Career commandments that shaped me.

Thinking back to my first foray into the corporate world - ambitious, young, and ready to roll.

When I worked in finance, I had a mentor who was the definition of a Southern belle. She had big hair, pink suits, mineral rights, and a Prada bag for any occasion. She also had a brilliant mind, the respect of the C-suite, and sharp feedback that whipped me into shape for a career in the good ole boy’s world.

And every time we met, she had advice to share along different factors — the colors I was wearing, the roles I wanted next, and the seating arrangements she thought would work best to ask the right questions to the right leaders.

I loved her. She has since retired, but my experiences with her remain — and the insights I gathered from those formative first years in finance have continued to shape how I manage my life at work.

Here are some of my favorites.