Participant Spotlight | Jessica Uelmen
Staff Product Manager at Cruise
Ceresa Community Manager, Emily Worthington, talks with Jessica about her experience being a participant in the Ceresa Accelerator, and the impact it’s made in her life.
E: Hey, Jessica! Thanks for joining us to share your experience. Let’s start by hearing why you decided to invest in the Ceresa Accelerator program:
J: I was feeling stuck. I had an overall goal and vision for myself, but I wasn't sure how to get there. I found myself running into the same problems and frustrations no matter the organization or team that I joined. I was left wondering, "Is it a me thing? Is it a valley thing? Or what?" I wanted an outside perspective, somebody that had been there and done that to share how they got there. I have not worked with many women leaders in my career. While I have a complicated relationship with the label "woman in tech," I feel there are some unique experiences women deal with in Silicon Valley. I'm fairly introverted, so cold calling or reaching out is not a thing I'm super comfortable doing. The opportunity to be matched with a female mentor and have a framework to follow was really appealing.
E: Can you share a specific goal or aspect of your vision statement you worked on during your Ceresa journey?
J: My goal is to become a product executive for an organization making positive changes in the world. During the Ceresa program, I wanted to develop a plan to get there and make measurable progress.
E: What is your favorite thing about your Ceresa mentor?
J: Her honesty…she was really straight forward and helped me articulate how I was feeling in ways I hadn't thought of before. It pushed me to think about things differently. One of the best insights she shared with me was around defining strategy. I struggled with feedback I'd received around setting strategy and found that articles and influencers all had different, convoluted opinions on what good strategy was. My mentor was able to articulate an approach succinctly and clearly based on her experience. Strategy is answering two questions: "What game are we playing? How do we win?" I've used this so many times since our session and actually have it as a digital post-it as a continuous reminder. The opportunity to reflect on key things with her was really valuable.
E: What's new about you since beginning your Ceresa journey?
J: I was recently promoted to a Staff Product Manager role at Cruise. I feel so much more confident in myself, my worth, and what I bring to my organization. We talked about imposter syndrome and techniques for dealing with that. It was really validating to hear my mentor say that I'm smart and capable. Now, I am more comfortable promoting myself, which will help me achieve my end goal.
E: In what way(s) are you hoping to grow in the new year?
J: In 2021, the major change for me is I'm having a child in early Feb! Advice for balancing being a mom and working was another goal I set for the program. It's going to be a whole new experience as I join the ranks of working moms. I'll be thinking through how to strike a balance that makes me feel like I'm still making progress in my career goals but not sacrificing the job of raising a human.
E: How do you define leadership?
J: For me, leadership is empowering others to achieve a specific goal or vision. Empowerment is the most important thing for me, probably because I haven't felt empowered in many roles I've held but thrived when I had leaders that encouraged me. Leaders in organizations often view employees as “resources" or a means to an end when we're real people with goals and aspirations. I think the most helpful question you can ask as a leader is “How can I help?" rather than dictating a path forward for your team.
E: Is there a resource (book, podcast, game, quote, etc.) that has kept you going in 2020? If so, tell us about it.
J: Mostly, crocheting and knitting because the repetition is relaxing, and I still feel productive by making a tangible thing that I can wear or give to someone else. I made a (giant) blanket for my baby, and I joke that I'm knitting myself a whole new wardrobe in the stress of 2020 (total tally was two shirts, one sweater, one cardigan, one twin-sized "baby" blanket, and a scarf). I started crocheting seven years ago when my husband got me a kit for Christmas. I was in grad school and working full-time, so he figured I needed a fun hobby. At first, learning was anxiety-inducing as I figured out how to make my stitches even and how to count them. I restarted a lot of pieces. My advice is to start on something with no expectations. I recommend buying yarn and just start practicing the stitch. Don't have a vision of a beautiful scarf at the end! When you have muscle memory, it's really relaxing.
E: What's on your bucket list for after quarantine?
J: I love to travel, so I'm looking forward to getting on a plane and going somewhere. I study Japanese and have been to Japan seven times. I've been missing the food and culture this year, so I would love it if my first trip was back to Japan! My husband and I would also love to go to South America. Though I’ll be a mom in less than a month, perhaps a domestic trip is more realistic.
E: Thanks for talking with me today, Jessica. We wish you the best for your new parenthood journey and with the continued pursuit of your goals!
A Leadership Journey
Like No Other
The Ceresa Leadership Accelerator is designed for growth-minded leaders from first-time managers to executives, and this highly personalized program gives you the space, structure, and support to focus on achieving your biggest professional aspirations.