Navigating career choices can often feel like walking a tightrope. Many of us face crossroads where we must decide between sticking with a secure path or taking a risk on something new. For Jennifer Dulski, a former executive at Yahoo, Google, and Facebook, a major career shift—including a significant demotion—turned out to be a defining moment of growth and proved to be a great move. Jennifer Dulski has dedicated 25 years to working with major tech companies such as Yahoo, Google, and Facebook.
In 1999, fresh out of Cornell’s business school, Dulski was at a crossroads between traditional roles in consulting and brand management. Instead, she chose a marketing role at Yahoo, a tech company that was still in its early stages. Despite lower pay compared to other offers, the excitement of working in tech was a powerful draw.
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A significant career decision came later at Yahoo when she chose to shift from a senior marketing position to a general management role, reports Business Insider. This move required accepting a lower-level position—something many peers questioned. However, this demotion proved to be a strategic step. Within 18 months, she was promoted and took on the management of six different businesses.
Career moves often come with risks, and Dulski’s path is a prime example. After Yahoo, she joined Dealmap, a small startup that was later acquired by Google. “We ended up selling Dealmap to Google, where I decided to stay. And two years later, I left that much higher-paying Google job to become president and CEO of Change.org, a petition website, before running groups and communities for a few years at Facebook,” she said.
Eventually, she launched her own company, Rising Team, in 2020, which focuses on developing high-performing teams. Rising Team is a platform that supports skill-building sessions for teams.
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In her advice to Stanford students, Dulski highlights the importance of embracing change and viewing careers as ongoing learning experiences. She stresses that building strong relationships is important.
Dulski’s story serves as a reminder that sometimes taking an unconventional path or accepting a temporary setback can lead to significant personal and professional growth.
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