When Jenna Hagerich landed her first marketing role out of college, she didn’t expect to spend 15 years climbing through one of the largest food companies in the world or that a corporate layoff would one day push her toward a role she loves even more. Now a Senior Brand Manager at Campbell’s, Jenna’s story is a masterclass in staying grounded, confident, and curious through every season of your career.
Below are the lessons she shared that every young professional should keep close, especially those navigating the first few years after graduation.
Jenna’s first piece of advice is deceptively simple: learn how your team measures success, and make that your compass.
“A great question to ask in a job interview is: how do you measure success for this role?” she said. “Once you know that, you can align your work to it.”
Too many new professionals focus on checking off tasks instead of understanding what really moves the needle. Your boss’s goals are your roadmap. Ask early: What does winning look like here? Then spend your energy on the projects that directly connect to those goals. This is how you start to stand out.
No one loves hearing they could do something better. But for Jenna, the people who grow fastest are the ones who ask for feedback before it’s required.
“Don’t wait until your annual review,” she said. “Feedback in real time is a gift.”
The mindset shift? Feedback isn’t criticism; it’s investment. If someone takes the time to guide you, it means they believe you can rise to the challenge. Listen, implement, and keep the people who give you honest feedback close. Those are your future mentors and advocates, the ones who’ll mention your name in rooms you’re not in.
Jenna credits much of her growth to what she calls her “personal board of directors,” a circle of mentors, peers, and truth-tellers who help her make decisions and stay grounded.
“You’ll get a lot of opinions about yourself,” she said. “Not all of them are valuable. Keep people around you whose perspectives you trust.”
Your board doesn’t have to be formal. Think of it as the handful of people you’d call before making a big career move...people who see your potential clearly when you forget it yourself.
When asked how she rose to Vice President at Aramark, Jenna didn’t cite luck or perfect timing. She mentioned three things: hard work, curiosity, and relationships.
“People have to want to work with you,” she said. “Emotional intelligence matters just as much as results.”
Her leadership philosophy is rooted in empathy: meeting people where they are, understanding how they communicate, and adjusting her approach to help them succeed. “Everyone works differently,” she added. “If you can figure that out, you’ll stand out.”
Networking has a bad reputation. Jenna reframes it completely.
“Every single person has a story to tell and value to bring. You don’t need to be anyone else. Show up authentically.”
Her advice is to connect before you need anything. Instead of cold-messaging someone to ask for a favor, start by asking thoughtful questions, expressing genuine curiosity, and finding common ground. And yes, that applies inside your company too. “Networking within your organization is just as important as networking outside it,” she said. “That’s how opportunities find you.”
Jenna even offered a tangible strategy: keep a list of 10 people including leaders, peers, or mentors you admire. Once a month, reach out to one of them to say hello or invite them for a virtual coffee. Over time, you’ll build real relationships, not transactional ones.
After 15 years at Aramark, Jenna’s department was eliminated. “It was the hardest moment of my career,” she admitted. “You feel embarrassed, angry, all of it.” But she didn’t stay stuck there.
She gave herself time to process, then reminded herself of a truth every professional should internalize: a layoff isn’t a reflection of your worth or your work. “Some of the smartest people I know have been through it,” she said. “It’s just part of the reality of business.”
What got her through? Her network. The people she’d built relationships with over the years showed up with encouragement, introductions, and perspective. Within four months, she landed her new role at Campbell’s, a position that fits her skills and values perfectly.
Imposter syndrome shows up when you forget how far you’ve come. Jenna combats it with a simple practice: keep a running list of your accomplishments.
“Any time I check off something big or feel proud of my work, I write it down,” she said.
On hard days, that list reminds her of what she’s capable of. At review time, it becomes concrete proof of her contributions ready for promotion or raise conversations. Another tool to consider is a “kudos” folder in your email, where you can store positive feedback or praise from others. It’s both a confidence boost and a career tool.
One of Jenna’s most powerful takeaways: mentorship is valuable, but advocacy gets you promoted.
“An advocate is someone who will speak for you in rooms you’re not in,” she said.
Make sure the people who can open doors for you actually know what you’ve achieved. And don’t wait for them to notice. Share your wins in one-on-one meetings or updates.
At the same time, be your own advocate. Make sure the people who need to know about your accomplishments are not left guessing. And always ask for what you want.
Jenna believes the best employees aren’t the ones who know everything, they’re the ones who stay curious.
“I can’t predict the problems of tomorrow,” she said. “So I need people who have the curiosity and learning agility to figure them out.”
Her advice for Gen Z women entering the workforce: don’t try to out-work everyone to prove your worth. You bring value just by showing up authentically and being willing to learn. “I wish I’d had more confidence and less imposter syndrome when I started,” she said. “You don’t need to have all the answers. Just stay curious.”
Whether she’s mentoring young marketers or leading multimillion-dollar brands, Jenna keeps coming back to the same theme: your career will never be linear but your mindset can keep you steady.
Stay curious. Build relationships before you need them. Treat feedback as fuel. Advocate for yourself and others. And above all, remember that your worth isn’t tied to any single job.
“You are a unique and wonderful individual with your own story,” Jenna said. “As long as you show up authentically and remain curious, you’ll bring value wherever you go.”