Open MenuHide Menu
  • Careers
    • About Vanguard
    • Pressroom
    • Other Vanguard Sites
    • Personal Investors
    • Retirement Plan Participants
    • Institutional Investors
    • Financial Advisors
    • Non-U.S. Investors
    • Small Business Online
    • My Plan Manager
    • Institutional Trading
Vanguard
Vanguard Careers
  • About Vanguard
  • Why Vanguard
  • Our Teams
    • Client Services
    • Corporate Support
    • Data & Analytics
    • Financial Advisor & Investment Management
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Technology
  • Students & Recent Graduates
    • EXPLORE Days
    • Internships
    • Client Services
    • Information Technology
    • Leadership Development Programs
    • MBA Programs
  • Careers Blog
  • Job Search
Gratitude for friends and colleagues

Gratitude for friends and colleagues

If navigating challenging scenarios was a course, the COVID-19 pandemic created a master class opportunity for everyone. Unprecedented is the word used most to describe the past 18 months and while it is typically used to describe responding to increased business challenges, the course of the virus and community needs, I’d like to offer an alternate way to think about it. The past 18 months have been unprecedented in the way that friends, family, and colleagues have genuinely shown up for each other. It is the silver lining that I hope doesn’t fade as we see some normalcy just around the bend.

This year, I’ve thought a little bit more about gratitude at work. In the past, gratitude at work was aligned with my team excelling in their roles, knocking a project out of the park, a colleague supporting me as I navigated a tough stakeholder management situation, or covering a meeting for me. All things that are much appreciated, but the gratitude I feel now runs deeper. Over the summer, I learned that my mom was going to have major surgery. I knew I needed some support while I’d be managing a busy career and addressing concerns about my mother’s health. A colleague reminded me that our Vanguard benefits plan includes expanded access to mental wellbeing benefits and encouraged me to sign up. I was equipped with tools and tactics to help me thrive. I feel fortunate to work for a firm that supports crew with a suite of benefits that addresses all aspects of employee wellbeing.

As the surgery date drew near, I was grateful for the distraction of a very busy work schedule but knew that I would need to take some time off. As someone who has always taken pride in being a shoulder for others to lean on, I felt uncomfortable asking for help.

Me and Mom

Me and Mom

Over the next two weeks as I took time off work to care for my mom (and my dad as he was caring for my mom), I can safely say that I have never felt my heart so full of sheer gratitude.

I’m grateful that Vanguard supports caregiver time off so that I could be there for my family when they needed it most. I’m grateful for my friends who checked in on me all hours of the day. I’m grateful for my teams who not only called with messages of support, but also kept the business running smoothly during one of our busiest seasons. Most of all, I will forever be grateful for the talented surgeons, doctors and wonderful nurses that were there every step of the way. 90 days post-surgery and my mom is doing great!

I think back on this journey with gratitude, and I’m reminded of a quote from Albert Schweitzer and I’m grateful for the sparks in my life.

“At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer

– Tamara T.

Recent Posts

  • How Vanguard has supported my career as a first‑time Mom
  • Support group “breaks down the stigma”
  • Supporting financial literacy through My Home Economy
  • Tips and advice when interviewing for Financial Advisor jobs
  • Women’s History Month 2022

Share this entry

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Linkedin
  • Share by Mail

More career blogs you may have missed

#LifeAtVanguard

Culture, Diversity & inclusion

Making technology accessible for all

https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2085/2022/03/26074603/Pic-4.jpeg 426 640 nitesh https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png nitesh2022-03-09 15:14:582022-04-26 07:47:12Making technology accessible for all
Culture, Diversity & inclusion

Vanguard’s enhanced Total Rewards package

https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2085/2022/03/26074008/GettyImages-1207517220-1030x687-1.jpeg 687 1030 nitesh https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png nitesh2022-03-02 15:52:282022-04-26 07:42:11Vanguard’s enhanced Total Rewards package
Culture, Diversity & inclusion

Living my passion in diversity recruiting

https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2085/2022/02/02050219/Kristy-3.jpeg 845 1284 yashsharma https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png yashsharma2022-02-02 14:14:212022-02-16 12:54:38Living my passion in diversity recruiting
Advice from crew, Career opportunities, Culture, Day in the Life

Our top careers blogs from 2021

https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1844/2021/12/15065549/Top-Blogs-Banner-2-scaled.jpg 1920 2560 balajivaradaraj https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png balajivaradaraj2021-12-15 07:17:372021-12-15 07:19:14Our top careers blogs from 2021
Advice from crew, Career opportunities, Culture

Making the leap to a second career—again

https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1844/2021/12/15185015/Mr.-Bogle-autographing-book-for-me-2017-640x480-1.jpg 480 640 vanguardsync https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png vanguardsync2021-12-08 14:08:302022-02-16 13:08:10Making the leap to a second career—again
Culture, In the community

Every ____ counts

https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1844/2021/12/15185145/MicrosoftTeams-image-94.jpg 480 640 vanguardsync https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png vanguardsync2021-12-02 20:32:052022-02-16 13:09:59Every ____ counts
long tree lined path
Crew benefits, Culture

Gratitude for friends and colleagues

https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1844/2021/11/15185605/grat_featured.jpg 225 300 jortega https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png jortega2021-11-23 09:18:502022-02-16 13:11:55Gratitude for friends and colleagues
Culture, Voyage to Vanguard

How serving in the military helped shape my career

https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1844/2021/11/15190557/DaltonL_featured_.jpg 225 300 vanguardsync https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png vanguardsync2021-11-11 16:10:502022-02-16 13:16:43How serving in the military helped shape my career
Make It Count
Culture, Diversity & inclusion, In the community

Vanguard wins award for pro bono work

https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/1844/2021/11/15190704/MakeItCount_featured.jpeg 225 300 vanguardsync https://cdn-static.findly.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/841/2020/07/VG_WM_S_RGB_v3.png vanguardsync2021-11-03 13:15:112022-02-16 13:18:16Vanguard wins award for pro bono work
PreviousNext
  • Linkedin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Twitter
  • Site Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Manage Cookies
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Careers
  • FAQs
  • Sitemap
Vanguard
© 1995–2021 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Your use of this site signifies that you accept our terms and conditions of use. - Enfold-Hodes-Accessible Theme by Kriesi
  • Site Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
Becoming a fierce community advocate three women holding award Every ____ counts
Scroll to top