Jessie Anderson
25 | Human Resources Generalist, City of Burlington
Residence: Chittenden
Career highlight you are most proud of:
The career highlight I'm most proud of is leading wellness efforts for our employees at the City of Burlington and the opportunity to support the work that POWERED Magazine does to create safe spaces for the BIPOC community here in VT to find joy in the outdoors.
Community Involvement:
My community involvement includes being a manager with POWERED Magazine, where I organize and facilitate programs that promote equity in outdoor spaces. I also volunteer at AALV and Spectrum Youth and Family Services programs, as well as The Saftey Team community workshops, as needed.
What motivated you to live and work in Vermont?
I was motivated to live and work in Vermont by how well I saw my family doing here when we immigrated from Liberia. There was access to a good education, opportunities to grow my professional skills, and a community where I felt I belonged.
Favorite part of your job:
My favorite part of my job is my amazing co-workers, advocating for employee support when and where needed and the freedom to co-create new possibilities within our workforce. Working with a team of people who trust me to do my work and do it well without placing barriers in my way is truly a blessing. I have grown professionally and personally since joining the City HR team.
Most inspiring mentor and why:
My most inspiring mentor is Vanessa D. Santos Eugenio. She was the first manager I had who truly saw me for who I am, not just the work I do or have done in the past. She is invested in my well-being, career, and life goals and goes above and beyond to help me succeed. I rarely meet people like Vanessa, who pours deeply into others when you are in the room and when you are not. I am grateful to know her and call her a friend and mentor.
What is the best career advice you have received?
The best career advice I have received is that I don't have to have all the answers to keep working toward my dreams and goals and that success is within the journey of one's life, not a destination we arrive at. I know that it is okay to ask for help, make mistakes, and learn from them and that I am more than the work I do.
Tell us something fun about yourself that few people know:
Few people know that I have a twin sister named Jessica.
What three words best describe you:
Three words that best describe me are learner, developer, and positivity.
Favorite Vermont escape:
My favorite Vermont escape is the many mountains here, with Mount Mansfield being my favorite. I love hiking and try to do an annual hike on a new mountain each year.
Favorite Vermont season:
My favorite Vermont season is fall, but the winter is now getting more points after I learned how to snowboard. I now have a newly found appreciation for the snow.
Favorite downtime activity:
My favorite downtime activity is checking out new restaurants/food spots in the area and watching sunsets. Food brings me a lot of joy!
Favorite Social Media and why:
My favorite social media platform is LinkedIn because I get to see what professionals are doing worldwide, share my career journey, and learn something new most of the time on the platform. I have also had new opportunities due to being active on the platform.
What is your favorite smell?
My favorite smell is warm apple cider and baked cookies/bread.
Person you would most like to share a Vermont beverage with:
The person I'd most like to share a Vermont beverage with is my in-laws. They live in NH and don't go out often, so I love sharing things from VT with them.
If you had unlimited access to funds, which cause(s) would you support:
The cause I would support is sexual and personal health education for girls back in my home country, Liberia. The fact that I have two degrees and successfully finished college is a big deal. Where I grew up, teenage pregnancy was a threat to young girls' education. I know a lot of people who didn't even finish their high school education due to becoming pregnant. So, I would want to help girls stay in school by providing access to sexual protection and education around safe sex.
What one song is on your playlist that are you embarrassed to tell your best friend:
The song on my playlist I would be embarrassed to tell my best friend is Shake it Off -Taylor Swift.
Where do you see yourself professionally in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years, I'd like to continue to work on building my career in positive organizational change and building a life that allows me to experience joy daily.
The career goals I'd like to accomplish in the next 5-10 years are as follows: I plan to continue my career in human resources, concentrating on employee well-being and positive organizational change and development. My dream is to become a chief people officer one day and create a Positive Change company that allows me to do this type of work globally.
