Nancy Roberts
On behalf of Eller College Undergraduate Programs Colleagues
Nancy Roberts retired in 2021 from her role as a Career Coach at UArizona’s Eller College of Management. For 8 years she supported undergraduate business students helping them to identify their dreams and go after them. She left a lasting impression on students and colleagues alike. Prior to Eller, Nancy had a full sales career and volunteered many hours leading walking groups, while raising two wonderful sons.
At her Eller Retirement celebration, Nancy shared her own career story:
There once was this girl from Chicago, who attended the University of Arizona. She chose this school for 3 main reasons; the out of state tuition was reasonable, they were well known for the Vietnam demonstrations held in previous years and she thought her frizzy hear would be manageable in the dry heat. Oh, and yea…she was accepted-her GPA from high school wasn’t so great. She visited one time; by herself-and when she arrived in August 1971, knowing one person, with one footlocker she found her way to the dorm. During her 4 ½ years (she dropped out one semester for reasons we will skip), she had the time of her life with friends and parties. Classes. She picked her major -Correctional Administration-only because she wouldn’t have to take a language, and minored in sunbathing, partying, concerts and traveling. She never attended a sporting event, joined a club or stepped foot in a sorority or fraternity. She also never saw an academic advisor or career coach, (don’t think they had them then) and never thought about what to do “after college”.
Shortly before graduation, she was notified that she was 3 credits short (she had inadvertently taken Econ Macro 2 times and had neglected to take Micro) The school had changed their numbering scheme during her semester off. But no worries, she petitioned all the way up to the president of the university and they made an exception for her to graduate. The best lessons she learned in college was how to advocate for herself, personally, professionally and developed “people skills”. She graduated with a 2.4 GPA.
After a brief “parental encouraged” return to Chicago, she then moved out to LA, then Hawaii and eventually landed back in Tucson. She held a few odd jobs along the way, such as property rental agent, billing clerk, and a sales coordinator for a macramé company. She finally thought going into “sales” might be a fit. She landed a job as a telecommunications account executive in an industry that was beginning to convert from regulated to unregulated that was going to be revolutionary. The girl did like sales. She believed in her product, felt she was educating people, and liked the challenge of turning prospects into buyers. What she didn’t like, however, was how she was treated. As the only female on the team, she felt isolated and dismissed, She was frequently given the worst accounts, industries and territories. Deals were made on the golf courses, and bars, where she wasn’t welcomed. There was sexual harassment, religious discrimination and wrongful terminations however thankfully nothing that scarred her permanently but rather taught her survival strategies and a learned “knowingness” about people and despite these obstacles, she exceeded in her quotas and sales objectives.
She worked for many companies as the industry was merging, expanding and evolving quickly, and in most cases never having to change her desk There was AT&T, CenturyLink, RCA, Lucent, Qwest and US West…just to name a few. Years turned into decades and her main goal was to make a living. She had 2 children to raise and that was her motivation to succeed-despite the negative politics and dynamics in the office. Through grit and resiliency and what she felt like, no other choice, she continued. It was a thankless job, other than the paycheck. The company cultures were frankly brutal, but she lucked out with two great mentors that had huge hearts and taught her how to survive and thrive: John McElvoy and Tim Stephens and without these 2 men, I don’t think she would have. These were the gems along the way of what was a rough ride but one which helped her develop her skillset. She went from being a poor student, who was directionless, to a successful businesswoman.
Towards the end of her career, she was terminated from Time Warner for lack of performance, as a result of caring for her elderly parents that lived elsewhere. The company was not compelled to honor Family Medical Leave as they didn’t meet the guidelines and didn’t “have to”. She had to find a “home” that would allow her FMLA and with a 70% cut in salary she was still lucky to find work at the U of A, as a telecom clerk. Not her dream job for sure, as the office had no windows, was filthy, boring as hell, and her co-workers spent their time counted the days til their retirement, talking about their military experiences, hunting trips and politics, none of which she agreed with. When her caregiving role ended, she knew it was too late in the game to go back into sales and couldn’t bear to sit in in the “petri dish” another day. She really liked working for the university, and the students she encountered as well business strategies. Also, after raising two children, her “mom” gene had developed.
Through shear serendipity, magic and timing, she heard about new positions that were being posted for career coaching at the university. Mind you she had no, formal education on teaching, advising, counseling, event planning, or career coaching, but it sounded like a dream job. Fast forward, she got the job.
The next several years was such a privilege for her. She worked with a team of professionals, in a culture that was welcoming, inviting, inclusive, and honoring. The consideration, respect, and level of integrity was second to none. It was a perfect job in every way. That old adage- “it’s not work if you love what you’re doing” finally came into play for her. She was excited to go every day into the Eller electrifying building. She loved the team, felt a deep commitment to them as well as her students. She was treated with kindness, and felt she had a purpose. Every day was a learning experience, for her. She got far more then she gave, always in awe of her management team, her co-workers who became her supervisors and others that stepped up, moved up and showed up in every way. There were no egos, but rather a synergy of will, ideas and innovation at the goal of making the world a better place. Everyone with no exception had a “can do” attitude, had creative ideas and the amazing ability to develop and execute them.
Things finally made sense that after years of dealing with business mishaps and negative experiences….she could utilize that knowledge with deep understanding and empathy to help and mentor students to avoid the pitfalls. She learned more in those 8 years then she did in the previous 40. There aren’t enough accolades to describe the inspiration and hope she was given being gifted this experience as her last “hurrah”. She is deeply grateful, blessed and appreciative to have had these people, at this time, to share these years with. She is “me”…and I am heavy hearted to leave but know and trust the timing is right for me although I will miss all my co-workers, students, and the energy and ingenuity they share. Thank you for making me so happy and fulfilled. I am leaving with a great feeling of satisfaction and gratitude. I really learned so much…..even finally sharing a “success story”.