Vishay Intertechnology, Inc.

Paige Parker Salazar is a passionate talent development professional committed to designing, developing and facilitating engaging, performance-based learning solutions for more than 25 years. With a background in financial Services, telecommunications, manufacturing and IT, Paige helps project stakeholders and subject matter experts meet strategic business objectives by creating innovative learning solutions.

An Unexpected Path to a Purposeful Career

If you had asked me at the beginning of my career where I expected to end up, I would have confidently said, ‘academia.’ After earning my master's degree through a graduate teaching assistantship, I planned to continue directly into a PhD program. I had already been accepted and believed my future would be spent researching and teaching communication classes in college classrooms. Then life introduced an unexpected detour.

A professor I deeply respected asked me to remain at the university for an additional year to teach public speaking and persuasion classes so he could take a sabbatical to care for his ailing wife. It was a difficult request to refuse. I accepted, believing I was delaying my long-term plans by only one year. Little did I know that decision would ultimately change the course of my career.

During my master's program, I took a course in organizational communication. One small unit focused on training and development. Even then, I thought that if I ever left academia for the corporate world, training and development would be where I would want to be.

As that additional teaching year came to an end, a former classmate contacted me about an entry-level training and development coordinator position. I was not actively looking for corporate work, but my parents encouraged me to interview. Their reasoning was simple. Gaining experience by interviewing for a ‘real job’ could not hurt.

What started as interview practice became my entry into the profession that would define my career. After accepting the position, I quickly discovered that training and development offered the perfect blend of what I loved most: helping people learn, improving performance and solving business problems.

Building Expertise through Experience

One of my first assignments was leading the development of a corporate university. I researched best practices, built a strategy and prepared for launch. Then, just before implementation, I became part of a reduction-in-force. At the time, it felt like a major setback. In hindsight, it became one of the most valuable experiences of my career.

I had previously studied organizations recognized for their corporate universities and learning cultures. Determined to learn from the best, I continued pursuing opportunities with one of those companies. After several rejections, I finally entered a production role with a consulting agency.

 

The opportunities that shape your future often come from the intentional pursuit of versatility.

 

That experience taught me an important lesson. Sometimes the path to your destination is not the one you originally envisioned.

Working in Production provided insight into business operations and allowed me to collaborate closely with instructional designers. Eventually, a leader recognized my potential and encouraged me to pursue an instructional designer position. During the interview process, the director told me I was instinctively applying many of the right practices. What I needed was a stronger theoretical foundation. I embraced the opportunity to learn.

Growing through New Responsibilities

Not long after, another career crossroads emerged. A former colleague encouraged me to apply for a Training and Development manager role. I enjoyed instructional design, but the new position offered broader responsibilities and the opportunity to lead a team. I chose growth over comfort. That decision expanded my career in ways I never imagined. I conducted needs assessments, designed learning solutions, facilitated training, evaluated effectiveness, managed vendors, implemented technology and built processes from the ground up. I learned how to administer a learning management system and taught myself eLearning development. Every new responsibility added another tool to my professional toolkit. Looking back, the greatest advantage was not any single skill. It was versatility.

As I had worked across multiple disciplines of training and development, I developed credibility as a leader. I understood the challenges my team members faced because I had performed many of those jobs myself. I could support them during demanding times, ask better questions, and make informed decisions.

Today, training and development has evolved into talent development and professionals must have more capabilities than ever before. We are increasingly connected to talent planning, talent acquisition, employee engagement, career development and retention. The boundaries between these disciplines continue to blur. Fortunately, that is one of the reasons I am still enamored with this field after more than 25 years.

Advice for Aspiring HR Professionals

My career has not followed the path I originally planned. In many ways, it has been better. Each unexpected opportunity, setback and transition taught me something valuable. Together, those experiences shaped not only the professional I became, but also the leader I am today.

The lesson I would share with anyone building a career in HR or talent development is simple. Do not rush to specialize. Remain curious, stay humble and adaptable and never stop learning. The opportunities that shape your future often come from the intentional pursuit of versatility.