Every few years a book comes along that nails the workplace zeitgeist, and Jennifer Romolini’s new tome is 2024’s hottest ticket.
Ambition Monster is the latest release from former magazine editor turned tech C-suiter and author, who climbed down off the corporate ladder after years of chasing traditional ideas of success in the girl-boss era.
Romolini charts her life growing up with young working-class parents in Philadelphia, and the ambition that drove her to ascend in the ranks of New York publishing, before high-tailing it to California for a series of lucrative tech positions.
Though it’s a juicy read, there’s a lot of insights to take from it too. Essentially, come for the early-aughts magazine glamour, stay for the actually valuable work lessons you can glean.
Here are eight key takeaways…
1. Hypervigilance can matter more than talent
Talent alone isn’t always enough to propel your career forward. Romolini’s experience shows that hypervigilance – a state of increased alertness and sensitivity to one’s environment – can be a more critical factor.
This level of awareness allows individuals to anticipate changes, spot opportunities, and navigate the complex social dynamics of the workplace.
While talent is undoubtedly valuable, the ability to read the room, and adapt quickly, is often a determining factor in who rises to the top.
This level of awareness allows individuals to anticipate changes, spot opportunities, and navigate the complex social dynamics of the workplace.
While talent is undoubtedly valuable, the ability to read the room, and adapt quickly, is often a determining factor in who rises to the top.
2. Promotion processes can be brutal
Climbing the corporate ladder in tech isn’t for the faint of heart. Romolini pulls back the curtain on the often gruelling and invasive promotion processes that employees must sometimes endure.
Peer reviews, or “internal 360 degree internal evaluations” as Romolini experiences them, can be particularly challenging.
Promotion processes can be long, emotionally draining and may not always accurately reflect your capabilities or potential. Understanding this is crucial for anyone looking to advance their career in tech.
3. Learning the etiquette of business is a must
Many people Romolini meets on the way up have expensive educations and privileged family networks where they quietly learned the etiquette of business.
Knowledge of these social norms isn’t automatic for most people who come from working-class backgrounds.
Romolini learns these unwritten rules from day-to-day working and observing colleagues, which today wouldn’t always be possible in a hybrid and remote-working world.
Other ways to develop these skills are networking events, career coaching, mentorship and informational interviews.
4. Business jargon is the only constant
Romolini lists out some of the jargon du jour of the 2010s, many of which are sadly, still familiar today.
Low-hanging fruit, put a pin in it, circle back, take the conversation offline, pain point and deep dive are all familiar features, and in 2024, we might add: popcorn (as a verb), reach out to (instead of just saying email or call), sweet spot, and synergy.
Every company has its own lexicon, and even if you have no plans to ever use these phrases, you’ll need to understand them at least.
5. Disrupters often just interrupt people
Once upon a time, the tech industry loved a disrupter: Tesla was disrupting the car industry, Uber was challenging the taxi industry, and Deliveroo was changing the restaurant game.
Now the tide of sentiment has turned on many of these disruptors, but still the attitude has trickled down.
In her Corporate Barbie chapter, Romolini explains: “In the 2010s, Silicon Valley loves a disruptor. But I quickly discover what this translates to in real-life is literally interrupting.”
“Raising your hand in the middle of Mitch’s overworked PowerPoint and blurting out, ‘Wait, why are we doing this <insert terrible, expensive idea>? Who’s this initiative actually for?’ It’s the Tom Hanks in Big tactic, so simple it could be executed by a kid. I begin to implement it as often as I can. It earns me a reputation as a shit starter and a maverick, which translates well in these white-collared rooms of mostly white-collared men.”
6. Girl-boss culture really did a number on millennials
During the girl-boss era, women were bombarded with messages that they can do it all – yes, even in high heels (!). The movement was all sassy notebooks, water bottle merch, and paper-thin empowerment.
Still, this aways-on, hyper-productive approach to working is a hard one to deprogramme, as many millennials are finding out.
Romolini lived and breathed this era saying; “The secret to my success was always-on mania”, and she goes on to reflect on the lasting impact of relying on productivity to provide purpose, a mentality which often blurred the lines between personal and professional life. And often, put the latter above all else.
Thankfully, hustle culture is on the decline, and Gen Z are much more focused on work-life balance.
“Threats to my job real and imagined keep my amygdala firing throughout my days.”
7. Surviving layoffs takes its toll
In the book, Romolini describes being laid off from her first three publishing jobs, and later discusses surviving layoffs in tech:
“Threats to my job real and imagined keep my amygdala firing throughout my days. Goals at the company I work for remain in flux; it’s hard to predict which way to march. I survive multiple rounds of layoffs and I’m assured my department is not a future target, but my position never feels quite safe.”
“The job provides my family’s healthcare and our livelihood. By definition, I’m dependent on it. Keeping me motivated to work harder, to do as much as I can with less, is an institutional feature not a bug.”
This points to the emotional and psychological impact of surviving these cuts. While those who retain their jobs might be considered lucky, staying often means fewer resources, increased stress, and a pervasive sense of job insecurity.
8. Stock reward benefits may not be all that
As part of one of her tech jobs, Romolini is enrolled in an employee retention stock reward plan “with elaborate vesting rules”. It promises thousands of dollars in bonuses, if you maintain a high performance, and remain at the company for several years. She describes it as “an incentive programme as complex as any Ponzi scheme”.
Stock options and other equity-based compensation are often touted as major perks of working in tech, but it isn’t always wise to place a huge emphasis on these benefits.
Of course, it might pay off — hello NVIDIA — but more often, factors such as market volatility, company performance, and the timing of public offerings may not always align.
Sure, take the perk, but don’t base big life decisions on the idea of a large payout in the future. Whatever will be, will be.
Ambition Monster: A Memoir by Jennifer Romolini is published by Atria Books. Author portrait by Lee Jameson.
Read more
- 6 things you can learn from work from this year’s commencement speeches
- This is what women in C-suite positions in tech say about equality on International Women’s Day
- Looking for a U.S. tech job in 2024? Here’s the best places to look
Want more like this?
If you enjoyed what you’ve read above, and would like to get original work-related content on your own website, plus the chance to maximise your revenue, contact us now.
