The road to a rewarding career is often unplanned, even unmapped, but staying alert to promising opportunities brings rewards, according to four high-achieving executives who shared their stories and career tips recently during a session at the Columbia Women in Business conference. The gathering, which was hosted by Columbia Business School, attracted more than 200 business leaders and MBA students.

Candice Michaelson, general vice president and general manager of Cigna Healthcare’s pharmacy business, moderated the session.

She was joined by Kathryn Karlman, a managing director at Deloitte Consulting; Kristen Connelly, director, rewards recognition & well-being, Crowe; and Jennifer Scully, vice president of private wealth management at Goldman Sachs.

“This panel reinforced an important truth for me: Success is rarely linear, and the best careers are built on adaptability, curiosity, and strong networks,” Michaelson said. “No matter where you are in your career, investing in learning, embracing risks, and lifting others up will always open new doors and create opportunities for growth.”

Read on for more tips and stories panelists shared with attendees during the hour-long session.

Prioritize learning to stay relevant and competitive in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape

Technology is driving innovation in business, and to stay relevant, leaders must ensure they remain up to date on the latest developments.

Deloitte’s Karlman, whose role centers on legislative implementations, stressed the importance of participating in educational opportunities to stay relevant with the latest technologies.. One recent example is the rise of blockchain and cryptocurrencies, which Karlman had known little about.

“I took online courses on each of those topics so I could be conversant and advise my clients,” she said.

Mentorships and employee experiences are keys to progressing in your career

Good leaders are also mentors, said Scully, from Goldman Sachs. “I’m always mentoring no less than three women,” she said. “Where do they want to be five years from now? What upskilling do they need? Who do I need to get them in front of? How can I advocate for them?” 

(Pictured left to right: Candice Michaelson, Kathryn Karlman, Kristen Connelly, and Jennifer Scully.)

Crowe’s Connelly stressed that an empathetic, people-first approach to leadership is paramount. “As a leader, you have the opportunity to create a great experience for your employees, to show empathy, to connect with them,” she said. “We’ve learned that 69% of an employee’s well-being is directly influenced by their manager. That’s a huge responsibility.”

The panel agreed they each have benefited from having the right mentors. “The important thing when selecting mentors is finding someone you can show the ugly stuff to,” Connelly said. “Someone to whom you can say, ‘I’m thinking about leaving’ or ‘I don’t know if I can do this.’”

Know which risks are worth taking in your career

Taking a risk is inherently frightening, but it can represent a path to growth – trust your gut. When Karlman told colleagues she was thinking about becoming a consultant, they recommended she have an exit plan in case her new role didn’t work out. “At the end of the day, I liked what I saw, and I took the job,” she said. “Instead of working on my exit plan, I went all in on being successful. It was absolutely the best move ever.”

Look for ways to grow your career, with or without changing employers

Finding the right next step can mean looking inside or outside your organization, the panelists said. The people you know can help you find your path.

Tap into your network when you want to change jobs or look for new opportunities, said Connelly, who has worked at four companies. “I’ve known someone at each firm, and I’ve built relationships that have lasted many years,” she said.

In contrast, Karlman has enjoyed a variety of work experiences without changing employers. “I’ve had many different careers at one organization – things I never would have imagined,” she said. “That’s one of the big advantages of a large firm.”

This article was created with the assistance of AI tools. It was reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by The Cigna Group’​s editorial team and subject matter experts. Some responses were edited for brevity and clarity.