Potential is not always obvious when a career begins. Sometimes, it shows up only after you take on a responsibility you once avoided or say yes to a role you never imagined yourself doing.
Mary Jane Blanco knows that experience well.
Eleven years ago, she joined Select VoiceCom, still studying and already supporting her family. Today, she is a Team Leader, guiding others through challenges she once had to learn to navigate herself.
This Customer Service Week, we share Mary Jane's story and how a career in the BPO industry gave her opportunities to discover strengths she didn't know she had.
Starting With Responsibilities Beyond Work
Mary Jane was no stranger to hard work before entering SVC.
She was a working student and her family's breadwinner. Managing both meant learning early to stay responsible, even with a full plate.
"Before I started here, I was a very determined individual. I had to be because I carried a lot of responsibilities," Mary Jane recalled.
Those early experiences prepared her for the pace of BPO work. But what she would discover about herself over the next 11 years went beyond managing a busy schedule.
Saying Yes to Something Unfamiliar
One of Mary Jane's biggest discoveries was that she could step outside her comfort zone.
Becoming a Team Leader was a good example. At first, she wasn't convinced leadership was right for her.
"I realized that you can learn anything if you are focused on growth," she shared. "I didn't think the role fit me until I actually tried it."
Taking the opportunity showed Mary Jane that she didn't need to feel completely ready before trying something new. Sometimes, growth started with simply being open to the possibility.
"This proved to me that openness is the key to my professional growth," she added.
Finding Her Voice
Leadership also brought Mary Jane face-to-face with something she had previously found difficult: speaking in front of others.
An introvert by nature, she once hesitated to speak up. Leading team meetings left little room to stay in the background.
Instead of waiting for the nerves to disappear, she started doing it anyway.
"Before that, I was afraid to speak up because I am an introvert," Mary Jane said. "But I stopped overthinking, jumped in, and learned by doing."
Those meetings eventually became proof of something she hadn't fully recognized in herself.
"It proved to me that I can handle tough challenges when I stop doubting myself," she added.
Learning What Leadership Really Means
Taking on a leadership role also changed Mary Jane's idea of what it means to perform well.
Her results still mattered, but leadership meant taking responsibility for how she showed up for others.
"Being a leader means setting a good personal example," she explained. "Showing up for my team isn't just about pushing for numbers; it is about helping them grow too."
That shift has shaped how she approaches her role today. Over time, the employee who once questioned whether leadership suited her became someone her team could rely on.
From Fear of Mistakes to Taking on Bigger Challlenges
Mary Jane can see the difference most clearly in how she responds when responsibilities pile up.
Earlier in her career, stressful situations brought a fear of making mistakes. Eleven years of experience haven't made responsibilities disappear, but they have changed how she handles them.
"Something I can do today is manage heavy responsibilities without fear," she shared.
Rather than becoming consumed by what could go wrong, Mary Jane learned to return to why the work matters and keep moving.
"I learned to focus on my purpose and show up every day anyway," she added. "This allowed me to successfully take on challenges that I never thought I could handle."
Customer Service Can Bring Out More Than You Expect
Mary Jane's 11 years at SVC show how a customer service career can open the door to personal and professional growth. What started as an opportunity to work eventually became a place to test her abilities and take on new responsibilities.
Today, the working student who once doubted whether she could lead is a Team Leader supporting others' growth. Her journey reflects something we value at SVC: giving people opportunities to learn, take on challenges, and discover what they can do.
Eleven years later, Mary Jane is still learning. She also knows that stepping outside her comfort zone can lead somewhere worthwhile.
This Customer Service Week, SVC celebrates Mary Jane and the people across our teams who continue to grow through the work they do.
Join the SVC Team
You might be capable of more than you think. Sometimes, all it takes is the opportunity to find out.
Apply at Select VoiceCom and discover where your own journey could take you.
— Jobert Garganta, Select VoiceCom
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