
Written by Cathy Cepielik
Keynote
Gloria Petersen
Ever wish you could wave a magic wand and everyone would be respectful, civil, and accommodating? Gloria Petersen provided the tools just for that type of magic! Her dynamic presentations have inspired audiences for over three decades to handle professional and social situations with class and finesse. Gloria is a renowned Certified Protocol Professional and author of The Art of Professional Connections, a four-guidebook series with companion Subject Matter Expert (SME) training modules. The entire series covers strategies for greetings and interactions, in person and online networking, meeting over meals, and event planning.
Gloria has also published articles and served as a contributing columnist for magazines, trade publications, and corporate newsletters. When it comes to Media, Gloria has hosted the FOX television 13-week series Image of Success; appeared on CNBC, FOX News, ABC News, CBS News, and NBC News; and even served as an etiquette judge which was televised on The Today Show. Chances are, we each may have caught a glimpse of her magical knowledge over the years without realizing the full spectrum of what this could do for our overall personal and professional interactions! Her clients range from Fortune 100 companies to emerging entrepreneurs. You can learn more about Gloria’s expertise at her website.
Gloria taught our audience it is more important than ever to handle sticky situations with diplomacy, dignity, finesse, tact, and civility. Why? Because …. everyone’s basic need is to be respected, appreciated, and liked. Nor does anyone like to be embarrassed or to feel awkward. How is this done? For starters … take the first step in handling any situation or individual by employing the appropriate interaction tool with a positive and helpful attitude. Remember: You are the only person in control of YOU! Aim to set the better example, always!
Your interaction tools are key! These tools contain powerful “win-win” strategies that serve as the foundation of effective communication. Use the right tool because sticky situations vary and much will depend on the environment and personalities involved. Expect resistance as some people are natural resisters, but you are the one in CONTROL! It’s how a situation is handled, not the incident itself, that is key to a successful result! The Interaction Tools are summarized below. Note they are an Art, every single one of them! The Interaction Tools are:
Diplomacy – the Art of managing situations and people
Civility – the Art of being polite and courteous
Tact – the Art of knowing what to say without giving offense
Dignity – the Art honoring self-respect
Finesse – the Art of handling an awkward question
HIRING COMPANIES
Vanguard: Renee Brown, Sr. Recruiter
Renee has been with Vanguard almost 20 years and loves the company and culture. Renee is originally from Seattle, WA, but doesn’t miss the cloudy weather at all and has been in AZ for decades, so she considers herself a native! Renee helps Vanguard fill opportunities in their individual and institutional investor divisions in the Scottsdale office.
Vanguard started in 1975 by founder John Bogle, who recently passed in January 2019 at age 89. What began as a company with 11 funds has now grown to an even larger size company with over 400 funds – talk about impressive! Vanguard’s mission is to give their all and take a stand for all investors, ensuring Vanguard is helping investors get their dreams ultimately. The Scottsdale office debuted in 1994 and today consists of over 3300 employees with lucrative benefits, such as a 37-hour work week, work life integration, community involvement via volunteering, a volunteer day off annually, matching 401k at 4%, healthcare coverage, anywhere from 18-23 paid days off yearly, tuition reimbursement, student loan payoffs, and more!
There are various opportunities at Vanguard. If you are new to the industry or experienced, there are plenty of opportunities and continued growth. Check the opportunities out at HERE!
USAA Jeff Shewan, HR Associate
Jeff has been with the USAA team since 2008, starting as a Senior Fitness Specialist with the Wellness Team and joining the campus HR team November 2017. Jeff grew up in Lewiston, NY, just outside Niagara Falls, earned his bachelor’s and master’s in Buffalo NY and then ventured to AZ. He is now the lead of the Phoenix campus diversity and inclusion team, helps support on-campus and external branding, and is a part of development events in the Phoenix area.
USAA’s history dates back almost 100 years to 1922. Every decision and action begins and ends with their mission statement, which revolves around facilitating the security of its members, associates, and their families through a full range of competitive financial products and services. Products and services include, but are not limited to: banking, investments, property and life insurance, and financial advice. The Phoenix campus debuted in 2000 and has a Starbucks on campus, which Jeff indicated is highly popular and very necessary! There are relaxation rooms for employees to enjoy during downtime to recharge, energize areas, and more. Perks and benefits include 8% match on 401k, a 24/7 fitness center, potential for performance based bonuses, wellness programs, education assistance, two volunteer days annually, and maternity/paternity paid leave, to name just a few.
USAA has over 12 million members, 33,000 employees nationwide, and 4800 at their Phoenix campus, which continues to grow. Current openings include customer service, insurance, banking, and IT software developing. Check out opportunities HERE!
CLOSING
Jessica provided additional resources and closing comments. Resources such as the DISC assessment, Event Recap blogs, and Professional Portraits are available on Career Connectors post event to follow along and encompass more. Big shout out and thanks to Highlands Church for lending their beautiful facility for our event and volunteers for helping with setup, photographs, financial counseling, LinkedIn coaching, and more!