85 - The Making of a Tech Leader: Embracing Growth, Balance, and the Power of Unknown - Star Hofer

There's something incredibly inspiring about a person who dares to take a leap of faith in their career and land in an industry entirely different from what they initially intended - meet Star Hofer. A small-town girl from Newfoundland, Canada, who dreamt of being a nurse, she's now a tech leader, serving as the Chief Customer Officer and Chief Operating Officer at A.K.A. New Media. Star's journey was far from easy. Trading nursing for a tech school in Toronto, she found herself in a class of 3000 students, with only three other women present. But rather than being deterred, Star used this as a fuel to excel. She not only thrived in her studies but also managed to secure a job even before graduation. In our candid conversation, Star shares her life-changing decision, how she navigated the tech industry with zero experience, and the unique ways she learned to study that led to her success. This episode is an absolute must-listen for anyone who believes in the power of determination and the beauty of an unconventional path. Tune in to be inspired. Did You Know:Star grew up in a small town of 800 people in Newfoundland, CanadaAs a teenager, she wanted to be a nurse She joined a Tech school in Toronto (From 3000 students, she was one of four women!)Star is an Ultra Runner! Her first criteria for a role is a mission-driven company with the social impact Episode chapters:0:09:04 - Learning Math With Hands 0:14:02 - Career Change and Growth 0:18:54 - Prioritizing People in Mission0:24:07 - Coaching for Work-Life Balance 0:29:23 - The Benefits of Exercise for Work0:35:11 - Embrace What You Don't Know Follow Star! This episode is brought to you by Vitally.io. Visit vitally.io/women today to schedule your demo and get your Airpods.__________________________________________________About Women in Customer Success Podcast: Women in Customer Success Podcast is the first women-only podcast for Customer Success professionals, where remarkable ladies of Customer Success connect, inspire and champion each other. Follow:Women in Customer Success - Website - womenincs.co - LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/womenincs - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womenincs.co/ - Podcast page - womenincs.co/podcast - Sign Up for PowerUp Tribe - womenincs.co/powerup Host Marija Skobe-Pilley - Website - https://www.marijaskobepilley.com/ - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mspilley/ - Coaching with Marija: http://marijaskobepilley.com/programs - Get a FREE '9 Habits of Successful CSMs' guide https://www.marijaskobepilley.com/9-habits-freebie