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​​​​​​​Throughout her career, Cathy Doss, Freddie Mac’s vice president and enterprise chief data officer, has worked closely with interns and other early career professionals, providing feedback, advice, and career development opportunities. So when she joined Freddie Mac in late 2023, it was a priority for Cathy to continue imparting lessons from her experience to the next generation of leaders, including our  technology analyst program graduates. 

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“I didn’t have opportunities like this when I started working,” said Cathy, whose career has included work in data and information systems at several large financial services companies. Understanding the impact advice and mentorship can have on early career professionals has made her eager to offer her time and experience to benefit others. Over time, through informal conversations, formal mentorship, and even university commencement speeches, Cathy has distilled her advice for early career professionals into eight lessons. Here, she shares her lessons and the rationale behind each. 


No. 1: Jump into the whitespace. 


“One of the biggest things I try to emphasize is this: I want to hear your great ideas. There are items and areas I’m not thinking about every day, but someone else is. So, if I can encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions and show you that your ideas matter, we can cover more ground. If you see something, say something, so we can do something.” 


No. 2: Give and seek feedback. 


“Create an open dialogue with everyone around you. Chances are there are things you can do better and ways you think others around you can improve, so don’t be afraid to ask for and give feedback when the moment arises. The feedback doesn’t have to be formal. And you don’t have to angle for a promotion when you provide or receive feedback. But clear, consistent feedback provided privately and in-the-moment can help you grow as a professional. And it can be done simply. For example, you can say, ‘I noticed something, do you mind if I share some feedback?’ or, ‘You watched my presentation, is there anything I could have done more effectively?’” 


No. 3: If you need clarity, ask questions. 


“I often see early career professionals who are afraid to ask questions because they’re afraid to admit they don’t know something. What they don’t realize is that there are maybe a dozen other people who have a similar question but won’t ask it either. Often, asking the question brings clarity to a conversation so everyone benefits. Especially at a company as complex as Freddie Mac, and in an industry that uses as many acronyms as we do, failing to ask a question or for clarification during the early part of a conversation can cause you to miss out or misunderstand.”  


No. 4: Connect with people. 


“Relationships matter. If you take the time to meet and connect with people, you can learn things and even open yourself up to new networks and new opportunities. I would tell anyone to look up, not down; talk to people while you wait in line in the cafeteria; make eye contact; turn your camera on during meetings. Be willing to get to know other people because when you need something, you’ll have dozens of people you can reach out to for help. And in return, you’ll be there for them when they need help.” 


No. 5: Don’t make excuses for yourself before you step on stage. 


“I’m an ambivert. I’m naturally an introvert who learned to be extroverted in social and professional situations over time. You can do it, too. This is important because we can make excuses for why we can’t get on a stage or stand under bright lights by saying we’re just introverted. And it can be scary and a challenge, but it’s also a learned skill. Be open to the growth opportunity and don’t sell yourself or your abilities short.” 


No. 6: Own your mistakes. 


“Everyone makes mistakes in their career. It happens. My advice is not to run from your mistake, but to own up to it. It will take some courage, but owning up to your mistake when you recognize it is much better than letting it catch up to you down the road. When you do make a mistake, you should be able to articulate to your boss or supervisor what happened, what you’re going to do to make sure it doesn’t happen again, and the lessons you’re going to take from it. Ultimately, reflecting on your mistake is going to help it from happening again.” 


No. 7: Sometimes the best step forward is a step sideways. 


“Your career journey should not be defined by promotions. Yes, some people grow and advance as if climbing a ladder, but for others it’s more of a lattice. Taking the time to learn what others do and expanding your knowledgebase can expand your range and influence. When you are not so focused on moving up, you’re more likely to take a look at the options around you, try something different, and learn something new about yourself. That step sideways might just set you up for the next step forward.” 


No. 8: Provide solutions, not just problems. 


“We all face problems, but if we just stop at the problem, we’ll never actually make anything better. I think of it like this: If you bring your boss or supervisor a problem without any potential solutions, you are essentially just complaining. However, if you can take the time to consider why something isn’t working and how we may be able to fix it, you can either solve the problem yourself or help inspire another person’s creativity. To come full circle, jump into the white space. I want your ideas. I want your solutions.” 


Work for a company that values your contributions and ideas.  Explore opportunities at Freddie Mac today. 

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