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Going Out of Bounds to Explore New Career Paths

The annual Mitchell Institute Leadership Experience (MILE) II reconvenes at Unum in March 2024 to provide Scholars and Alumni with a different perspective on career opportunities

By Mitchell Institute

March 27^th, 2024

On Saturday, March 2, more than 60 Mitchell Scholars and Alumni were invited to step out of bounds—right where they should be for optimal career exploration.

Guided by the day's theme that Mitchell Scholars need not be bound to consider only career paths traditionally associated with their academic majors, MILE II participants heard sage advice from a panel of accomplished alumni, attended interactive breakout sessions focused on timely career development topics, and broadened their sense of career possibilities.

Going Out of Bounds to Explore New Career Paths

Kicking off with Gratitude

Jared Cash, President and CEO of the Mitchell Institute, launched the day-long career development program by thanking the Mitchell Institute Alumni Council (MIAC) for organizing MILE II again this year and thanking host and corporate sponsor Unum for their 23 years of vital financial support.

“You are here, representing your authentic superpowers,” Cash told the gathering of Scholars and Alumni. “When you think about going out of bounds and forging your own path, it’s a big part of our growth. We are always looking for possibilities. Today is about seeing those possibilities around you.”

“Unum has been part of our community of support since 2001 and has given [the Mitchell Institute] over $2 million in resources for scholarships and programming support, as well as invaluable thought leadership,” Cash said. What’s more, he continued, “fourteen Mitchell Scholars have worked at Unum over the years.”

A Nickel’s Worth of Priceless Advice

Cary Olson Cartwright, AVP of Corporate Social Responsibility at Unum and a longtime presenter at MILE II, then shared what she deems her “nickel story” to illustrate the power of finding middle ground in life.

Cartwright said that years ago, when she was a journalism major at the University of Maine, she and two of her classmates attended a contentious meeting of the Bangor City Council. The late Barbara McKernan, mother of former Maine Governor John McKernan and a member of the Council at the time, explained to Cartwright and her classmates that the intransigence they witnessed could best be illustrated by a nickel, which she pulled from her purse.

Then, doing just as Mrs. McKernan had done, Cartwright held up a nickel for Mitchell Scholars and Alumni to see. She asked them to consider the coin’s two sides, heads and tails, just like the two sides of an argument, debate, or issue. Citing Mrs. McKernan’s lesson about the heated city council meeting, Cartwright explained that the most important part of the coin is what lies in the middle of the two sides.

“There’s space in between for compromise and discussion,” Cartwright said. “It’s so meaningful for the work we do.”

“We don’t have to agree all of the time,” she said of the disagreements we encounter in our personal and civic lives, “but we can have a civilized conversation, and we can have a professional debate.”

An All-Star Alumni Panel

To help Mitchell Scholars and Alumni understand the virtues—and sometimes, necessity—of going out of bounds with their career exploration, the MILE II Planning Committee invited an all-star lineup of alumni to share their experiences with deviating from the norm. Here are excerpts from their remarks.

Dakotah Dugan ’03

“What helped me over a number of years is realizing that anyone who thinks that when you get older and you have a leadership role that you have it all figured out is wrong. I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up. It’s OK to take a different path. It’s OK to try something new. And it’s OK to fail. Taking the safe route for me hasn't always been the right one.”

— Dakotah Dugan, the 2003 Mitchell Scholar from Fryeburg Academy, a University of Southern Maine graduate, and Senior Director of Compliance Advisory for Deposits, Enterprise Fraud & Payment Services at Discover Financial Services.

Panel Moderator Caitie Whelan

“When you look at the bios of people who are leading companies and organizations, those bios are so confident. They are all the degrees, all the achievements, but in between each one of those, I can almost guarantee you, are a ton of question marks and a ton of uncertainty. When you look at these illustrious profiles, just remember, that’s part of the story, but it’s not the entirety of the story.”

— Panel moderator and Brown University graduate Caitie Whelan was a staffer in Congress for six years, first in the U.S. Senate and later as Senior Foreign Policy Advisor for a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. She also served as Communications Director for the Maine Democratic Party and worked on communications and operations for one of President Biden's global climate initiatives.

Henry Beck ’05

At one point, moderator Caitie Whelan asked the panelists to talk about what can be a touchy topic: money.

Chasing one’s dreams, she said, can mean “there isn’t income coming into our bank accounts. And maybe we still have college loans, or there are people we are providing for, including ourselves. We may be very hesitant to talk about money, because it is equated with value and success, but money is a huge factor in what kinds of career choices you can make.”

In response, Henry Beck, the 2005 Mitchell Scholar from Waterville Senior High School, Colby College graduate, and current Maine State Treasurer, encouraged attendees to be pragmatic in understanding that financial wherewithal is a reasonable consideration when pursuing career options. And accepting a position for financial reasons is perfectly acceptable.

“It’s OK to think about money and what kind of lifestyle you want to have. You don’t have to apologize for that,” Beck said. “It’s a balance between having purpose and doing what is working for you now.”

Jessica Drescher ’07

Several panelists spoke to the zigzagging, rather than straight-line, course of their career histories. Jessica Drescher, the 2007 Mitchell Scholar from Bangor High School, Colby College graduate, Ph.D. graduate of Stanford University, and social policy analyst at Mathematica Policy Research, encouraged attendees to take risks and be open to unforeseen opportunities.

“Doors open, you walk through them, not sure of what’s on the other side. And that’s part of what makes you you,” Drescher said. “So even if you have a long-term goal that you are trying to hit, and you feel like you’re diverting this way and that way, you’re going to pick something up in that diverging that you’re going to keep.”

Joe Marro ’08

Several panelists also spoke to the importance of mentors and the advice they can provide at career crossroads. Joe Marro, the 2008 Mitchell Scholar from Bonny Eagle High School, University of Maine graduate, and Senior Policy Advisor to Maine Governor Janet Mills, agreed that mentors are vital partners in career-related decisions. But when it comes to considering potential mentors, Marro encouraged Mitchell Scholars and Alumni to be picky.

“Choose mentors and folks you listen to really carefully and based on what you’re looking for and your values, not just their position or what they have achieved,” Marro said. “I encourage you to try to seek out mentors who listen to you, ask questions, and are really interested in what you are looking to do and what’s important to you.”

And building on what Marro shared, Dugan encouraged Mitchell Scholars and Alumni not to discount their sense of self-worth.

“It’s important that you don’t let other people’s opinion of you be louder than your own opinion of you,” Dugan said.

Breakout Sessions for Dessert

Following the panel presentation and lunch, Mitchell Scholars and Alumni attended smaller-group breakout sessions on timely career development topics.

Charis Loveland, the 1998 Mitchell Scholar from Bonney Eagle High School, Bates College graduate, and Global Program Manager for the EPIC Emotional Intelligence Program, led “Climbing the Ladder: Building Your Brand.”

Peter Osborne, Director of Educational Services at the Maine Municipal Association, led “Transitioning from a Student to the Workforce.”

Kristin Ryan, Director of Networks and Partnerships at Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute, led “Identifying Your Wellness Priorities.”

While members of the Mitchell Institute Alumni Council got their due at day’s end for arranging another highly engaging MILE II, President and CEO Jared Cash honored two Mitchell Scholar Alumni who merited special recognition.

Thanks, Adam, for 10 Great Years (And Counting)

First, Adam Thibodeau, the 2001 Mitchell Scholar from Lawrence High School and Scholarship Operations Manager at the Mitchell Institute, received a round of applause in celebration of his 10-year anniversary with the organization.

Thanks, Michelle, for Eight Great MILES

Then, Cash singled out Michelle Henaire, the 2012 Mitchell Scholar from Thornton Academy and Chair of the MIAC MILE II Committee.

“Michelle, we have had 17 years of MILE IIs, and the last eight have been heavily impacted by your leadership,” he told the gathering. “For those of you who might not know, Michelle volunteered the first two years as a non-MIAC member, and then she joined the Alumni Council. It made all the sense in the world to put you on the MILE II Committee. Since then, you have really showed up year after year. Thank you for doing such a remarkable job. Any good MILE has appreciation in it, and you are allowing us to be appreciative.”

Read the story of Michelle's MILE II Work

Scholars Have the Final Say

Ahmed Hassan ’23

“This is my first Mitchell event, and I wanted to come because of the name ‘Out of Bounds’ and to talk with people who are stepping foot outside of what they're majoring in. I think it's nice to network with people who stepped outside of that and took kind of a leap of faith and are sharing that you can do this, too.”

Ahmed Hassan, the 2023 Mitchell Scholar from Casco Bay High School and first-year student at Bates College

Kylie Dunphy ’15 (pictured at right)

“When I was a Scholar and I was sitting in that seat and I saw Cary Olson Cartwright, the representative from Unum who spoke today, it was so impactful that it struck something in me and I was like, ‘Wow, maybe I could work here one day.’ ... Things change and things evolve, but I think something that's always stayed the same at the Mitchell Institute is the energy and passion and engagement of not just the Scholars, but also the leadership of the Mitchell Institute, who really work hard every day to support the Scholars. Without that, events like this wouldn't be possible. Without connections and partnerships with companies like Unum, MILE II wouldn't be possible.”

Kylie Dunphy, the 2015 Mitchell Scholar from Southern Aroostook Community School, University of Maine Farmington graduate, and Professional Development Program Associate, Project Manager at Unum.

Kay Savage ’21

“It's been really good. I feel like today's flying by but I've learned a lot, I've got a lot of resources, and I have a lot of thinking to do when I get home. I feel like it's always like a really good sign of an educational day if you're going home and you're still thinking about the conversations and the topics and the ideas that you were given while you were there.”

Kay Savage, 2021 Mitchell Scholar from Sacopee Valley High School, sophomore Leadership and Organizational Studies major at Southern Maine Community College

Parting Shots

As this last set of pics prove, MILE II is as much about enjoying the fellowship of other Mitchell Scholars as getting set for career success.

A closing note of gratitude

MILE II wouldn’t be possible without the countless hours of work done by the event’s organizers, the members of the Mitchell Institute Alumni Council's MILE II Committee. Several committee members attended on Saturday, March 2, to help facilitate, including Planning Committee Chair Michelle Henaire ’12, as well as committee members Caleb Cullen ’15, Kayla Girardin ’13, and Elliot Simpson ’14, who each coordinated a breakout session. (Committee member Molly Foley ’15, who is based in Texas, was unable to attend, but she coordinated the morning alumni panel presentation.) Mitchell Institute Board member Elyse Pratt-Ronco, who joined in the committee's planning efforts in December, also attended MILE II.

An event’s environs play a key role in its success, and thanks to our generous sponsor and host, Unum, we could have no finer venue than their headquarters in Portland (or a tastier lunch!).

The keynote address sets the tone for the day, and the wisdom shared by Cary Olson Cartwright, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility at Unum, continues to resonate.

For our engaging breakout sessions, we have the following presenters to thank: Kristin Ryan, Director of Networks and Partnerships at Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute; Charis Loveland, the 1998 Mitchell Scholar from Bonney Eagle High School, Bates College graduate, and Global Program Manager for the EPIC Emotional Intelligence Program; and Peter Osborne, Director of Educational Services at the Maine Municipal Association.

Finally, our special Mitchell Scholar Alumni guests of the day included Kylie Dunphy ’15, Professional Development Program Associate, Project Manager at Unum; Sean Findlen ’95, AVP of Enterprise Communications at Unum; Emily Lathrop ’17, Talent Engagement & Retention Specialist at Kennebec Savings Bank; and Charis Loveland ’98, Global Program Manager for the EPIC Emotional Intelligence Program.

Video: Mitchell Scholars Give Thanks to Unum

In the video below (just click the pic), Mitchell Scholars and Alumni express their appreciation to Unum for sponsoring and hosting our annual MILE II event earlier this month. Because #UnumCares, more than 1,200 Mitchell Scholars and Alumni have been welcomed to their beautiful headquarters over the 17 years of this program partnership.

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