6 Tips for Navigating Career Growth—From 6 Inspiring Women Leaders

Career development comes in many forms, especially at EF (Education First)—where, unlike other companies, there is no straight path to the top. EF’s "spiral staircase" design enables its employees to grow, connect, and reshape their careers based on individual passions. Therefore, growth and development at EF can get…a little crazy. You have the opportunity to change career paths, divisions, and positions, all in a single company. But how do you navigate your career growth in a world of possibilities? We asked six senior leaders for their best advice on how to navigate, and truly own, their career.

Lori van Dam, CEO of the Hult Prize Foundation

"When opportunity came, I wasn't necessarily ready for it, but I always said, yes.”

Iris Hormann, President of Sales for EF Language Abroad

“Don't wait for someone to approach you asking you ‘What do you want to do next?’. Instead, turn it around. If you're ready for a next move, if you want to be challenged, if you want to move abroad, if you want to learn something new, raise your hand. And if an opportunity comes your way and you think that is something that would really excite you, then go up and say, ‘This is what I would love to do. Can I be considered?'”

Ming Chen, Chief Culture Officer

“You need to be willing to wear lots of different hats. It might be different roles, it might be different countries, it might be different projects, and to keep in mind that not all hats are the same, and most hats are very different.”

Maiko Itami, Marketing Director for EF Language Abroad

“My advice is to grow your antennae so that you can be aware of the environment—and at the same time, attract good vibes to yourself. It always comes back to what you do and what you initiate. As they grow, your antennae will help you become a good leader in life and your career.”

Heidi Durflinger, CEO of EF World Journeys

“Whatever the challenges are for the business or for your customer, what can you do to help improve it—to make it easier for your customer, to improve on the service that we're delivering, to help solve problems for the business? By taking on those types of challenges and figuring out how to proactively solve them, you're naturally going to learn and grow. It will stretch you; it will help you think differently about problem solving. That is truly embracing a growth mindset and helps you grow and helps the business grow.”

Kanami Ono, Head of Enrollment for EF Academy

“Just connect to people as much as possible because networking is very valuable, and it eventually helps you a lot.”