Humble Beginnings
The CEOs and senior GovCon leaders of today weren't always sitting in the corner office. They weren't born in suits with a handbook for success and a direct path to leadership. In fact, before many of these executives came into positions of powers, they had rather humble beginnings -- no corporate family tree or unlimited access. Many had to find their way on their own with little to fall back on. This podcast will share the stories of high school part-time work, first jobs and early-career decisions, decades before the CEO appointments and the board memberships. We'll learn about the unconventional paths to success, the ones most of us can relate to.
Humble Beginnings
From Small Mountain Town to Jacobs HQ: Shannon Miller’s Global Quest to Stewardship
In this episode of "Humble Beginnings," we chat with Shannon Miller, an executive vice president and president of the global Divergent Solutions business at Jacobs, about her upbringing in a small town in western Colorado and how her surroundings and father's geologist career influenced her. Eventually, Miller made her way to the Colorado School of Mines, found a love for chemistry and thermal dynamics (as well as other extracurriculars that rounded out her college experience), and landed at Jacobs right after college at the local Coors Factory.
Jacobs ⏤ and Miller's own curiosities and willingness to take on new challenge and roles ⏤ would take her around the country and world for various assignments. She went on to lead businesses in Canada and Australia; sought out lateral career moves for the sake of experience; landed in departments she had no prior experience in; and said yes to opportunities that would enhance her career. Tune in to hear how Miller navigated a male-dominated field and what ultimately led her to Dallas.