BIZ COMPASS

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What is one piece of

CAREER ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOUR 25-YEAROLD SELF?

1PHIL SKLAR Co-founder and chief executive officer, National

Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum “Don’t get discouraged by the climb up the corporate ladder. Continue learning, challenging yourself and growing every day, thinking of the Notre Dame sign that exclaims, ‘Play Like a Champion Today.’ These experiences will prepare you for the unknown journey that is on the horizon.”

2MIKE CHIN Director of operations, Wong’s Wok Restaurants “One piece of advice I’d give to my 25-year-old self is: ‘Exceed your customer’s expectations.’ ‘Customer’ can mean supervisor, co-worker, employee or an external customer. It’s a phrase I heard throughout my career at Johnson Controls, and it’s imperative in the service industry. Don’t settle for mediocre.”

3TAMI KOU Director of corporate communications and public relations,

Versiti “Life is a journey and you never know where it will take you. Chances are things will not always go exactly as you hoped or planned. Be OK with that. Dream big, but don’t forget to live in the moment and enjoy the ride.”

4BARKHA LIMBU DAILY Owner and chef, the cheel, the barree, Daily Taco “Know your worth – others will see you the way you see yourself. Don’t devalue yourself, ever. Network – role models, mentors and advisory boards will help guide the career path or even provide a job opportunity. Ask for help – it is really a sign of strength. Give back – always give back in whatever way you can.”

5CLAIRE BESSETTE Vice president – commercial banking officer, Waukesha

State Bank “Take advantage of every opportunity to learn and grow. Embrace change – where you start in your career may be very different from where you finish. Be open to new ideas and processes. Be a team player. Partner with a mentor who has navigated a similar path successfully. Enjoy the journey.” n