When people ask me what makes a career meaningful, I come back to one key idea: Growth rarely happens in a straight line. In my own career, I have grown through assignments that stretched me, relationships that opened my perspective, feedback that helped me improve, and moments when I chose to step toward something new, even when it felt uncomfortable.

At Vanguard, I often talk about career growth through the 70-20-10 principle. About 70% comes from work experience, 20% from exposure to other people, and 10% from education. I believe much of our development happens through the work itself, by taking on challenging projects, learning from decisions, solving real problems, and building confidence through practice. I have also seen how powerful the people around us can be.

The experiences that most shaped my career pushed me beyond my comfort zone. In my first people-leader role, I had to shift from an individual contributor mindset to supporting my team’s growth. In a facilitated feedback session, they candidly identified my development areas and created an action plan I immediately used to become the leader they needed.

Managers, mentors, sponsors, teammates, and advocates enable us to see what is possible. Formal learning matters too, and I believe it becomes most powerful when it connects directly to the work we are doing and the future we are preparing for.

The most fulfilling careers also require intentionality. That does not mean having every step mapped out. It means being willing to expand our definition of progress. At first blush, some of the best opportunities may seem like a lateral move or even a step back.

Earlier in my career, I was asked to take on a new role in our European business. It was an unexpected move, and it broadened my experience in ways I could not have fully predicted. Although I was working with a significantly smaller team, the role enabled me to deepen my expertise in areas of the business that were previously beyond my purview.

That is why I encourage people to stay curious, ask for feedback, raise their hands, and tell others what they hope to learn next. Leaders can help open doors, but they first need to understand your ambitions. Your voice, your visibility, and your willingness to keep learning all play a role in shaping what comes next.

If you are considering a career at Vanguard, I hope you will see this as a place where you can grow, stretch, contribute, and evolve over time. My challenge to you is simple. Write down one thing you want to be true about your career a year from now. Then look for the experiences, relationships, and learning that can help you move toward it. Your career might not be a straight line, and that can be a very good thing.

—Janear Sewell