another. And I'm so happy I did. That wasn't easy. My own ego suffered a bit on that one because you do see people who are more junior than you that are accelerating faster in their careers. But I think that's what enabled me to actually feel happy and have a balance in my professional life and in my personal life. And it made me much more empathetic. I know when I got back to working again, and I was in the working full time, my clients used to tell me, "You're a much more empathetic person I suppose. You were just this machine beforehand." I think it really taught me that 80-20 of you can't do everything. This is a good lesson. The second one was when at one point when the kids were fully in school, and my husband and I were both working. But I was offered the job of running strategy for city at the very beginning of the crisis. And that was really upping my game from the roles that I played. And I used to not be comfortable unless I was 120% prepared for anything. And it was a real leap of faith in my mind to jump into taking this role. And I had to up my game. I was going to have to be traveling more. And one of my friends said to me, "Why are you worried about failing? Go for it." Does it matter if that's the case? And I think that was another moment when taking on a role that I knew was a stretch. But I up my game. And I learned and I got hooked on stretch roles thereafter because you do learn so much. Claire Zillman: Wow. I'm interested in your decision to work part time at McKinsey. And I think that-- I'm wondering what advice you would have for someone who wants to make that decision now because I do think it is an admission of vulnerability. And I think there's a lot of fear that asking for that flexibility or arrangement signals that I'm not the type of person that wants to excel, or maybe I won't ever come back to full time. How do you ensure that that doesn't sort of sidetrack you off of your ultimate goals? Jane Fraser: Well, I'm an example. But it doesn't need to sidetrack you from the longer term goals. And that you can get balance in there. I think the best piece of advice I got, was why am I in such a hurry? One of my mentors saying to me, "Jen, you're going to have several careers in your life. And your career is going to be measured in decades." So why this sense of rush and trying to have everything at the same time? And I said just relax, chill, and take a step back, and enjoy the process more, and enjoy the different phases of your life. And that was a real help because I did feel the pressure to be superwoman. And I'm sure as many people out there who feel the pressure to be superwoman or superman. And that's not life. That's not the reality. So I think probably advice is give yourself a break. Don't set expectations at ridiculous levels and take a bit of time, and enjoy the different phases, and make the most of them. And that phase for me of being part time working. But being with the kids when they were very little was very precious. I'm so glad I did it. And I honestly don't think I'd be here today if I hadn't. Claire Zillman: Right Yeah. Jane Fraser: Used me as an example of the courage and of the coming [INAUDIBLE]. I mean, I lacked a lot of confidence coming back in. You're tired, you're exhausted. And don't be afraid to ask for help from people and reach out. And I got a lot of support coming back in from friends, at work as well, and friends at home. And again, you don't have to be superwoman. We can be normal. 

"You don't have to be superwoman, we can be normal," shares Fraser.

Incoming Citi CEO Jane Fraser shares pivotal career advice

"You don't have to be superwoman," shares Fraser.