OYP Episode 17: Jane Doku

Jane Doku, Data Science & Analytics professional, discusses her career and how she developed the self-confidence to advocate for herself.

Interview

Peter Szczerba - Welcome to the Own Your Potential Podcast, where you'll hear stories from leaders across the globe about how they've taken control of their career growth, and lessons on how you can too. I'm Peter Szczerba. And this is Episode 17. with Jane Doku, confidence based on my knowledge is unshakable. Jane, can you tell us a little bit about your career journey?

Jane Doku - Absolutely. So I am currently a senior associate on the data science team out of the Toronto office. And I've been with PS for just over four years now. My career actually started out in communications and PR. So prior to working for an agency, my experience ran the gamut from working for CPG to working for the federal government. And my career path has definitely not been straight. But I'm really thankful for all of the varying experiences that I've had.

Peter Szczerba - So Jane with a career path that hasn't been necessarily totally straight, as you mentioned, what strategies for self advocacy or self promotion have worked well for you throughout their career?

Jane Doku - I would say that my first couple years working for an agency, I was really kind of convinced that the only way to stand out was to have a really big and dynamic personality. And being someone who by nature is more introverted, to suddenly become big and dynamic just wasn't authentic to me. So when it comes to advocating for myself, my philosophy here is to not be shy about telling people what I want, because if I don't say it, they won't know it. And it's really my responsibility to help make that clear. And I've been better about, you know, voicing that and kind of leaning into how uncomfortable it might be. Because it only becomes easier, the more you do it, and thinking about self promotion. For me, it's really about playing to my strengths. So I really enjoy writing. So I promote my skills and expertise with articles. And it's been really amazing how many people I've been able to reach with that. So promoting yourself isn't necessarily being the person with the loudest bullhorn, there are so many ways to be heard.

Peter Szczerba - I'd love for you to build on that a little bit. Jane, the idea of writing articles or using the form of written communication that you're more comfortable with to drive self advocacy? Do you have any specific platforms or types of forums that you found have been really valuable to this exercise for you.

Jane Doku - The example that's top of mind for me, is I was actually approached by a vendor to do a blog series for them because I built up the reputation for being a Smee. And while the opportunity came out, kind of unexpectedly, I really seized on it. And it actually turns out that right now, my posts are the most popular on the blog. So it's been really great to kind of see an open opportunity and just pounced on it.

Peter Szczerba - Jane, that's really interesting. And I think it's valuable for a lot of people who describe themselves as introverts to know that there are avenues like that to do self advocacy well, but that being said, How do you think we can challenge the social perception or stigma around self promotion, especially when we're doing it in different channels, then maybe more traditionally has been done?

Jane Doku - For sure. I'm I'm really, rather cognizant that when it comes to self promotion, particularly as a woman, sometimes it isn't so well received. So it's a little bit of a minefield and and as you said, layered on top of that, because my nature isn't to necessarily talk about myself unless being asked the very specific question. Shaking off the stigma of self promotion is something that I really have to work hard at, I would say that one very small way that I've been able to work on this, especially with working from home, is by just being seen. So turning my camera on during meetings. And actually, this feedback came from one of my leaders, he had noticed that I tend not to take credit for work. So he challenged me to start turning my camera on during meetings. And even though I don't do this 100% of the time, I do it a lot more now because it's important to be present and seen. And also take the opportunity to jump in to provide feedback, especially when it's on the topic that you know, I have a lot of expertise in. Because if you build up the experience, it's important to share your knowledge. Ultimately positioning yourself as a subject matter expert goes a long way with promoting yourself. So for me, the way I challenged the perception is by showing up by being seen, Listening and contributing.

Peter Szczerba - And Jane, do you find that that's gotten a lot easier? After you dove in headfirst and kind of force yourself into what was originally uncomfortable for you? Did it quickly become an area of comfort?

Jane Doku - Yeah, I would say, especially with working from home, it accelerated my need to do this exponentially. So there was really no other way to do a lot of these things without taking some of the steps that I talked about previously. So I would say definitely working from home has forced a lot of this to happen a lot sooner.

Peter Szczerba - That's great. And I think that it's it's an example in a way of kind of continuous learning. And I'm really curious to know, in what ways over and above what you just described, have you embraced continuous learning in your career development? And how has that benefited you?

Jane Doku - Yep, this has been a really huge one for me. As I mentioned, I started out in communications and PR. However, when I started to think about what I wanted, for the future of my career, I knew that I wanted to be challenged, I wanted to work somewhere forward thinking and I also wanted to work somewhere where I would be able to showcase my ability to pick things up quickly. So that meant for me going back to school. So for a year, I worked Monday to Friday, from eight to four, then I spent my evenings going to school for data science. And I managed to fast track through the program because my motivation was so high, and I was just so determined to reach the end goal. And if it wasn't for that program, I really I wouldn't be here where at PS. So for me, I'm 100% okay with admitting that I don't know everything, but what I don't know, I can learn nothing is insurmountable with that kind of mindset.

Peter Szczerba - Jane, how have you been able to embody that as you work with clients or, you know, stakeholders where you really get comfortable with the idea of saying, I don't know right now, but I can quickly find out. I think a lot of people struggle with that.

Jane Doku  - I've definitely been in meetings where I look at, you know, colleagues with a lot of admiration, and really fascination, that their ability to bluff their way through and to really kind of show that while they don't know, they have all of the confidence and bravado that would suggest that they have all of the answers. Like, I always find that kind of mindset and attitude really fascinating because it's so counter to how I approach things. So when I am in a situation where I'm talking with a client, and maybe I don't have the answer right now, I tend to be really quite open with the fact that I might not know maybe I would put it in a more elegant way. But I would say, look, you know, I can definitely look into that for you. And I can come back with an answer. So I think there's no problem with admitting that. While I might not know right now, I can definitely find it out.

Peter Szczerba - But I think it's an important thing to mention. Jane as a juxtaposition to the way you feel because I think the way you feel, especially for people at your career stage are that it's a much more commonplace.

Jane Doku - Yes. And I would say I felt that way earlier on, like the first couple years of my career. But now because I built up so much knowledge, I could talk about it for hours, because I just I have so much experience, there's no way that anyone can take that away from me. So having that kind of confidence for me that's unshakable.

Peter Szczerba - So Jane, we talked a lot about self advocacy promotion, stigmas around as well as continuous learning. I guess I'm also curious about your opinion on the importance of advocacy for others, which I think is as important as self advocacy, in what ways have you really worked to promote or elevate the people around you throughout your career.

Jane Doku - So thinking back to a time when I felt most confident in my work, it all boiled down to the faith that my leadership had in me. And even if I had heaps of hesitation, that unwavering support helped to push me like further than I ever thought possible. So that is really something that I try and model now I have the privilege of working with a lot of talented people with a wide variety of skill sets. But I would say that I like to show encouragement through faith and trust. That said if you need my support, I like I like to think that I'm there. So if support might look like practicing a presentation I will be in that room with them. Or if support looks like helping someone with solutioning I will definitely open up my computer and get to work and and work alongside them and being in the trenches. And so I think ultimately these are the ways that I hope that I helped to elevate the people that I work with.

Peter Szczerba - I love to hear that Jane and on that note, I'd really love to thank you for your time. It's a pleasure as always chatting and we appreciate your inspiring learnings.

Jane Doku -Thank you Peter. I really appreciate the opportunity to share