Fairygodboss Of The Week Vanessa Soto

Fairygodboss Of The Week Vanessa Soto Vanessa Soto knows how to do her job well, and still find time to do something on the side. When shes not running digital advertising for the Charles Schwab retail business, shes a life coach and mom to a teenage daughter. And, shes inspiring people everywhere to hone in on their passion project with her new podcast, Doing It On The Side. herbei career advice Play to yur strengthsFairygodboss of the Week Vanessa SotoManaging Director, Digital AdvertisingSan Francisco, CAFGB Tell us about your career. How did you get to where you are now?VS Almost exactly 20 years ago, I came home from my honeymoon, responded to an ad in the classifieds (yes, the actual printed newspaper) and landed a job with a tiny direct marketing agency called Times Direct Marketing. At that time the agency was just starting to get into creating small websites, marketing emails and banner ads for our clients. During the 3 years I was there, I built the foundation for what beca me an early career in digital advertising.After that I went on to other agencies where I was often parte of smaller digital-focused teams where I spent a lot of time educating both my peers and clients on the ways of the internet.Agency life is not for everyone. The hours are long, the clients are sometimes great and sometimes not so great, and the creative personalities and egos can be trying -- to say the least. As an account manager, my job was two-fold manage the client relationship and manage the creative team to get the work done and in doing this, you are constantly walking a line between the two worlds. I was good at it, but Id really just fallen into it when I responded to that classified ad, and pretty early on I knew I wanted to make the shift from agency to client side.Its not often easy to make that shift but with time, I finally did And now I use all those skills from my agency years at Charles Schwab, where Ive been heading up digital advertising for our retail busi ness for the last 4 years.FGB What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?VS I love leading teams and mentoring others, so all my favorite accomplishments tend to fall into one of those buckets. But, the 1 accomplishment Im really proud of right now is separate from my work at Schwab, and its that Im developing a podcast A few years ago I got certified as a life coach and started doing that work on the side. The experience of having something on the side that is different from my work life has been so good for me, that I wanted to explore and share stories of other people with side projects and side businesses, and thats what the Doing It On the Side podcast will be all about. Its launching in September and you can learn more at www.thesidepassionproject.com.FGB What is a challenge that youve faced and overcome?VS In 2005, my now ex-husband had a major accident that led to a traumatic brain injury and the loss of his hearing. It was an extremely complicated and trying time that led to my divorce in 2008. In looking back on everything that happened, while I wouldnt ask for any of it, it ultimately made me stronger and led me to look at my life and what I do every day with more intention. We only get one life, and I try now to appreciate it no matter how confusing and uncertain it so often can be.Lightning RoundFGB What do you do when youre not working?VS Right now all my spare time goes into two things spending time with my teenage daughter and working on the podcast Im launching in September FGB If you could have dinner with one famous person - dead or alive - who would it be?VS CJ Cregg from The West Wing. Yes, I know shes not real but shes my favoriteFGB What is your karaoke song?VS Definitely something New Wave from the 80s.FGB What is your favorite movieVS The GraduateFGB What book would you bring with you on a desert island?VS I love to read, so I would really probably need one book per day But if I really had to pick one it would probably be somethin g by Ann Patchett or Jane Smiley. FGB What is your shopping vice? What would you buy if you won the lottery?VSA Beach shack and a pile of books until I got tired of that life and then Id do something entrepreneurial with a creative bent.FGB Who is your Fairygodboss?VS While I love to mentor others, Ive never had an official mentor myself. Rather, there have been a range of people along the way who recognized befhigung in me, encouraged me, and told me what I was good at. These people each helped me get out of my own head and see myself from the outside in. Laura Schuler was one of my first bosses back at the tiny direct marketing agency, and we went on to work together at Saatchi Were now friends of 20 years. Laura made koranvers I knew I was an asset when she brought me to Saatchi, and also taught me how to ask for the salary I was worth. FGB What is the 1 career tip youd like to share with other women who want to have successful careers like you? VS Play to your strengths Notice what you like doing and do well and make sure your job gives you lots of opportunity to do lots of it. If your job includes a lot of responsibilities that youre just not naturally good at, recognize that and instead of trying to change yourself, maybe its time to change jobs. You will be happier and a million times more successful when you are spending as much time as possible using your strengths.Fairygodboss is all about women helping other women. So each week, we celebrate a woman who makes a difference in other womens careers. Is there a woman who has made a difference in your career? Celebrate and thank her by nominating her here.