For Women’s History Month, we want to highlight just some of the amazing women across the Cast & Crew organization. For this installment of our ongoing series, we talked to Roza Mason, Program Manager, Customer Care. Check out her responses to our questions below:
Roza Mason
Program Manager, Customer Care, Cast & Crew
How long have you been with Cast & Crew?
I’ve been with the company for 12 years now. I started with a temp agency, working in data entry, and I’ve been able to float around and be involved in different projects, learning a little bit of many different things since the beginning. It’s amazing to see how much we’ve grown over time.
What was your very first job?
I got my first job when I was 16 years old after applying to be a waitress at Denny’s. They started me off as a host. I was so nervous! On my first day, I was asked to memorize the menu and what comes with each meal. Ahhh! At this point, I’m young, inexperienced, and I don’t know how to memorize anything without writing it down 100 times. I was still in school, and multitasking wasn’t something I was particularly good at. After one week of attempting to memorize the menu and working part time, I realized that this was not something I could do. In my mind, I thought I needed to become more experienced before working anywhere, not realizing that it’s actually the complete opposite. I didn’t have the confidence to say, “I can do this.” As you can probably guess, my time with Denny’s was short. From there, I went on to a temp agency to start gaining some work experience.
What can leaders do to empower the next generation of women trailblazers?
Build courage and confidence; it plays such a huge role. If you believe you can, you really can! Sometimes when we make mistakes, we give up. We need to normalize making mistakes, as they play a huge role in success. Be open-minded about trying new ideas and know that if it doesn’t work as expected, that’s okay—go back to the drawing board. Cheer them on for every small win and make sure everyone knows that “they did that, and they did it on their own.” Be that mom proudly fist-pumping in the back of the auditorium!
Who are three inspiring women that you’d invite to a dream dinner party (and why)?
I have been lucky enough to work with some very inspiring women leaders who believed in me here at Cast & Crew. Two of my previous managers made the biggest impact in my life.
One of my previous managers paved the way for Employee Help Desk. She saw room for improvement in the organization and pursued it, creating so many opportunities that didn’t exist a few years ago. We are very grateful for her. Another one of my previous managers changed my whole vision of technology and how we can leverage automation to limit human error. (My mind was blown.) She didn’t allow me to say things like, “We can do what other departments are doing.” Instead, she encouraged me to think outside the box and make decisions on my own. Every time I think of a new, cool, or creative idea, I have her to thank. Third, but not least, is my mother. She has shown me that everything is possible with a little determination. She is such a strong woman and truly an inspiration. She has shown me what determination looks like.
All three of these strong women have changed my life in different drastic ways, and I would want them to be a part of every special event.
What is something in your life that has brought satisfaction and fulfillment? Is there anything you would have done differently?
Family. My family has always been supportive. Being able to see my husband and kids several hours a day while I work from home, spend time with them, coach them, and just see them grow up is something that I feel lucky to be a part of. They drive me nuts, but like my little one says, “Silly mom! You are not driving, mom.”
Work. I’m so amazed by and proud of how far we have come as a team here at the Employee Help Desk. Being able to implement small changes that make our days at work easier is really an honor. We can brainstorm and turn good ideas into great ones. We’ve been able to create an environment where everyone’s ideas are welcomed, shared, and implemented. Looking back, there isn’t anything I would have done differently. Every obstacle, challenge, and minute spent was worth it. It’s made us an extremely resilient team.
What does Women’s History Month mean or represent to you?
It’s always about empowerment to me. To be able to recognize all different types of women from all around the world gives us the courage to believe. It’s amazing to see what we can accomplish by simply cheering for one another. Being surrounded by some of the strongest, smartest, and most intelligent women is motiving and inspiring. We have come a very long way and we are seeing more and more women leaders. Sky’s the limit!
---
Thank you so much to Roza for taking the time to share a bit of her own history. Be sure to follow along as we continue to shine a spotlight on the many incredible women across our organization. We celebrate your achievements during Women's History Month and every day of the year!