Deb Broderson, VP of Marketing at Perks.com and Tech-Loving Baby Boomer  

To all the people who offset the negative aspects of their job with thoughts of a morale-boosting reward down the line, meet Deb Broderson.  She is the VP of Marketing at Perks.com, which could very likely be the favorite company of every overworked person – or kind, savvy boss — in America, if they only knew about it.  Why? Because Perks.com provides employee loyalty programs, and “helps you successfully motivate the people who matter most to your organization.” They also publish an invaluable blog about worker retention and other topics.

The company has offices in Arkansas, Florida, Washington state and across the pond in England,  but Deb works, in twenty-first century-style, from sunny California. She is listed on their Team page as having been honored as “one of the Top 50 Channel Chiefs in North America by CRN,” the premier technology news provider, and as having provided strategic direction to a host of Fortune 500 companies; in addition, she worked at Siemens for eighteen years, and also in marketing at the firm of Publicis Hawkeye.

In her interview below, she offers the sort of clear-eyed perspective on the corporate landscape that we all no doubt wish we could hear on a regular basis, exuding common sense with ease (her favorite quote at the end is wonderful!).  Recommending the multimillion bestseller Who Moved my Cheese as a go-to book to promote this sort of smart business insight, she is also a dog-lover, proud wife and mother, and a self-described hard worker – born, she says of her Baby Boomer heritage, being part of the generation that believed in “powering thru and working hard.“   Read more of her smart thoughts below, including her succinct, of-course-that-makes-sense tips about interview outfits or changing career direction.  

Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself?
I grew up in New York, but have lived in California for so long that I think of myself as a Californian.  I’m a wife of sixteen+ years, a mom with grown kids, a recent gramma, love my dogs, and been in the technology industry since the early days of the telecommunications boom. 

What does a day in your shoes typically look like? 
Is there such a thing as a typical day?  I’m not sure.  I’m a remote (home) worker, so working with the dogs under the desk is probably the most typical thing about my day.  Other than that it’s about meetings, deliverables, reviewing information, attempting to stay abreast of industry trends and managing to metrics and priorities.

What 2-3 things do you do to prepare yourself before work, and is there anything you try to accomplish every day?
At the beginning of the week and each day, I check my schedule and make sure I’m prepared and/or have time to prepare for upcoming deliverables.  Generally, I try to complete something each day.  The scope and size may be different, but completion of deliverables is important. 

What is your breakfast of choice?
Coffee.

What are your rituals or tips for staying energized and motivated? 
I make lists of things that MUST be accomplished and mark them off as I go.  It keeps me on track and feeling focused.  I also like to make sure I talk to people every day.  As a remote worker it is not a given that I’ll be talking to people in the office.

What is the favorite part of your job?
I love talking to smart people and hearing good ideas.  It’s amazing when someone puts an idea out there that you start to mull it over in your head, bounce it around, discuss it and suddenly things click.  It’s an amazing win.  Of course, I also love when I’m looking at metrics and see that we have over-achieved.  That’s a great feeling.

What and who inspires you at work?
Smart people inspire me, change inspires me (there’s nothing as motivating as having to figure out something new), and someone saying “Hey, you’ve made a difference” inspires me.

Do you have a ‘Power Outfit’ that you wear for a big meeting or important work event?
Wear anything that makes you feel confident, whatever that is.  

What is your favorite leisure activity after a stressful work week?
I admit it, at the end of the day I like to have a glass of wine and decompress talking about things that have very little to do with work.

How does your culture/background influence your work?
I’m a boomer.  We are the generation of powering through, working hard, staying late.  Clearly it has driven my work ethic.  I’m a child of parents who were first born US citizens.  My parents lived through the Great Depression.  All these are factors that come into play as part of my work style.

How many times have you changed your career direction?
A few, although I’ve never really considered it a direction change.  I’ve just continually built upon what I learned in prior roles, and then found new opportunities as I better understood my skillsets. I never had a grand plan that I was attempting to fulfill.  For me, it was more about knowing when a move made sense, and being open to do something outside my comfort zone.

What has been your biggest obstacle in your career and how did you overcome it?
The biggest obstacle in my career has been me.  It’s understanding that the little voice in your head has value, but needs to be kept in perspective.  I spent a lot of time thinking things in meetings that I didn’t say, believing that the people sitting around the table with me had to know better, only to realize that some of the questions/concerns that I was thinking, came to pass.  Sometimes, you have to get out of your own way and trust yourself.  I have found that the only way to overcome obstacles it is to jump in with both feet.

Also, my “aha” moment about that came at a user group meeting with about 500 people in the room.  They hated our product and one of our executives was getting blasted.  I had answers but was didn’t want to speak up in that crowd. Eventually I sucked it up, stood up and shared my input to the room.  The amazing thing?  Everyone listened, our executive was grateful and after that, people at the event started coming up to me to ask questions.

What are your most steadfast ‘don’ts’ rules regarding work and the workplace, and what are your most cherished ‘do’s’?  

• • • Don’t stay at a job where you aren’t appreciated.  You teach people how to treat you.  If you aren’t appreciated, find another job.  Move on.
    • Do give it your all.  Be the person who can be counted on to get the job done and done well.

What are the most important qualities of a good leader?
Being a mentor, a team leader, and a teacher.

What are the unforgettable traits of role models who have inspired you most?
My most amazing role models were people with such a crisp, clear vision and the ability to share that vision that you want to do everything possible to please them and prove they are right. 

How have mentors impacted your personal and professional development?
My most amazing mentor put me on a path to success because he just so believed in me that I believed in myself more.  It was the first time that I looked at my job, not as a job, but as a career path.  I realized how much I could do, and eventually became the person he believed I was.  

What are three questions you like to ask during an interview to know if the candidate (or job) is the right fit?
More than the questions being asked, it is really important to like the person; I feel that if you cannot develop a rapport during an interview, the question is, will they be able to develop a rapport on the phone with a client?  Along with that, here are three questions I always ask:

• • • “Tell me what you know about our company.” (Did they do their homework, and do they understand what we do and our focus?)
    • “Why do you want to work here?” (I find this is often the most difficult question for people, but very telling.  It really shows if they have done their homework)
    • “What are you looking for in your new job?” (This tends to disclose if there is a mismatch between what someone is seeking, and the company/role for which they are actually applying.) 

What advice would you give to women starting their careers?
Figure out what you like doing, and build upon that.  Laugh often, it put things in perspective and don’t take yourself too seriously.  Be the person that can be counted on in a pinch.

What book would you recommend for women just starting their career?
It’s not a book just for women, but Who Moved my Cheese? was a game-changer for me.  It opened up my eyes to the fact that sometimes when things change, you need to move on.

What is your favorite quote you try and live by?
It’s not so much a quote, but it’s a perspective: “Get over yourself.”  Sometimes we get too wrapped up in ourselves, forget the role we are playing in the overall picture, and that everyone we talk to has a backstory. It’s important to take a step back, take a deep breath, and rethink your approach. In a professional context, ultimately, it’s not about you, it’s about figuring out success for the team.