When you’re fresh out of college, it’s easy to think your career should unfold like a straight ladder: climb one rung, then the next, and eventually you’ll get “there.” But Kirby Hann, who’s held roles at powerhouse brands like Smucker’s, Post, and now Del Monte Foods, says the truth is far less linear and far more human.
I sat down with Kirby to talk about her journey, the lessons she wishes she’d known starting out, and how emotional intelligence can help you stand out in your career from Day 1 .
Kirby’s first role out of college wasn’t glamorous: it was a logistics coordinator position at Smucker’s. It wasn’t even in marketing, the field she studied. But she didn’t view it as a detour. It was a door.
“Any way to get your foot in the door at a good company, you do it,” she said.
That role gave her skills and experiences that later helped her excel in brand management, shopper marketing, and eventually leadership. Her career has been more of a lattice than a ladder: a series of lateral moves across departments that gave her a full view of the business.
Takeaway: Don’t panic if your first role doesn’t match your major. What matters is learning, growing, and collecting tools you’ll use later.
Like many new grads, Kirby remembers the early days filled with self-doubt.
“Everybody had a first day. Nobody knew everything right away,” she said.
Instead of racing toward the next promotion, she wishes she’d slowed down and let herself fully absorb her first role. The real growth happens when you stop comparing yourself to others and commit to being present where you are.
Takeaway: Master your current role before worrying about the next one. Lead from where you are, not from where you think you should be.
Kirby credits much of her success to emotional intelligence, skills like self-awareness, empathy, and relationship-building.
“You have to manage yourself before you can manage others,” she explained.
That doesn’t just mean managing a team someday. It means managing projects, navigating change, and building influence. Skills like listening deeply, regulating your emotions, and communicating with clarity are what set you apart.
Takeaway: Your job description only gets you in the door. Emotional intelligence is what helps you stand out and move forward.
Networking isn’t about collecting contacts, it’s about building trust.
Kirby emphasized that credibility is everything. When coworkers see you as reliable, collaborative, and authentic, they’ll want to work with you, follow your lead, and recommend you for new opportunities.
Takeaway: Focus less on impressing people and more on building trust. That’s how you earn influence.
Kirby shared her favorite tool for standing out in interviews: the ABC framework.
A = Authentic: What makes you uniquely you?
B = Bold: What are you passionate about, inside or outside of work?
C = Credible: What’s a story that proves your skills and reliability?
When you prepare interview stories using this framework, you show up as a memorable, multidimensional candidate.
If Kirby could go back, she’d tell herself one simple thing: slow down and be present.
“You may learn your next step by just being more present,” she said.
Kirby’s career is proof that success isn’t about checking every box by 25. It’s about staying curious, building emotional intelligence, and having the courage to take detours that teach you something new.
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