Fly Beyond the Rainbow

Intro from Alana:

Today’s guest blogger, Jill Breuer, is part of a most impressive group women leaders at PNC Bank who I have had the privilege to get to know.  Jill has spent more than 13 years in the Commercial Real Estate field.  Currently, she is responsible for compliance oversight for the Real Estate division of PNC Bank as part of the Risk, Compliance, and Quality Assurance team.  Also, during her time at PNC Bank, she has served as in several facets of the Midland Loan Services division in both staff and management positions.  She also spent two years as an Account Manager where she represented clients who have hosted services for the Enterprise! software product.

Jill holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from the University of Kansas.  Jill also serves as the President of the Tonganoxie Library Foundation and is active in the Tonganoxie school district having served on several committees and councils.  Jill lives in Tonganoxie with her husband, Mark, and their three children.  She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, cooking and attending her kid’s activities and sports events.

Please click your heels together three times and welcome Jill Breuer to CLC!

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“Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland.  Guest Post by Jill Breuer.

Not just anyone can pull off red, glittery high heels.  But my fellow Kansas-native, Dorothy from the ‘Wizard of Oz’, does it with ease.  I’ve watched the Wizard of Oz movie many, many times over and although I love the story line my favorite aspect is surely the legendary song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”  As a little girl, I never really understood the meaning of the song.  Why would anyone want to fly like a bird over a rainbow?  But as I grew older, I began to hear a message about daring to dream and having the confidence to reach for more.

Much like Dorothy, so many women find it hard to envision how we could possibly ever achieve big, far-reaching goals.  It seems like a fantasy land.  But it can be done, and we must support one another to make it happen.  In my own experience, there was a time when I was seeking something more from my job.  I had been promoted, became a manager, made business connections, became involved in company committees and groups… all of the things I had been told to do or had read about in books.  Nevertheless, I felt like I had lost a sense of direction in my career and I needed to find my way back to the yellow brick road of success and growth.

As I sought out a compass, I found two mentors along the way who encouraged me and facilitated my realization that I am capable of so much more than what is listed on my resume.  With their encouragement and guidance, I began to believe that I can learn and achieve and contribute on a larger scale.  It became clear that I was the one holding myself back.  My mentors connected me with a job opportunity that was completely out of my comfort zone and they reminded me that I am capable of more which gave me the confidence to take the leap.

While I am still working my way to the pinnacle of my rainbow, I would not have made it this high without the strong connections that I made with these mentors and other supporters along the way.  I now believe that I can fly high and it’s my mission to do the same for others.  Just as Judy Garland sang, “If happy little bluebirds fly beyond the rainbow, why, oh why can’t I?”