How I Went from the Back Seat to the Driver’s Seat in My Career
Name: Katia
Location: Riverwoods, IL
Pronouns: she/her
Title: Lead Campaign Management, US Cards
My personal brand
Showing up and bringing positivity, connecting through language or shared experience, seeing situations from a multi-faceted perspective, collaborating with others, and finding magic in every day. That’s my personal brand.
Impact driven
I am a passionate, multicultural, customer-focused marketing strategist known for creating programs that optimize the customer experience and increase brand affinity. In parallel, I am a DE&I champion that strives to amplify diverse voices in the workplace through ERG leadership and non-profit Board participation.
I currently serve on the leadership team of the Professional Women Impacting Results (PWIR) ERG as the Event Planning Co-Chair. I am responsible for organizing events that champion women in the workplace and provide development opportunities for the next generation of women leaders. Through PWIR, not only have I supported female colleagues and witnessed their professional development, I’ve also made meaningful friendships which have opened doors for me that I would have never imagined.
I’m also a Board Member on the Chicago Auxiliary Board with HACE (Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement) on the Mujeres de HACE Committee. Like PWIR, the committee creates programs to empower women in the workplace. I enjoy supporting the board by organizing inspiring women to speak and share how they continuously break workforce barriers.
Staying true to myself and amplifying my education
I was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the United States with my parents after winning the Green Card Lottery. Leaving my home behind, learning a new language, and starting from scratch were difficult experiences at the time, but they made me who I am today.
My family, husband and daughter matter the most to me. Watching my daughter thrive in a multi-cultural environment and speak multiple languages as a toddler has always been a dream of mine. From a young age, I was fascinated by other cultures. I became like a chameleon, fitting in with the American school environment, but staying true to my Ukrainian roots at home. At the age of thirteen, I had the opportunity to spend extended periods of time in Mexico and learn Spanish by immersion. This experience was transformational.
Curiosity, continuous learning, and crafting my own path have been themes I continue to see in my life today. I received the Emile Boutmy Scholarship and studied Social and Political Science at Sciences Po Paris, studied abroad for one year in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and then completed a Master’s in Marketing and Market Research at Sciences Po Paris.
How my career ambition transformed
I currently lead the marketing and integrated rewards strategy for US Cards. I consult other business areas on rewards and loyalty and share actionable insights to improve the customer experience. I’m passionate about why consumers make the decisions they do. To be a marketer, you need to have a desire to understand people, psychology, and their needs. And my curious nature is perfect for it.
Advice I would give my younger self would be— take advantage of every opportunity. A big learning moment in my career was seeing the change when I went from being in the backseat to becoming the driver of my own career. When I was younger, I questioned if I was on the right path or if I made the right choices. I think it’s important to start somewhere and change environments if it’s not working for you. Take up space, no one is going to take charge of your career except for you. Volunteer for the extra project. Apply for the scholarship. Don’t leave anything for tomorrow. Set smart goals. Make time for personal and professional development. Be kind and make moments matter.
I attribute my professional growth to PWIR, ERG leadership, and Board participation. As Julie Foudy, Olympic gold medalist, FIFA Women’s World Cup champion, and advocate of equal pay said at PWIR’s Women’s History Month Kick Off, “leadership is personal, not positional.” I believe that we can all be leaders from exactly where we are.
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