If there’s one thing I’ve learned during the first few years of my career, it’s that the opportunities that shape you most are rarely the ones you expect.
Earlier generations often built careers by following a fairly predictable path—joining an organization, developing expertise over time, and steadily advancing through years of service. As someone who entered the workforce as part of Generation Z, I’ve realized that my generation is beginning our careers in a very different environment. Change is constant, technology evolves overnight, and the jobs we’ll hold ten years from now may not even exist today.
That’s why I believe relationships are more important than ever. In an industry built on collaboration, learning from seasoned leaders while bringing a fresh perspective has accelerated my growth in ways I never anticipated. It has reinforced that careers aren’t built by following a straight line—they’re built by staying open to unexpected opportunities and being willing to learn from every experience.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Like many college students, I graduated with a clear idea of what I thought my career would look like. I earned degrees in hospitality management and human resources and naturally expected my future to revolve around those fields. I didn’t expect to be building sponsorship experiences or helping make conventions feel less like a conference and more like a community, yet those have become some of my favorite parts of my job. My guess would be that many young professionals don’t even know association management is a career pathway.
If someone had told me as a student that I’d genuinely enjoy creative project work, I probably wouldn’t have believed them. It wasn’t something I had considered pursuing, but when given the opportunity to try – I said yes! When reflecting on those moments, I notice how growth rarely begins with certainty. It begins with a willingness to say yes.
The Power of Saying Yes
One of the messages that resonated most with me from this year’s convention came from keynote speaker, Seb Terry. He challenged us to stop waiting for the perfect time to pursue meaningful experiences, and as I reflected on my own career, I realized that every meaningful step had started with a simple yes.
Once I started saying yes to unfamiliar or unexpected opportunities, I began to realize that growth rarely comes from the moments everyone sees. It comes from the work happening behind the scenes, where you’re learning, adapting, and building confidence along the way.
Growth Starts Here
Some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned have come from taking on projects I had never done before and working alongside people with different experiences.
Behind every convention experience are hundreds of small decisions: the sponsorship touches that recognize members’ support, the presentations that help tell the industry’s story, or the personalized details that make someone feel welcomed instead of simply registered. Those moments don’t happen by accident, they happen because our team is encouraged to learn new skills and solve problems together to create an impactful experience that not only transforms those attending, but those who facilitate it as well.
No matter what industry you’re entering, some of your greatest professional growth will come from the opportunities that don’t fit neatly within your job description.
Keep an Open Mind
Looking back, I’m grateful my career hasn’t followed the path I originally imagined, because the unexpected opportunities along the way helped me discover strengths I never knew I had. I’ve been fortunate to grow up around BEMA and to experience this industry from several different perspectives and every stage taught me something new about myself.
If you’re just starting your professional journey or you’re at a career intersection, my advice is:
- Say yes before you feel ready. Some of your greatest opportunities will come from exploring new-to-you projects.
- Don’t let your formal education limit your reach. Your education is a foundation, not a job description.
You never know which opportunity will become the one you look back on years later and realize changed everything!
