I began my HR career in the late 1970s armed with a newly minted MBA, a few hopes and dreams, and no real experience in corporate life. My first employer was a subsidiary of a large corporate conglomerate (at the time)—Western Union Corp. Like many ambitious young people, I planned to start at the bottom and work my way up.
I was a generalist in a smaller subsidiary, and my work included recruitment, compensation and benefits, payroll administration, and compliance. I received ample training, mentors and support from the corporate headquarters. I was dedicated to the job and loyal to the company. And I firmly believed I had a solid career path ahead of me.
