From Brooklyn to the Boardroom: Why Tech Exec Tonjia Coverdale Says ‘Care Less’.
Tonjia Coverdale, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for Operations and Technology at Associated Bank, offers a refreshingly honest perspective that challenges conventional wisdom about climbing the corporate ladder.
Her 27-year journey in tech is anything but ordinary, zigzagging from developer roles at IBM to tech positions at HP and Accenture before making an unexpected pivot into academia.
"I received my PhD in IT and decided that I really loved developing people," Coverdale explains, her passion evident.
This dual career in both industry and academia gave her a unique perspective that ultimately led to her current role as a technology strategist.
But it's not her impressive resume that stands out. It's the surprising advice she wishes she could give her younger self:
"I would probably say care less," Coverdale says with intensity.
Care less?
From a senior executive?
It's an intriguing concept that demands further exploration.
Tonjia elaborates that early in her career, she was laser-focused on accumulating achievements like jewels for a crown.
"It was always about what's the next role I could get, what's the next level I can go to," she admits.
But somewhere along the way, her definition of success underwent a radical transformation.
Tonjia’s top three pieces of advice for those starting their careers offer valuable insights:
Be Authentically You: "Keep your authentic self," she emphasizes. "Be the you that you were born to be and you were destined to be." She believes that by being genuine, professionals can propel their careers further, building the confidence and courage needed to stand out.
Redefine Success: For Tonjia, true success isn't about personal accolades anymore. "What was most important were the people that I brought with me along the way," she reflects. She now measures her achievements by how she's able to help others grow and succeed.
Embrace the Unknown: Tonjia’s journey from inner-city Brooklyn to the executive suite wasn't a straight line. "If you would have told me that I would be a senior technology executive... I would have said, how?" she laughs. Her advice? Believe in your potential, even if the entire path ahead isn't visible.
Tonjia’s candor and wisdom are truly inspiring. Her parting words resonate deeply: "The world already has that person. The world needs you."
In a world obsessed with climbing ladders and chasing titles, Tonjia's advice to "care less" might just be the most rebellious – and liberating – career guidance for aspiring professionals.