3 Lessons on Risk-Taking from Office Hours with Kamalita Abdool

Pro tip: it’s okay to take risks.

Yesterday during Office Hours, Her Campus Media co-founder Windsor Western hosted an inspiring conversation with special guest Kamalita Abdool, the Client Relationship Manager at Deutsche Bank! They chatted about dreaming big, taking risks, and even debunked some of the common misconceptions about working in finance. In case you missed Office Hours, be sure to check out the event replay HERE

In the meantime, if you’re ready to dream big and start reaching your career goals, here are three lessons from Office Hours you need to hear.

1. It’s okay to pivot from what you originally studied.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to finding a career path you’ll love, regardless of what you majored in during collegel! Her Campus Media co-founder Windsor originally aspired to work in medicine, and Kamalita, who was surrounded by pharmacists growing up, studied to become one, too. “Once I came out of pharmacy school,” she shared during Office Hours, “I realized that if I was going to be a pharmacist, it would’ve been a great career, but I’d still have to work at 9 pm and on weekends — that role wasn’t built for the lifestyle I wanted. So, I made a list of pros and cons.” 

She eventually changed her major to business, and now, Kamalita is the Client Relationship Manager at Deutsche Bank, where she works with people of all backgrounds. While she now works in finance, Kamalita reminds Generation Hired members that working on Wall Street doesn’t necessarily mean you studied math or accounting. “At Deutsche Bank, you can have any major! There’s so much opportunity to work in finance — I think many women just don’t know there’s opportunity out there for them.” 

2. Taking risks is important for landing a career you’ll love.

“I think it’s a misconception when people say that women don’t take risks,” says Kamalita. “I’m a risk-taker, and women do take risks. We have children, we land jobs, we work from home, and we homeschool!” Whether you’re advocating for a new role at your company or preparing to leave your company for another opportunity, Kamalita says taking calculated risks can pay off in the long run.

“It’s not just about chasing a title, it’s about chasing growth,” Kamalita says. “It’s about ensuring that you’re being driven, challenged, and surrounded by leaders who are pushing you, coaching you, and getting you [where you want to be]. The minute you’re stagnant and you’re not growing, maybe it’s time to start having a conversation.” 

3. Find “champions” who will support your career journey.

Finding mentors, sponsors, and “champions,” as Kamalita calls them, is so important for navigating your career, especially if you recently graduated college and are navigating the working world for the first time. “Mentors are people who really take you under their wing,” Kamalita says. “You can pour your soul out to them, and have a more personal relationship with them. A sponsor is different — they’ll fight for you publicly and be a witness to your work. And over time, a sponsor might become your friend, too.”

In her current role, Kamalita loves providing support to young professionals and says it’s one of the most rewarding parts of her work at Deutsche Bank. “One thing that really drives me is making sure I provide other people with the same opportunities that others have provided me. You have to have people who are your champions.”

We loved Kamalita’s tips for taking risks and embracing unexpected career paths. In case you missed Office Hours this week, catch up on the replay here and be sure to follow @generationhired on Instagram to stay up-to-date on future events!