Today we’d like to introduce you to Monique McClain.
Monique, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story begins in my hometown of Memphis, TN, the home of rhythm and blues and REAL barbecue. I remember when we first moved to Texas and I went to a local spot here. They seemed to be appalled by my request to put coleslaw on my pulled pork sandwich, but any true barbecue connoisseur knows that a pulled pork sandwich just isn’t a pulled pork sandwich without slaw! Ha!
I had my first child at 18 years old. So, I learned early to balance life as a single mother while working full-time and maintaining my college studies at the University of Memphis. I love telling this part of my story because sometimes when people see me, they see the success I’ve achieved and assume I can’t relate to certain things, but it’s quite the contrary. I know what it’s like to live check to check, wait in line for WIC and food stamps to feed myself and my baby and go through the common drama that having a child before marriage often brings. However, I’ll keep it brief for the purposes of this article.
When I chose Finance as my major, I did so because financial literacy was not something my parents taught me beyond balancing a check book, and I knew that whatever I did, my key priority would always be leaving vast knowledge and wealth to my children. After pursuing my Bachelor’s in Finance, I took a year off and then went right back to it, achieving my MBA several years later. While studying my Master’s I also took time to study abroad in London. My first time on a plane was for an internship at 18, and my first time out of the country was for a work trip to Hong Kong as a Project Manager for FedEx, somewhere around the age of 21. Once I got my first taste of international travel, I had an insatiable thirst to explore as many new countries and cultures as possible.
During my time in Memphis, I worked for several Fortune 500 companies, but I would have to say my time at FedEx opened the most doors for me regarding experience, mentorship, and most importantly, sponsorship. While working in Corporate America, I also begin making a name for myself around the city, using a registered student organization I created at the U of M, along with resources and contacts cultivated there, as a launching pad for my consulting. I did everything from branding and social media management to financial planning for several smaller companies in the city.
Fast forward a few years to 2017, I received a call from a major tech company for a Financial Analyst role, which ended up being more like a Controller position. This role was what brought me to Texas.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not! Personally, single motherhood was my first major challenge. To have a little person depending on me, as I was just entering adulthood, was a ton of pressure but it was also the greatest motivator one can have. Often times I didn’t know HOW I would make certain things work, but I made up my mind that I didn’t have really have space for failure.
Professionally, I have always been a person to push the envelope, challenging the status quo and approaching problems with a curious and solution-oriented mindset. All managers, all organizations even, are not ready for that type of leader. There are companies that will suck you dry and then wonder why you aren’t performing the way they expect. The corporate world is not always a manifestation of the American dream for minorities as it might be for others, and when you are one of few, you bear the burden of being the example and the voice for an entire race of people. Having to work twice as hard to get half as much is not an urban myth; it is an unfortunate reality. Overall, I have had some amazing opportunities throughout my career, but this has not come without its share of trials and mental strain. I’ve dealt with the microaggressions, the “compliments” thinly veiling surprise at how articulate I am, even harassment.
None of these examples are unique to me, and that is why I take pride in sharing and helping others. The road has been tough, but it’s made me tougher. It also allows me to connect with others in a real, relatable, and genuine way. I have been around all types, from the raw and uncut to the polished executive with the private jet. I have had a wide array of experiences, from living frugally to travelling globally and investing in stocks and crypto. I’ve been a single mother, and now I am a happily married wife with 3 children. I’ve worked for small companies, where they shorted my first check and paid me minimal to cover 3 separate roles, and now I work for one of the world’s leading banks as a global program manager, working directly for a CTO.
I feel I can relate to any woman, any mother, any person with a vision that just needs a little guidance on how to get there. I love to celebrate wins with my clients. There is nothing better than that phone call or text to say they killed the interview or got the job offer! My response is always, “Great! Now it’s time to negotiate!” I coached my friends for years after watching them get passed over for promotions, accept first offers, and get stuck in dead-end jobs they hated. After so many resumes and unofficial interview prep and coaching sessions, I knew it was time to expand my scope to assist others.
I love to teach and I am in a constant state of learning. In addition to career coaching and program management, I also instruct project management and leadership courses part-time for an ivy league institution and speak at events and schools to spread the financial and leadership knowledge that I have accumulated over a decade. Diversity and inclusion remain paramount and are a natural aspect of my servant leadership approach in all that I endeavour. This is such an amazing time, for black women especially, to reclaim our time, pursue our true passions, and set clear boundaries so that we can maintain a truly fulfilling life! I am happy to play a small role in that. It’s magical and inspiring to witness.
We’ve been impressed with Boss Up My Career, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Boss Up My Career was created in 2020 to allow me to separate my career coaching from business consulting. We help business professionals catapult their careers through proper positioning. We are unique because we only offer customized packages. We understand that you are unique and so is your personal career journey, so we create a tailored solution to accommodate your individual experiences and goals. I don’t take on clients I don’t think I can help, and I won’t charge you for services that don’t fit where you are in your career journey.
At Boss Up My Career, we help bridge the gap between Millennial/Gen Z professionals and the Gen Xers in the C-Suite looking to hire them. We do this by ensuring that career seekers are equipped with the tools to confidently articulate their experience and transferrable skills while maintaining the visibility needed to continue advancing their careers, even after the interview. Additionally, we work with top companies to ensure their talent pool is DIVERSE AND DYNAMIC.
We specialize in helping those seeking to get into tech or project management in any industry, but we have helped clients of all backgrounds and ambitions and have not received one negative review yet.
We offer everything from resume writing services to interview and negotiation prep. Additionally, we help clients with on-the-job coaching to help resolve issues with teams, management, or to simply talk through end-of-year reviews and the path to promotion. I’ve had resumes done with major companies like Monster that offer similar services and can confirm that our services are second to none.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
The book that changed my life and introduced me to the idea of the “mastermind” group: The Success Principles, Jack Canfield
Other books I love:
Year of Yes, Shonda Rhimes
The Richest Man in Babylon, George S. Clason
I Moved Your Cheese, Deepak Malhotra
Born With It: Unleashing Your Greatness, JB Smiley
Podcast:
Black Girl in Om
Favorite Sayings:
“Impossible is a figment of our ignorance.”
“Master plan. Master money. Mastermind.”
– Monique McClain
Contact Info:
- Email: mo@bossupmycareer.com
- Website: bossupmycareer.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/bossupmycareer
- Facebook: facebook.com/bossupmycareer
- Twitter: twitter.com/bossupmycareer
Image Credits
Cory
Eyecreatereality
