Many of us wish we could channel the knowledge and wisdom of the people that have [gone through the experience we] achieved all or some of the things we aspire to accomplish. To be able to know how they arrived there. To learn about the challenges they faced and learn how to overcome them. To learn about the opportunities they were presented with so we can know about the range of possibilities.

Though we can’t channel these individual’s knowledge we are granted access to this information through books, videos and sometimes conversations with these individuals.

Thanks to the University of Washington’s Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program (GO-MAP) me and several other students from around campus had the opportunity to have a candid discussion with Marta Newhart.

Marta Newhart, an alum from the University of Washington has several achievements including being the highest ranking Latino when she left Boeing where she had been for 20 years. She left Boeing to join a team of former colleagues as the vice president of Marketing, Communications and Investor Relations of Suntricity.

During our hour session, Marta shared many useful insights. Rather than pack them all into one blog post I will spread them out over the next few months. Let us begin.

Discover your passion

Marta reminded us that we are all passionate about something. Take some time and figure out what it is that you are passionate about. It is the things that you are passionate about that will make the early mornings and long nights seem trivial.

Agility is key

We live in an age where most things are fluid, changing from one day to the next. This includes a company’s structure, your job expectations and life. Marta so keenly pointed out that to move from where we are to where we have to be, we have to be agile. This agility allows you to capitalize on opportunities as they present themselves, create an environment that allows you to thrive, and bounce back from setbacks.

Use ambiguity to your advantage

There will be times when nothing seems clear. Occasions when it seems like everyone is speaking in code. Situations where people expect you to comprehend ideas that are unclear on many levels. It is okay. You must work through ambiguity. This is perhaps something that separates the exceptional people from the ordinary ones.  Use ambiguity as a platform to solicit feedback, to shape ideas and to move initiatives forward.

Want more?

Well, that is all for now! Look for future post where I’ll be sharing other insights shared by Marta.