In this engaging panel, three women in business discuss how their careers and lives took a sudden turn and how they changed their path. The conversation included Andi Overton, Director of Community Outreach & Business Operation at Mount St. Mary’s University, Elizabeth DeRose, Institute Manager, Hospitality, Culinary and Tourism Institute (HCTI) at Frederick Community College, and Katrice Scott, Co-owner of Two Sweet LLC, with the panel moderated by Debby Neely of Neely Coaching and Training. Through dialogue and these women’s stories, we hope to provide a resource and a touch of inspiration for anyone else looking to pivot with a purpose.
In this panel, Neely, Overton, DeRose, and Scott discuss:
[4:45] Women in the pandemic
[9:56] Introductions to the panelists
[16:03] Personal stories that caused pivots
[24:43] The importance of relationships
[40:52] Resources and learning
[54:13] Defining moments
[59: 23] Q&A
Transcript edited for readability
Debby Neely: Before last spring, I bet the word pivot is not a word you’ve heard a lot but it has become a part of our vocabulary during the pandemic. This past year women were disproportionality affected by the pandemic; a lot of women are essential workers and women were also really impacted by the economic and social shifts. We have seen, however, that women have really been resilient to the changes brought on by the pandemic. According to a September 2020 survey conducted by Albright, women are emerging from these unprecedented times with a career shift on their minds. One in four are starting their own business and over 60% are planning a complete pivot. You are about to hear the stories of three women who pivoted their careers before the pandemic, and they will also share personal pivots that aided in their success as well.
Introductions to Panelists:
Debby Neely: Andi Overtuo’s pre-pivot career was in law enforcement. She is currently the Director of Community Outreach & Business Operation at Mount St. Mary’s University’s Frederick Campus and works to bring industry and academia together. As a public speaker, Andi has used her career to serve the underserved while fighting for equity. She is a volunteer, mentor, and activist. A 2019 Emerge Maryland Graduate, she has two graduate degrees and is working towards her PhD at Frostburg State University with research centered around virtual reality and adult learning engagement.
Elizabeth DeRose holds a B.S in finance and had a first career in the finance sector in Chicago. Eventually, her love of cooking called her to change careers and she attended the Culinary Institute of America where she earned a culinary arts degree. She returned to Chicago where she worked for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises as a chef and Director of Operations. In 2001, she returned to Frederick where she joined the restaurant consulting for Vsag as Vice President. She then began a new career in the non-profit sector serving as the Director of Operations for an organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In 2016, she joined Frederick Community College to direct the Hospitality, Culinary and Tourism Institute. Elizabeth is an active member of the Carroll Creek Rotary Club, Women’s Giving Circle, and serves on the leadership council for Community Fares Farm to Circle program. She volunteers for the community in her spare time.
Katrice Scott is a self-taught cookie decorator who runs Two Sweet LLC, an online bakery here in Frederick and operates out of Maryland Bakes, a commercial kitchen co-op. Born and raised in Frederick, she vividly remembers the elaborate birthday parties that her parents threw for her and her twin sister, which ended up inspiring her to start the bakery after unseen circumstances pushed her into the field. Fast forward three years, she can be found curating full dessert tables featuring items from her custom sugar cookies to her cupcakes to chocolate-dipped treats. Her talents go beyond baking as she includes artistry in every order. She is ready to make your next event Two Sweet!
Power of A Pivot
Debby Neely: So now that you’ve heard a bit about them, I am excited for you to hear from them. I have asked them each to share a personal story that I believe will tell you more about them while giving you a glimpse into the power of a pivot.
So Andi, you had a pivotal moment in your previous career in law enforcement when you realized you weren’t happy. Can you tell us about that time?
Andi Overton: I was working in law enforcement 24/7. I would work at night and go to court during the day. I was tired and angry. My friends asked me if I was happy and if I liked my job. I said that I love what I do but I don’t love how it makes me feel. So, I sat down and did a decision matrix. I wrote it all down–the good, the bad, what makes me happy in life in general, and what doesn’t. My job and what made me happy didn’t align so I had to figure out how to use my skills in a way to help my community while not exhausting me. I had to find that intersection and line up my needs, goals, and values to figure out what career I want. I had to make decisions fast and found something that worked for me.
Debby Neely: Thank you Andi. I think a lot of us have the awareness that something needs to change but have to get the desire to change it. I loved how you did that, it’s something we all do. I feel like in the past year, a lot of people have said what’s important to them and core values have become more clear.
Elizabeth, a big moment for you was when you were graduating from the Culinary Institute of America and you were interviewing for your next job. Someone asked you “why should we hire you.” Tell us about that moment.
Elizabeth DeRose: That is something I’m never going to forget because I decided to do a career change from finance to culinary when I was in my thirties. When I completed the program, everyone I was graduating with was young and had worked in the industry for a number of years. The company I wanted to work for interviewed me and asked me “why should we hire you?” They said that everyone else had so much experience in the industry and you had no experience in the industry, which was true because I came from the finance world. I said that while I might not have the technical skills that others have, I can learn those quickly, but what I have that the others don’t is maturity, critical thinking, teamwork, management skills. He hired me on the spot because I had those other skills. I turned the question around and am very grateful for that opportunity.
Debby Neely: You were taking that leap of faith and did a reframe, which we can all do if you train yourself to do that.
Katrice, sometimes we are nudged into making a change, and other times we kind of hit a wall. Can you tell us where you were right before the pivot, what caused it, and how it got you to where you are today?
Katrice Scott: My pivot occurred during a negative time in my life. I was pivoting from a career at State Farm as a claims processor. I had decided that I wanted to go into the hospitality industry but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. In the midst of figuring that out, I was involved in a tragic incident in which someone close to me broke my ankle. I went through depression and economic struggles. One day, my sister asked me to make cookies for the client that she had. She was a baker at the time and was pregnant and asked for help. I did the first batch and decided that I really liked it. I posted to social media and since then, I have never stopped baking. It’s been about four years.
Debby Neely: You really had a comeback story! By now, you understand why we choose these three women. They are all examples of what it looks like to have grit.
Relationships Matter
Debby Neely: When we talk about success, there are always people behind us that support us. Listening to all of you, it’s very clear that you had people in your life that really helped you make that difference…
Elizabeth DeRose: I was really fortunate that during that time, I got more involved with our community. I got involved in the Rotary Club and the Women’s Giving Circle. I also really tapped into my friendships and they carried me through. I couldn’t have gotten to the next stage without their support and encouragement. How can you even imagine what’s ahead of you without that? One of the common themes that I reflect on is how your circle is so important in your life. You have to keep increasing and diversifying your circle of support to have people who are from all different stages and walks of life. It serves you well and my own circle helped get me to the next stage in my career and personal life. Relationships and people are critical.
Debby Neely: I know that when I talked to Katrice, she said that she often looks to the women in her life.
Katrice Scott: Yes, I look at these powerful and influential women in my life. I felt like if they could do, I could do it.
Learning Through Asking
Debby Neely: Andi, you went from a career in law enforcement to education. I imagine there were things that you had to learn, as well as unlearn. Tell us how that learning mode and leveraging your growth mindset helped with your pivot.
Andi Overton: I realized within the first day that I was no longer the smartest person in the room and that I had no idea what I was doing. If I didn’t stop, learn, and absorb, I was not going to be successful. The things that I already knew were applicable to some degree, I knew how to communicate and deal with people, but I didn’t know the practical stuff. I knew very quickly that I had to slow down and take everything in. It was time for me to learn. I could ask questions. If I hadn’t done that, I would have floundered. When we make a pivot, it’s important to realize that it’s okay to not know everything. I had to let my guard down and ask for help.
Katrice Scott: I had to learn how to bake and how to be a businesswoman but I was able to use resources that could help me reach that success. For my baking skills, Youtube and Instagram videos became my best friend. I am a firm believer that you can learn anything on the internet. When it came to the business, I actually went to city hall and they pointed me in the right direction. I ended up in the Root building where there was an abundance of resources. If you want something, you have to go out and find it.
Elizabeth DeRose: There was a lot of fear and anxiety I had around my pivots and the most important thing for me was dispelling that through information. I can’t stress the power and value of having information at your disposal to become more comfortable with your pivots.
Closing Remarks
Debby Neely: Thank you to our audience, we hope you found something to think about, put to use, to consider, to inspire you, because that’s what this panel was all about. I want to thank all our wonderful panelists, Andi Overton, Elizabeth DeRose, and KatriceScott. It has been such a pleasure getting to know all of you.
Frederick Chamber Insights is a news outlet of the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. For more information about membership, programs and initiatives, please visit our website.