Heidi Saucier

Looking back 14 years – part 3

Over the last few posts, I’ve been reflecting on the lessons learned over my 14-year career at the company I currently work at. I’m wrapping up that series today by sharing with you the last two that have made a difference and helped me continue down the path of growth as a leader and all-around as a person.

  1. Be willing to take risks
    • If you needed a spokesperson for being risk adverse, I’d probably be at the top of the list. Over the years, I’ve learned that risk is necessary for growth. Some of the biggest risks I have taken led to new doors and successes that I never would have known if I had avoided the risk. This included entering a doctoral program where statistics was not my forte. I was grateful for a professor that took the time and provided tools and videos to help us through analyzing quantitative data. This was a key factor in being able to successfully perform quantitative research as part of my dissertation. When I first became a manager at my company, I moved to an area that I was not as familiar with. Not only was I being stretched as a new leader and the responsibilities it entailed, but I was also being stretched to better understand the audience I was tasked with developing training for. I implemented tactics I had used on other training teams to learn about the audience and worked with stakeholders to uncover their learning needs. These are just a few examples, but ones where had I decided the risk was not worth it, I would not be where I am at in my career journey.
  2. Never stop learning
    • Those that know me shouldn’t be surprised that this is on the list. As a learning nerd, I am always looking for new knowledge. Whether it’s reading a book, watching a video, engaging in a conversation, or taking some sort of class, I crave the chance to learn more every day. There are many quotes out there that reference the importance of learning. One of my favorites is from Jack Nicholson, who said “The minute you’re not learning I believe you’re dead.” A bit dark, but he’s right. Learning should encompass every moment of our lives. In the last year, here are some things I’ve learned:
      • How to use SecureGPT
      • How to create scene changes in a video software we use for learning
      • My son is amazing at math – he most likely gets that from his dad!
      • Having mentors is important
      • Adversity is inevitable – it’s how you respond to it that determines what happens next

I hope that the lessons shared were insightful and helped you reflect on your own career journey. In the next post, I’ll share how I’ve identified goals for 2026 and new ways I’m holding myself accountable. I’d still like to hear the reflections from your journey. Share in the comments!

Heidi Saucier

Looking back 14 years – Part 2

In my last post, I began sharing lessons I’ve learned over the past 14 years of my career. Here are some more that I would like to share with you:

  1. Feedback is crucial to growth, even if it’s hard to hear
    • Some of the biggest growth spurts in my career came from feedback that was not always comfortable and that I was not always aware of. One aspect of the Johari Window shows us that we need people to reveal our blind spots that may be getting in the way of our goals. It can also help us deal with imposter syndrome, where others may see our true potential better than we can. Whether it was improvements to my professional presence, different approaches in my presentation skills, or learning not to be quick to react when someone disagrees with me, key leaders and peers shared that feedback and helped me see opportunities for improvement. It was not always great to hear the feedback at the time but looking back I see the differences those moments made in my career development.
  2. Mentoring is a gift
    • Mentoring is one of my passions. I enjoy meeting with people and learning about their goals and sharing ways that they can strive for success. Amid supporting others, I realized that I also needed mentors in my life. Some mentors happened naturally, while some were a result of my taking the risk and asking if they would be willing to mentor me. I have had a mix of short-term and long-term mentors that have shared insights on their career journeys and challenged me to set critical goals as I seek the next road on my career journey. By pushing me to think outside the box, and taking actions on personal and professional goals, I have set down a road that will take me to new experiences as well as new and cultivated skills.
  3. Be open to different perspectives
    • No one person sees things the exact same way. Additionally, people can indirectly close themselves off to new ideas when they feel change is not necessary. Part of that can include the adage “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” On one of the boards I served on, the majority wanted to consider a new way of appointing a role that serves as a liaison between the chapter and the national organization. I first advocated that the person continue to meet a list of requirements that had been the norm for several years. Key voices on the board challenged that, indicating that maybe it was time for us to consider additional criteria that would allow us to have a fresh voice on the board. After listening to their views and reviewing what was listed in the existing board documents, I realized that there was nothing holding us back to move in this direction and consider people that may not fit the current mold but would allow us to bring new perspectives and innovation to the role. Had I not taken a step back and considered the bigger picture, I may have dug my heels in and caused unnecessary dissention within the board. Being open to a new way of approaching a situation can often be the spark needed to increase motivation and commitment to an important goal within an organization or a group you are a part of.

In my next post, I’ll wrap up the lessons I’ve reflected on. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you. Have you benefited from tough feedback? What about having or being a mentor? Have you gained new perspectives? Share in the comments!

Heidi Saucier

Looking back 14 years – Part 1

On December 5, I celebrated 14 years at the company I work for. Over the next few posts, I would like to share some of the lessons that I’ve learned along the way.

  1. Introverts aren’t always quiet
    • For a time, I had a false perspective on the difference between an introvert and an extrovert. I thought that introverts had little to no interest in people, were super shy, and hardly spoke. See, I’m a people person. I love connecting with others and as I become comfortable with them I tend to be a chatterbox. As a facilitator, I also demonstrate extroverted characteristics. However, I started to realize that it was only a small portion of who I was. More dominant in me is the need to decompress after a packed day of interactions. I also thrive on smaller interactions and tend to silently observe before approaching others or speaking up in conversations. Once I embraced that reality, I knew that I was an introvert and was proud to be one. As I’ve moved into leadership, my introverted nature has helped in decision making as I often observe and reflect before responding. At the same time, I’ve had to get out of my comfort zone and speak up to ensure I am heard in certain settings. It continues to be a learning experience, but one that I am glad to walk through.
  2. Networking is necessary
    • As an introvert, I struggled for a time to want to go to networking events unless I knew several people that were going to be there. This was a big step outside of my comfort zone. As I made more of an effort to introduce myself to people and start conversations, I began new relationships with people within my company and the learning and development industry. Many of these connections have been key partners for projects where I needed insights for training and for learning new ways to approach training using tools and techniques I may not have learned about otherwise. If you’re not always comfortable meeting new people, I challenge you to go to a networking event and set a goal of meeting one new person. You will be surprised at the results!

I will continue sharing lessons in my next post. In the meantime, what are some lessons you’ve learned in your career? I’d love to see them in the comments.

Heidi Saucier

Reflections from a conference

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending the National Management Association’s annual conference in Sugar Land, Texas. I’m a member of the board of directors, and this year’s Board Secretary. Next year, I’m excited to serve as the organization’s Board Treasurer. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the organization, founded by Charles Kettering in 1925. I’d like to share some nuggets I gained during my time at the event.

We had several amazing and insightful speakers during the conference. The first person I heard was Josh Linkner, a Detroit native and well-known author, speaker, and entrepreneur. His talk focused on innovation and creativity, important elements of leadership and navigating through the professional world. Among the examples he shared, the one that resonated with me most was the employee that came to him with an idea to address some legal and logistical challenges with an ad campaign he was leading. That idea was the game changer and missing piece to the puzzle he and other leaders had been trying to solve. Additionally, he shared that the idea was from an individual contributor who because of the culture he created, was comfortable approaching him and giving him the recommendation. It reinforced in me the importance of seeking diverse perspectives and being open to new ideas even if they vastly differ from yours. You can find the full story that he’s shared with others previously here.

Shayla Rivera, a former NASA engineer who truly made a career pivot moving to standup comedy and motivational speaking, was another one of the speakers. Her focus was on storytelling, something that is near and dear to my heart. Sharing her career journey and leadership topics she learned along the way, she kept the audience engaged and laughing. Among the takeaways from her session were these two quotes:

“What you are unaware of controls you. What you are aware of you can change.” This reminded me to be mindful of how to approach my personal development and areas of improvement as they are identified. Once you are aware of something, it’s up to you what happens next. It has parallels to the Johari Window that helps individuals identify blind spots and receive feedback from others to also help you be more aware of areas in your life that would benefit from change.

“We spend so much time focusing on what we put in our mouth, but not what comes out of it.” This is such a true statement! Physical health and nutrition are very important things, but so is our emotional health and professional presence. We must continue to think before we speak and seek to understand rather than being quick to react and not taking the time to self-assess before responding to someone. Hearing this from Shayla, it challenges me to do better. If you want to learn more about Shayla, check out her website.

Another great highlight of the week was a leadership panel that focused on career development journeys. Three leaders, including one of my mentors, Patrece Hamblin, shared their experiences and insights on what individuals need to consider when looking for career growth and opportunities. Each talked about identifying where you can bring value in your job, and that opportunities are more than job promotions. As I look back on my career journey so far, I recall several opportunities that were key to my development. There were times when I was stretched to begin instructional design work and learn from others to build my skills when at the time I had minimal experience. I was asked to lead in different ways through my NMA chapter, which taught me delegation and strategic planning. In my current role I’m getting involved in projects that help me gain a bigger picture of our key stakeholders and external customers that help me identify ways that we can better support these groups. Seeing how these and other experiences continue to shape me into the leader I am today, the comments of the leaders on the panel resonate with where I have been and where I am now in my career. Roderick McLean from Lockheed Martin also said something that is crucial in development. “Believe in yourself,” he said. “Not everyone is going to believe in you.” As one that battles imposter syndrome, confidence in who I am and my abilities is a key weapon along with the reminder that it’s ok if not everyone is supportive. I must move forward with the goals that I have set in place, being open to feedback but also being true to who I am and my values. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of this amazing organization and to gain the insights I did at this year’s conference. Did any of these resonate with you? What organizations have helped you in your personal and professional journey? I’d love to hear about it!