ITHAKA: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Esther: I love learning new things and challenging myself. When I started I was kind of intimidated! Everyone here is so smart. So, I thought, “I have to up my game here!” But everyone is also very encouraging. I appreciate open communication, and that’s what you get here. Lots of support and clear communication.

Working in an environment that encourages career development has positively impacted my professional and personal life. At ITHAKA you are encouraged to learn, get uncomfortable, and investigate new experiences. For instance, after looking into business analytics, I got better at organizing my everyday life! We often have these impulses to learn things and get better, but we get bogged down. So if there is another person, especially a manager, who’s telling you “No, you should go do that!” — it prompts you to take the time and focus on whatever it is you want to learn or get better at.