Margaret Keane- President and CEO, Synchrony Financial
Advice:
“When I was in my teen years, I was not thinking about becoming a CEO of a business, but just thinking about how I could get into and pay for college. I knew college would provide me with more opportunities. My father was a New York City police officer and one of the things he instilled in me was to work hard. I worked hard in school so I could get good grades to get accepted into a college. I was the first in my family to go to college. Then when I was in college, I continued to work hard. I worked while attending college so I could pay the tuition.
One thing to remember whether you are in middle school, high school or college: not all classwork is created equal. I was better at some subjects than others. My advice is to embrace your strengths – excel at what you are good at, but prepare even harder for what is not easy for you. If you have a subject in school that is bringing you down—seek out extra help with your teacher or with someone who is good in that subject. Today’s jobs require many different types of knowledge. When I worked in banking and finance during my career, it was mostly men in senior roles. Today women can achieve whatever they dream – so my advice is to dream big.”