Tanya Griggs
Northern Trust
Chicago, IL USA
"The decision you make today has room for change."
Career Roadmap
Tanya's work combines: Business, Technology, and Problem Solving
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
Do your research. One thing that young people have now that I didn't have is the internet. Research opportunities and learning experiences. Use the internet to your advantage to explore what's out there. Keep your end goal in mind—where do you ultimately want to end up? That goal can shift and change, but it's important to keep a goal in mind so that you know what opportunities to seek out as stepping stones. I also recommend finding mentors to help you navigate new and challenging transitions.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Economics, General
DePaul University
Graduate Degree
International Economics
Lake Forest Graduate School of Management
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I went away to college but decided to come back home after one year to take a break.
2.
My parents encouraged me to find a job, so I submitted my resume to a few companies and was hired at Northern Trust as an input operator at the trading desk.
3.
Northern Trust had a 100% tuition reimbursement benefit, so I decided to work full time and go back to school at night to finish college.
4.
After graduating from DePaul University with a bachelor’s degree in economics, I decided to take a role in office support to better understand global trading—and travel more!
5.
When my husband and I decided to start a family, I was able to keep my position with Northern Trust because the company had an on-site daycare.
6.
After about six years, I decided I wanted to move into technology—I put myself out of my comfort zone and started networking to find mentors to help me transition into technology.
7.
I transitioned into product management, where I’ve worked for the past 14 years, innovating and integrating products throughout Northern Trust to make sure our partners’ daily tasks run smoothly.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
Be quiet. You're just here to be here, not to contribute.
How I responded:
At times, I would be the only woman of color at the table. My inner voice would try to tell me to sit back and be quiet. I had to take a step back and challenge: "Why should I be quiet?" I put in time and effort to know this industry very well—well enough to be able to contribute meaningfully. To others experiencing similar Noise, put in the effort to know what you do well so that you can do it well. If you have a seat at the table, it's because you worked hard enough to deserve to be there.