{"id":18301,"date":"2025-09-04T08:01:26","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T14:01:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/compt.io\/?p=18301"},"modified":"2025-11-17T10:02:25","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T15:02:25","slug":"how-i-went-from-administrative-associate-to-vp-people-without-a-career-ladder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/compt.io\/blog\/how-i-went-from-administrative-associate-to-vp-people-without-a-career-ladder\/","title":{"rendered":"How I Went From Administrative Associate to VP People Without a Career Ladder (and the 5 Strategies That Made It Possible)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-primary-background-color has-background is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-e3cb969f wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:6px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px\">\n<p class=\"has-s-font-size\"><strong>Written by Kim Rohrer<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p class=\"has-s-font-size\">Kim Rohrer is a veteran people leader, writer, speaker, and advisor with over 15 years of experience building human-centered cultures at high-growth companies. She is the founder of\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/patchworkportfolio.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Patchwork Portfolio<\/a>, author of the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/icaretoomuch.substack.cm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">I Care Too Much<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, and co-host of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/hr-confessions\/id1775965513\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HR Confessions podcast<\/a>. Today, Kim shapes the future of work through a portfolio of roles \u2014 from executive coaching to impactful communications to community architecture at Oyster\u00ae \u2014 and serves as a trusted advisor to forward-thinking HR teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" data-src=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-Photo-Test-4-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18108 lazyload\"\/><noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-Photo-Test-4-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-18108 lazyload\" srcset=\"https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-Photo-Test-4-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-Photo-Test-4-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-Photo-Test-4-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-Photo-Test-4-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/compt.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Blog-Photo-Test-4.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-s-font-size\">Connect with Kim on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kimrohrer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LinkedIn<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>I first got into HR because I wanted to help make the experience of work better. I liked knowing the rules (and where they were bendable), and I liked the feeling of creating a space that people could be proud to be a part of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I didn\u2019t set out to become a VP, though I eventually (politely) demanded my promotion to the seat I had earned at the executive table. I didn\u2019t have a plan, or a career ladder, and I haven\u2019t always grown laterally. There are so many ways to build a career, so many ways to be a leader &#8230; I wouldn\u2019t try to prescribe one tried-and-true approach that always works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re earlier in your career and wondering how to chart your own path, I\u2019d like to share a few tips based on advice I\u2019ve gotten (and tweaked) and the lessons I\u2019ve learned along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-fall-in-love-with-the-boring-stuff-or-find-a-partner-who-loves-what-you-don-t\"><strong>1. Fall in love with the boring stuff (or find a partner who loves what you don\u2019t)<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easy to get excited about culture decks, big announcements, and feel-good programs. But what moved the needle in my early career was operational excellence \u2014 payroll running on time, processes that worked, and systems that scaled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I built a reputation as someone who could be trusted to get the basics right. That trust opened the door to bigger, more strategic projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I grew (older, wiser, busier) I found I was more able to shift the &#8220;boring stuff&#8221; to other people on my team, who shockingly did not find it boring at all! I was able to hone in on my <a href=\"https:\/\/www.therealgeniuszone.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Genius Zones<\/a> and spend more time doing the work that I loved and was uniquely good at. But when you\u2019re just getting started, you kind of do have to be a hyperskilled generalist. Finding ways to work outside your wheelhouse is a power move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-say-yes-before-you-feel-ready-but-get-thee-to-a-mentor\"><strong>2. Say yes before you feel ready. (But get thee to a mentor!)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of my biggest growth moments started with me saying &#8220;yes&#8221; to something that scared me (even when the thoughts inside my head were laughing nervously).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Sure, I can make sure our paperwork is compliant. <em>(I have no idea what compliance is!)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Absolutely, I can figure out how to do performance reviews. <em>(I hate performance reviews!)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What if we had a Culture Book to send out to new hires? <em>(I can figure out how to do that, right?)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether it was leading a new initiative, managing my first team, or taking on a project outside my comfort zone, I rarely felt 100% ready. But rather than sitting on the sidelines while watching other people fail upward, I <a href=\"https:\/\/icaretoomuch.substack.com\/p\/but-what-if-you-are-good-enough\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">harnessed the confidence of a mediocre white man<\/a> and just did it anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And I had a small circle of mentors on speed dial who I could call when I needed a gut check, a template, or reassurance. Some of those folks are still my closest colleagues today, and I still go to them when I need a little sanity (or vanity) check. Taking leaps, and asking questions, is the fastest way to prove you\u2019re ready for a path to leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-be-unapologetically-human-but-learn-to-speak-business\"><strong>3. Be unapologetically Human (but learn to speak Business)<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout my career, I\u2019ve believed you don\u2019t have to choose between being effective and being empathetic. People leaders are often expected to be the steady rock for everyone else, and it&#8217;s true \u2014 we don\u2019t always have outlets within our organizations. But that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t show vulnerability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During uncertain times like layoffs, missed funding rounds, or tough product decisions, I have found that honest, human communication builds more trust than any polished script.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>It&#8217;s OK to admit you don\u2019t have all the answers <\/em>\u2014<em> as long as you commit to finding them.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the hardest things about approaching HR as an authentic, relatable human is that your other job in HR is supporting the business. If you want a seat at the executive table, you need to know how the business makes money, how functions intersect, and how talent strategy fuels growth. Early on, I prioritized building relationships with leaders across the company so that I could better understand their goals and constraints.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When I advocate for new programs, it&#8217;s not just because I think they sound fun \u2014 I explain my thinking, share my research, consider the budget, determine how we\u2019ll measure success, and ask for questions or hesitations early on instead of waiting until after I\u2019ve done months of work. When I\u2019m approached about adding headcount to a team, I don\u2019t just say yes without thinking \u2014 I ask thoughtful questions about the org design strategy, management resources, and project prioritization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speaking their language made my work more accessible to them and helped me advocate for my priorities with credibility.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You have to be able to walk the fine line between empathy for the people and understanding of the business. And you have to be able to show up authentically in both spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-find-your-community-and-keep-learning-always\"><strong>4. Find your community (and keep learning, always)<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>HR can feel isolating, especially as you step into leadership. It\u2019s not exactly professional for HR to air their grievances about people to coworkers (and let\u2019s be honest, most of our gripes are about people), and most of the time, HR doesn\u2019t have anyone to commiserate with at work. When I couldn\u2019t find the community I needed, I cofounded the <a href=\"http:\/\/orgorg.co\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Organization Organizers<\/a> (and more recently, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.oysterhr.com\/people-builders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oyster\u2019s People Builders<\/a>, which I still work on). In later years, I joined a variety of professional networks and peer groups, attending happy hours and meetups and conferences to try to find my people. These relationships were lifelines when I needed advice or just someone to remind me I wasn\u2019t alone in the hard moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Believe me when I say there are SO many more opportunities for connection now than there were when I was starting out! But you have to invest the time in finding the spaces that are right for you.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What made me successful in my early career wasn\u2019t the same skill set I needed as a Director or VP. I had to unlearn habits (like trying to do everything myself) and invest in new skills (like executive coaching and strategic planning), and I leaned on my community to help me develop and find resources to support my growth. I still do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leadership is about evolving, over and over again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-remember-why-you-started-and-who-you-are\"><strong>5. Remember why you started (and who you are)<\/strong>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s easy to get swept up in titles, scope, and the next promotion. But sometimes it\u2019s helpful to reflect on why you\u2019re even doing this at all \u2014 this work is ultimately about making work more sustainable, inclusive, and human. Remembering that can help you stay grounded when you\u2019re overindexing on career trajectory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re in the early stages of your HR career, know that there\u2019s no single path to leadership. Your story will look different from mine, and it should!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stay curious, be a trusted collaborator, and lead with empathy. You might look up one day and realize you\u2019ve become the kind of leader you once looked up to. \u263a\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-bonus-recommended-resources\"><strong>Bonus: Recommended resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Communities<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oysterhr.com\/people-builders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oyster\u2019s People Builders<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/hateithere.co\/community\/safe-space\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Safe Space (from Hebba Youssef and I Hate it Here)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.openorg.fyi\/community\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Open Org<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Reading &amp; Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.therealgeniuszone.com\/about-the-book\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Genius Zone<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/codetravellerhr.notion.site\/Lego-Blocks-Library-44a582e5a5624a60a2eeea19386a883f\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lego Blocks Library (from Kim Minnick)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.openverse.fyi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Openverse Open Source Library<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rethink-ability.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rethink Ability<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Written by Kim Rohrer Kim Rohrer is a veteran people leader, writer, speaker, and advisor with over 15 years of experience building human-centered cultures at high-growth companies. She is the founder of\u00a0Patchwork Portfolio, author of the\u00a0I Care Too Much\u00a0newsletter, and co-host of the\u00a0HR Confessions podcast. Today, Kim shapes the future of work through a portfolio [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":18310,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[50,31],"tags":[101,102],"class_list":["post-18301","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hr-leadership","category-strategic-hr","tag-hr-career-growth-strategies","tag-hr-leadership-career-advice"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How I Went From Administrative Associate to VP People Without a Career Ladder<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"HR leader Kim Rohrer shares 5 strategies that helped her rise from administrative associate to VP People without a traditional 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