Empowered Voices: Advice from Women at Echelon on Career, Balance, and Growth

At Echelon, we believe our people are our greatest strength. We celebrate the incredible women on our team by sharing their insights on career growth, work-life balance, and resilience. Through our Empowered Voices initiative, they offer advice, encouragement, and personal reflections to inspire others navigating their professional journeys. Their wisdom is a testament to the supportive and empowering culture we foster every day.

-  What advice do you have for women who are building their careers while juggling self-care and multiple roles inside and outside the workplace

"Work hard, don't doubt yourself, and set thoughtful/strong boundaries. You will always be your only true advocate so it is important to be committed to what you do but still know when it is time to step away. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed when life is pulling you in different directions but if you have the trust and support of your team, you can navigate it all."

"I'm still working on this myself, everyday you get the opportunity to prioritize one thing at the time, be mindful with your time and the mental effort you place into everything. It's always better to spend 10 minutes working in something (reading, exercise, meditating) than nothing." 

“To define priorities based on what matters most to you and know it’s okay if you change with time. Keeping in mind there never is time for everything but we always find some for that which matters the most to us. Whether that means to work on your career, focus on yourself, your family or a passion you always wanted to follow. That will help you define the type of position you want / need to position yourself a step closer to your dreams.”

 - What career advice would you give your 18-year-old self, knowing what you know now?  

"If I could give my 18-year-old-self career advice I would say to be confident. Just because you don't know something yet or have a particular skill does not mean you can't learn and master it. Good learning takes time. Patience and consistency are key."

"Making mistakes and doing things you don’t enjoy are part of discovering what you truly like. Don’t get discouraged—every experience teaches you something. Finding what you love also means recognizing what you don’t. There’s no rush to have everything figured out; enjoy your youth and trust yourself. Everything will fall into place in time." 

"You'll never be 100% sure or fully prepared when making an important decision like choosing your career path. But that's okay - you have your whole life ahead of you. If you discover a new passion along the way, it doesn't mean you failed. It simply means you’ve grown and learned more about yourself."

"Be yourself - your true, authentic self. It may sound cliché, but that's the best advice I've ever been given. It’s hard not to have imposter syndrome when you’re working with some of the brightest people around – both at my firm and with my clients. I have to remind myself to completely own who I am, and the experiences and viewpoints I have, because they’re unique to me and everyone brings something different to the table. I believe that authenticity goes a long way in making connections; it is so important to understand each person as the individual that they are in order to build lasting relationships with them. I now bring my full self to work every day, and am lucky to be part of an amazing team who appreciates and values me for exactly who I am. "

"Do not be afraid to ask questions and give yourself a voice. As women, we are often socialized to be timid and reserved, which deprives us of the opportunity to learn, grow, and establish a sense of community and belonging. Once you gain the confidence to speak your mind and engage, your life and your career become much more manageable and rewarding. The ability to self advocate and take advantage of the resources at your disposal can take you very far."

"If I could give my 18-year-old self career advice, I’d start with this: Relax—you don’t have to have it all figured out right now. The path won’t be a straight line, and that’s a good thing. Some of the best opportunities will come from unexpected places, so be open to change, take chances, and say yes even when you’re not 100% sure you’re ready."

 - What would you say to a woman who is feeling overwhelmed in her career or personal life?  

"Let go of unrealistic expectations. Women are constantly expected to juggle everything: careers, relationships, health, parenting, etc. But the truth is you can’t do it all at once, and that’s okay. Focus on what truly matters to you, align your energy with your goals, and give yourself time and space."

"Everyone has felt overwhelmed at some point in their personal or professional lives.  Persevering through that adversity with a solution-based mindset as opposed to a fear-based mindset is a skill set you develop - not something most people have naturally.  Take adversity as the opportunity to hone that skill." 

 - What’s the best professional advice you’ve ever received, and how has it shaped your career?  

"One of the best pieces of professional advice I’ve received is to never be afraid of changes and always seize opportunities. Embracing change allows for growth and innovation, while taking advantage of opportunities can lead to new and exciting paths in one’s career. This mindset has helped me stay adaptable and open to new experiences, ultimately shaping my professional journey in a positive way."

"Over the years, I often refer to professional advice that was something like "The smartest person in the room isn't always the one who speaks the most." Leadership is not about having all the answers. It's about listening, learning, and empowering your team to find the right solutions together. The best leaders are not the ones who dominate conversations; they're the ones who create space for others to contribute and bring out the best in their teams. Pratice emotional intelligence to manage yourself in meetings to listen to others. Note non-verbal cues, the side glances, who is truly engaged, and more. You will be surprised how much you learn when you aren't focused on what you have to say! "

"I’ve applied this to so many parts of my life. My dad’s an engineer and he always used to say, "If you can't measure it, you can't improve it." That really stuck with me since I was a teenager. Now, I use it to set clear, measurable goals and track my progress."