In 2016, Chelsie Backer was an Executive Assistant supporting executive directors and VPs. Some may assume the job of an Executive Assistant is all about managing schedules and administrative tasks. For Chelsie, that was far from reality. She dove into work beyond her job description, embracing challenges head-on and stretching her skill set across a variety of projects. Still, she knew her role would only take her so far.
Chelsie had been supporting an executive who transitioned to the Martech practice. Through that move, she became involved in special projects within the business. What started as an opportunity to help soon became the beginning of an entirely new career path. Eventually, she helped create a role that didn't previously exist.
Executives began asking Chelsie whether she'd consider transitioning into Martech full time after seeing the impact of her work. It wasn't something she'd imagined for herself, and she took time to weigh what such a move would mean. One of the biggest challenges was stepping into a position that hadn't yet been defined. She worried about limiting her future opportunities.
Instead of letting uncertainty stop her, Chelsie researched similar positions across the industry, identified the skills and responsibilities that aligned with the work she was already doing and ultimately wrote her own job description. Just like that, she went from Executive Assistant to Martech Alliance Manager for Adobe.
With change came excitement, but also fear and discomfort.
"The shift from something familiar to something unpredictable was daunting and a big reason why I took so long to decide to make a career change. When I finally made the choice to jump, there were definitely highs and lows."
One moment stands out in particular. Chelsie was responsible for helping plan Publicis Sapient's presence at Adobe Summit.
"I felt an immense pressure and had a serious moment of doubt," she recalls. "Assisting in developing a Summit presence in Las Vegas that would ultimately drive revenue was unlike any stress I'd experienced."
During those early months, Chelsie leaned on the strengths she'd already built and the relationships she'd cultivated across the business.
"I really learned the value of building strong relationships and rapport with senior leaders," she says. "I relied on the skills I already had to give me confidence. I also asked a ton of questions so I really understood the ins and outs of what I was doing and why."
Now, two years later, Chelsie's perspective on her future has changed.
"Career shifts aren't always about starting over. Often they're about redirecting strengths into a space where they're recognized and amplified."
She also wishes she'd trusted herself sooner.
"I wish I had advocated for myself earlier and had more confidence in my transferable skills. You never know what's out there unless you take the leap."
For anyone considering their own career pivot, Chelsie's advice is simple: research, network and stay open to opportunities that don't fit a traditional path. Your dream role may not exist yet. Like Chelsie's, it might be one you help create.
Built to Pivot is a series that highlights how our people grow, adapt and redefine their careers.