Chi Ngo, CIA, CAMS

What is the one piece of career advice you wish someone gave you when you were younger?

There is no one definition for what being "professional" means. When I was younger, I thought that there was one definition of "professional," which included someone who always shook hands firmly, sat/stood straight, maintained eye contact, spoke slowly and concisely, dressed in a suit, etc. As I got older, and being fortunate to be in a career that has allowed me to interact with folks from almost every background, I realized that being "professional" most appropriately means that you are adaptable to perform successfully in any situation. This means that you have the experiences and competency to equip you to be successful in any situation, but also that you understand that everybody is just another person. Don't get caught up with titles or let yourself get (too) anxious as you navigate through your life... Build your personal brand, be confident, learn how to effectively communicate to any audience, and treat others as just another human being who has the same basic needs and wants as you do.