Cheryl China’s Top Career Insights: 9 Lessons Learned Along the Way
Sharing our career journey is a powerful form of storytelling. We all have highs and lows that make our experiences unique, and when we share them with the world, we can inspire others who walk similar paths.
In September, the Founder of CCWomen, Sandy Ko, had the opportunity to invite Cheryl China to the virtual stage for our CCWomen webinar series. As the SVP of Credit Card Servicing at Citizens Bank and a member of the CCW Advisory Board, Cheryl brings a wealth of wisdom to the table. Having spent 25 years in customer contact, Cheryl operates with passion, enthusiasm, and determination while helping other women pave their way to success—and we’re thrilled to share what we’ve learned.
Here, we’ll dive into the nine valuable career insights that Cheryl accumulated throughout her journey, with key actions that drive tangible change.
1. “Be willing to move sideways in your career.”
Many of us are familiar with a linear career trajectory. Assistant, associate, manager, director—the goal is to get promoted and demonstrate more expertise. But what if we didn’t have to follow such a rigid course?
“It doesn't always have to be a step up,” noted Cheryl, introducing her first point. “You can learn just as much by moving sideways as well.”
Sometimes, we face unexpected changes that require us to pivot. For example, you may have been a customer success director for five years but decided recently to transition into product management. It may seem like you’re starting from scratch, but with transferable skills and adjacent experience, you can bring a fresh perspective that others will appreciate.
2. “Don’t hesitate to take risks.”
“I took a role early on in my career that I felt I didn’t know a lot about,” explained Cheryl. “I was scared to death that I would fail, but I didn’t.”
As women navigating a high-pressure professional landscape, it can be easy to feel that we need to be complete experts before we apply for a position. However, conquering our fear of failure and making decisions outside our comfort zone may lead us closer to success.
3. “Don’t let perfection hold you back.”
The good news is that no one’s perfect. No matter the years of experience or number of accomplishments, every person has persevered through uncomfortable growing pains in their career journey.
“You can always learn. You don’t have to know everything from the beginning, but you must know who to go to for the right answer,” said Cheryl. “What’s more important to you? Perfection or meeting that deadline?”
4. “Don’t be afraid to ask hard questions—especially about career or money.”
A recent study challenges the concept of women negotiating less, suggesting that they do ask but still face various gender stereotypes that may limit their efforts.
Still, Cheryl encouraged her audience to continue pushing forward and advocate for their careers. While it’s essential that our allies stand with us, our collective voices are vital in driving the narrative. When we come together to confront and dismantle harmful biases while existing loudly in rooms that were created to silence us, we make change possible—one woman at a time.
5. “Learn from your mistakes, but don’t wallow in them.”
“As a young manager, I made a grave HR error. I didn't know any better at the time, but you better believe it impacted me,” shared Cheryl. “I took the experience as a learning opportunity and never made the same mistake again.”
We can be one year or a decade into our career, but the fact remains: we’re only human. And as humans, we make mistakes. It can be difficult to work past the guilt, but it’s important that these moments don’t define us. We acknowledge our shortcomings, learn our lesson, and move on, recognizing that we’re now better equipped to handle future scenarios.
6. “Always represent your brand.”
Whether you interact with others via LinkedIn or in person—or both—you are your own brand. It’s an extension of your identity that gives a glimpse into your values, passions, and goals, allowing people to connect authentically with your presence.
Cheryl further emphasized, “Every interaction matters. The opportunity to claim your value and demonstrate strong leadership is everywhere. I think of myself as the CEO of my career.”
7. “Invest in your relationships.”
“Get comfortable networking, building relationships, and knowing how to work a room—it’s how you maintain mutually beneficial relationships,” said Cheryl. Community is a vital support system, not just for personal development, but for tangible career growth. A person can be your coworker today, then a referral for a dream opportunity tomorrow.
There’s no telling where you can go, but with supporters ready to spotlight you and your achievements, your next moves will feel significantly less daunting.
8. “Know that what you say and what you do matters.”
Regardless of length, every conversation has the power to weaken your brand or strengthen it. For instance, you can build credibility if you demonstrate a strong, confident voice and follow up with characteristics that accurately reflect it. But if your words and actions don’t align with your image, people may feel less inclined to hear your thoughts.
The bottom line: knowing that you can make a tangible difference, be mindful of how you present yourself to others.
9. “Play nice in the playground.”
“This may be the most important item—the one rule we learned in kindergarten—but please be kind to others,” concluded Cheryl. “There’s no need to step over people and act like a tyrant to get what you want out of your career. No matter what, treat people with kindness and respect.”
Balancing self-advocacy with empathy is key, especially as a leader. People will remember your accomplishments and how you made them feel. By simply operating with kindness, you can open doors to more meaningful opportunities—and a thriving network of professionals who are ready to elevate you in your career journey, every step of the way.
Want more valuable career insights? Join CCWomen.
Cheryl China kicked off our webinar series with grace and vulnerability—but she isn’t the last. If you’re interested in learning more career insights from leaders who strive to transform the working world, CCWomen is here to provide. We’re committed to building a community that elevates and celebrates women, giving them a stage to stand on.
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