Does Size Matter: Insights about Company Culture and Size from Cathy McKnight

I’m sure we have all considered the culture of the company when choosing a job. But have you ever considered the size of the company?

Chief Problem Solver

Two weeks ago, we had the opportunity to listen to Cathy McKnight, the Vice President for Strategy and Consulting and Chief Solver of Problems of The Content Advisory, a consulting company which she established. During Cathy’s insightful talk she mainly discussed her career path and the experiences and decisions that made her have such an extensive career roadmap before starting her own company and focusing on what she wanted to do that fit her personality and characteristics.

It all Depends on You

Cathy mentioned that she worked both for big and small companies and she shared her experiences with both types. Cathy stated that in big companies it's usually harder to move up due to competition. In terms of roles, you also can’t just do what you want because more likely than not someone else in the company is already doing it. But in smaller firms, Cathy shared that there is more room for growth and it’s more likely that you can do what it is that you want because there is not much manpower in smaller businesses. Personally, I think there are pros and cons for both big and small companies. I’ve always been drawn to working for bigger companies but my parents also have a small consulting firm and therefore I can see the benefits and disadvantages of both sides. I believe it ultimately depends on the person and one’s character and how you collaborate with colleagues at work and what your end goal is in mind.

Which Type Am I?

Cathy also shared with us this model about size and culture.

Once she shared this I immediately asked myself which one I am more inclined to. And honestly, I prefer a mix of Clan and Hierarchy. I love being mentored. I always seek guidance and want to make sure I am doing the right thing or on the right track. I love being part of a team but there are times when I also like working on my own and yearn a little friendly competition. I like it when I’m challenged because I know that’s how I grow.

Listening More

From the case study that we had with Cathy, we were tasked to think of a way how Andersen Windows and Doors could get better ROI on content marketing efforts that focuses on their consumer-facing business. From the activity, I realized that each one of us, with all our different backgrounds has different ways of thinking. Yes, we are all studying the same course and learning techniques on how to get better ROI, but the way we think, because of all our past experiences and careers, are all unique. I personally thought we would all have just the same things to say but everyone in the group contributed well and gave out their personal ideas. The case study experience we had that week solidified what Cathy mentioned during her talk. Listen more. Listen because you can always learn from everyone.

Confidence is Key

Cathy shared many insights about choosing the type of company and culture one wants to work in but there was one thing that I thought was very important to remember: Be open. Even if the job description or requirement does not 100% apply to you or maybe you’re not familiar with one or two of the key asks for the role, still apply. Cathy shared with us that for men, even if all the job requirements don’t apply to them, they still go for it and apply for the job. Confidence in oneself is the key. After hearing Cathy mention this I immediately thought of the many times that I stopped myself from applying for the role because I feared that I didn’t tick all the boxes. This is definitely one of the key takeaways that I will surely apply in my co-op hunting process. Oftentimes, I do get impostor syndrome and find myself doubtful if I can actually do the job. I immediately back out when I see one or two points in the job requirement that do not apply to me.

Q&A

The questions I had for Cathy were asked by my peers. I wanted to know which type of company would help my career more, the big multinational companies or if it's independent start-ups that would be more beneficial to my career growth. Cathy responded to this saying that it all depends in your personality and I agree with her. As I've mentioned earlier, it really depends on the character and nature of the person. What his or her values, strengths, and weaknesses are. So, I need to really listen to myself, look back at my past experiences in order for me to discover who I am now and what's good for me.

Other Notable Takeaways from Cathy

Listening to the speakers we have every week is incredibly inspiring and helpful, especially at this time when co-op hunting is in full swing. This week, there was an emphasis on really knowing yourself first and honing in on that idea of oneself. Who I am and what I love to do because this is what will ultimately guide me in choosing the companies that I apply to and this will help me save time and effort as well if I do this. So, aside from the work culture which is one of my main criteria in choosing a company, I should also take into consideration the size of the company. Do I want to continue working in big institutions? Or maybe for me to grow and get a different perspective, I should consider taking a role in a small firm. These are certainly the questions I have in mind when I see job postings.

I’m glad that we had the chance to listen to Cathy. Her talk was one of the most insightful ones in terms of personal growth and work size and culture. I want to thank her as well for sharing with us a couple of books that helps with personal growth and because of her, I am now ready Atomic Habits. :)