Building a Foundation for your Career: An Interview with Contessa Lobley
Meet contessa lobely
Champion of the arts
Contessa Lobely is a testament to the power of creative expression and exposure to the arts. With over 23 years of non-profit management experience at TBEY Arts Center Inc., she provides opportunities for Milwaukee youth to explore and participate in workshops and performances, learn from artistic professionals, and pursue financial support for higher education within the arts.
In addition to being a Forward 48 Civic Leader and a 2022 MBJ Woman of Influence, First Generation Professionals of Milwaukee is honored to welcome Contessa to our Board of Directors. In this Interview, Contessa shares her best advice for young professionals.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
remember that you can’t do it alone.
As a business owner and leader of an organization, you need a strong team.
What is the best advice for your younger self upon beginning your career?
The best advice I would give to my younger self is to take care of yourself no matter what.
Selfcare is extremely important. The work you were called to do requires you to pour into so many people, but to do that, you must pour into yourself.
How can young professionals excel in the workplace?
Continue to learn and grow.
Always take advantage of professional development opportunities. I would also advise to find multiple mentors.
Best tips for those new to networking?
Pace yourself, networking can be overwhelming for some. I try to be mindful that others have different processes when networking and connecting. Be authentic, I like organic and genuine connections. Have a strategy for how you leverage your connections. Also, if you make good connections, follow-up is important.
What do you wish the generation ahead of you, and behind you, knew?
I wish that the generations ahead of me, and behind me, understood that it is okay to fail at something. Through that failure is where you find the biggest lesson.
I wouldn’t be where I am if I didn’t have challenges and failures. The most important thing to think about through those moments is finding the lessons and embracing them.
Why is mentorship important?
Mentorship is so important because it allows you to see the possibilities through others.
It gives you a guide throughout your journey. It allows you to go through a phase of trial and error with support to help you learn from them and correct them.
What does being a first generation professional mean to you?
I am a first generation professional. Being a first generational professional is a huge responsibility. I set the foundation for future leaders in my family.
and finally, What do you love about Milwaukee?
Milwaukee is home! What I love most about Milwaukee is that my roots are here. I love living near the lake and how beautiful our winters, springs, falls and summers are. Being an art advocate and patron, I love the growing arts community and its potential as well.
Find Contessa on LinkedIn.
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