Intentionality and Trust: Jessica Pitcher's Second Career Journey

"If both/all parties are engaging with the purpose of learning and growth and they value the professional and personal relationship gained, mentorship is a real tool for growing your network, learning a new company or industry, and providing emotional wellness through connection."

Jessica Pitcher is based in Champaign, Illinois, working as an Account Manager at Light & Wonder. This is her second career. She spent 20 years in K-12 public education before transitioning to gaming.

She joined the Global Gaming Women mentorship program as someone navigating both a new industry and the challenges of working remotely.

Making Connections Matter

Jessica was drawn to the program for a specific reason: "I was drawn to the GGW mentorship opportunities as a vehicle to make meaningful connections in a new industry. In addition to being fresh in gaming, I also work remotely, so finding ways to make connections with others was and is key for my professional growth and my social-emotional well being."

Connection was essential for Jessica.

Different Structures, Different Strengths

Jessica participated in both 1:1 mentorship and Lean-in circles. Each served a purpose. "I've had the privilege to engage in 1:1 mentorship and the Lean-in circles. The structure provided by the Lean-in circles reduced barriers more quickly and opened up some deeper conversations. Whereas, 1:1 I felt more accountability, which is a little scary, but necessary for real growth."

One Person's Bravery Changed Everything

A pivotal conversation shifted the entire experience. "One pivotal conversation where a member of the group opened up with honesty and vulnerability was a real turning point in the experience. The bravery to be unfiltered with relative strangers empowered others in the group to share more deeply and really find some commonality and a level of comfort to ask for advice and share experiences that are often reserved for close friendships."

Vulnerability from one person gave permission to everyone else.

Trust as a Lifeline

The quality that had the biggest impact was vulnerability itself. "The willingness to be vulnerable in a corporate environment that feels intensely competitive and where it feels as though every statement or interaction you make is creating the story of you was and is imperative."

She's clear about why this matters. "HIGH trust is needed to really get the most out of a mentorship. In a corporate world that reminds you any misstep or even dumb question can be seen as someone who is not ready for opportunity or leadership, an honest, trustworthy and caring mentorship is a lifeline."

Changing Her Mind About Mentorship

Jessica had read Lean In over a decade ago and was initially put off by Sheryl Sandberg's strong opinions about mentorship. "My first read of her book was shortly after it was released, over 10 years ago. It made me question how I feel about formal/informal mentorship programs and their purpose."

Her perspective has changed since then. "Participating in a number of versions of mentorship relationships since that time has helped me see that intentionality is the key."

That word kept coming back: intentionality. "If both/all parties are engaging with the purpose of learning and growth and they value the professional and personal relationship gained, mentorship is a real tool for growing your network, learning a new company or industry, and providing emotional wellness through connection."

Resources for Growth

For women seeking professional growth, Jessica recommends several books. For an interesting biography, she suggests My Life in Full: Work, Family and Our Future by Indra Nooyi. For practical execution, The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling. For current learning, Speak with Impact by Allison Shapira.

But she emphasizes something beyond the reading. "So many things in books, podcasts, websites feel like common sense, or at least common sense once you have a foundation of leadership training or experience - that the key is intentionality. To implement professional learning, you must create a system where a couple key learnings are integrated into your everyday routine. For me, I use post-its (everywhere) on books, my desktop screens, and notebooks as a visual reminder of the change I am pursuing."

From Education to Gaming

Jessica's transition from 20 years in education to gaming could have been isolating, especially working remotely. The mentorship program provided what she needed: meaningful connections, safe spaces for vulnerability, and access to people who understood the gaming industry and the challenges of career transition.

That trust and intentionality turned colleagues into connections that matter, and provided the emotional wellness that comes from knowing you're not navigating the shift alone.

Her final word to anyone considering joining: "Just Do It."