Today marks 20 years since I joined Nielsen! Because of the location (Schaumburg, IL), I assumed my time with the company only last two years at most. Three continents and two decades later, I’m still happy to be here.
I hope in that time I have brought a lot to Nielsen, but
there’s no question about how much the company has given me. First, there’s the
career development, worldwide travel, and industry know-how, all predicated
upon being able to analyze numbers and talk about those analyses. I love the challenge
of simplifying my nerdier passions, and lucky for me there’s been a market
for it.
After 10 years in my hometown, I have been sent to live in
Argentina and Switzerland. Again, that first assignment was supposed to be a fun
and challenging two–year stint before a return home. Yet that mission has, thus
far, incorporated 1½ new languages (French is a work-in-progress), two
completely different cultures, and being a founding member of an ultimate frisbee
club team. Much more importantly, I’ve also encountered the love of my life,
and built a family with two great little kiddos who are growing up as American/Argentinean/Swiss
hybrids. I hope we are not confusing them too much.
But on this arbitrary milestone I think most about all of
the excellent colleagues at Nielsen. Nearly every friendship I have made since
college has been at least indirectly due to Nielsen. Friends who share the same
intense interest in music, friends I’ve met playing Ultimate Frisbee, and of
course arriving in the hospitable community of Buenos Aires… It’s likely none of
these relationships would have happened without the connections built via this company.
As a rookie I was trained by the very best, and have tried
to pass along what they taught me at each stage since then. I’m proud and
fortunate to say that I hired in some amazing people who have grown to become excellent
leaders thanks to their considerable talents and drive. And moving around in
the world has allowed me to bridge the partnership between old and new
associates. The second project I ran as an analyst was delivered to the guy who
is now my boss. (He’s been around a bit longer than I have.) Our CEO says “It’s a great time to be at
Nielsen,” and I agree. I can’t wait to see what the next decades have in store.
At the very least, I have confidence that I will have superb teammates.
Posts
