Helix CFO Sarah Bobulsky Shares How She Reached the C-Suite & 3 Key Pieces of Advice for Potential Applicants
Before starting her journey at population genomics company Helix, Sarah Bobulsky worked in strategy consulting, most often with pharma and biotechnology clients. She accumulated a wealth of experience very quickly: “One of my managers always said ‘one year in consulting is like seven years in a regular job’,” Sarah jokes.
In spite of her rapid exposure to so many different projects and clients, she was a bit hesitant when her firm wanted her to branch out into diagnostics. “My reaction was, ‘I don't know anything about diagnostics! I don’t want to do diagnostics,’” she laughs. “Yet, here I am CFO of a diagnostics company.”
“I would not have guessed that I would be a CFO,” she confesses. “I always hoped my career would advance, but I don't think CFO was where I was starting my thinking.”
But thanks to a lot of hard work and encouragement from current and former managers, Sarah took on the CFO challenge and is thriving in her new role.
Now that she’s settled in, Sarah’s looking to expand the finance team at Helix. We sat down with her to learn what interested candidates can do to stand out in the application process.
The Road to Helix
Sarah ultimately said yes to the project with the diagnostics company and that led to three years of consulting frequently with diagnostics clients. “I ended up being pretty well-versed in that space,” Sarah says, explaining how she heard about Helix when they got their first round of funding. The company immediately caught her attention.
“I thought their business model at the time was really interesting. It was a departure from what other companies in the space were doing, with a lot of opportunity for innovation,” she says.
Sarah also happened to know one of the cofounders of the company through her previous consulting experience. This led to some organic conversations about opportunities at the company.
“I was interested in joining a startup, but also somewhat risk-averse,” says Sarah. “So finding a startup that had strong backing was appealing to me.”
She was also reluctant to lose the diversity of experience afforded to her by consulting, but she felt that Helix was dynamic enough to ensure that she’d still get to tackle lots of different kinds of challenges. So she took a leap and accepted a role focused on corporate development and strategy.
“I accepted the position without a job description,” Sarah reminisces. “When I first started, I worked on a lot of different projects, many of which were very much outside of my comfort zone,” Sarah says. “Over time, the number of projects kept expanding, and as the company grew, the role expanded and got more operationally focused.”
Working instrategy involved a lot of long-term planning and scenario analysis. But as Sarah’s role became more operational, she found value in better understanding the day-to-day operations on the ground. “I think getting my hands dirty was really important [in understanding] how little things can influence the company's strategy,” Sarah explains. She worked closely with Helix’s customers as well as with numerous cross-functional teams which helped her better understand the ins and outs of Helix’s product. This proved to be a great foundation as she moved into the CFO role.
Journey to the C-suite
Although she didn’t originally set out to be a CFO, Sarah spent much of her career working closely with her finance counterparts — both in her consulting days pre-Helix and during her time at Helix. It was Helix’s former CEO, himself a prior CFO, who initially raised the idea of moving fully into finance though. “He was the first person to tell me I’d make a good CFO and honestly I was very surprised at first,” Sarah explains. She was initially concerned that she didn’t come from a traditional finance background. “But he was thinking more about the strategic side of the CFO role, from being able to tell the story of the business to investors and to our board, and being able to understand different nuances that drive a forecast and long-term value.”
Helix’s former CEO wasn’t the only person supporting Sarah through the transition. “Our current CEO and co-founder has never hesitated to give me new opportunities. It’s always a bit of a risk to give someone something they’d never done, but I’ve always found leadership at Helix willing to take that risk” Sarah explains. “That's been a hallmark of my time here and what has kept me here as long as I've been here. I know that there's the opportunity for growth.”
Nearly 7 months in the CFO role, Sarah has spent a significant amount of her time focusing on a long-term value perspective. “We spend a lot of time on our annual budget, our forecasts,” she explains. “I spent a lot of time in the first couple of months painting a picture of 2024 and 2025 — What does that look like? How do we get there? What are the things that drive value?” She’s now looking for mission-driven finance professionals to bring their diverse perspectives and experiences to her team.
3 Essential Attributes in Finance & 3 Tips for Interviewees
While role-specific experience is important, there are three main attributes that Sarah looks for in any potential members of the finance team at Helix, regardless of position.
- Intellectual curiosity. “Even if you're not necessarily involved in the day-to-day on-the-ground operations, it's still really important that you understand how our business works. It influences everything we do on the finance team from invoicing customers to recognizing revenue to long-term forecasting,” Sarah explains.
- Creative problem solving ability. Problem-solving isn’t always about the solution itself, but more about how you created the solution. “I always look for examples of how someone solved the problem creatively or did a lot with only a little,” Sarah shares.
- Detail-oriented. “I'm a fairly detail-oriented person, and I think that's important in lots of roles, but I think it's particularly important in finance,” Sarah reiterates.
If that sounds like you, you might be a good tip for Sarah’s team! Keep reading for Sarah’s advice on how to display the attributes above during your interview (if you want to learn more about the interview process at Helix, click here!).
- Highlight Your Impact. “When you’re giving an example or answering a ‘tell me about a time’ question, make sure to highlight how what you did had an impact on the company – whether it’s optimizing a process or uncovering a new trend in the data – make sure that stands out,” Sarah says.
- Frame the narrative upfront. When explaining previous work, Sarah suggests using roadmapping language for your interviewer such as, “This was a big project. Here are the three things I'm going to tell you about it. And then walk [the interviewer] through each of those three things.”
- Be selective. While providing depth in your responses is important, be judicious about what you share. “Interviews are usually only 30 or 45 minutes, so it's not about describing every little detail. Acknowledge all of the things you had to consider, and then choose a few critical things to highlight,” she explains.
Interested in working alongside Sarah at Helix? Check out their open positions here.
How Clarus Commerce’s MaryBeth Iamonaco Makes Work Feel Like Home
MaryBeth Iamonaco doesn’t take family for granted.
“We’re super close,” explains MaryBeth. Which is what keeps them a 10-minute drive from each other in the beautiful state of Connecticut, where MaryBeth most feels at home. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, a close circle of friends of 30+ years, and her golden retriever, Rhody.
After the sudden passing of her father, she came to appreciate that family bond even more. “Unfortunately, you don't always realize the strength that you have within your family until something terrible happens,” elaborates MaryBeth. “Thankfully [my family] had that bond to get through.”
As Director of Project Management at Clarus Commerce, MaryBeth works hard to recreate that sense of unconditional support on her team by fostering an environment where team members are seen, encouraged, and challenged to grow. “There's nothing more important to me than my team feeling supported,” she exclaims.“Let's go back to making work feel like home!”
We sat down with MaryBeth to learn more about her leadership journey. Read on to hear her story, from how she started her 15 year trajectory at Clarus Commerce to her tips on how to foster an environment of belonging and support for your team.
Open-mindedness forges opportunities
Early on, MaryBeth knew she didn’t want to be stuck with limited opportunities, so she decided to pursue her studies in a field that would keep her career options open: sociology. “I didn't want to be married to something that I didn't know would work out for me,” she explains. “I believe whatever happens is meant to be.”
After graduation, MaryBeth saw an ad for a job opening for Clarus Commerce on Craigslist and decided to apply. She folded up her resume, stuck it in her pocket, and set off to the Clarus office. “I was a firm believer in not overthinking, so I just walked into Clarus, unfolded my resume, and handed it to the hiring manager,” she sheepishly reminisces. “They must have seen something in me because that was 15 years ago, and I'm still part of the Clarus family today.”
MaryBeth started her career at the company as a Customer Service Representative. “I needed something to start paying my own bills,” she explains. “A few years later, I moved into Operations and then was presented with this opportunity to create a project management office within Clarus, and it just made sense.”
Now, MaryBeth leads and coordinates several teams as the Director of Project Management. “I was the second person on the team and now I have an entire team under me and, in some cases, they have a team under them,” she explains. Her team works cross-functionally to set timelines, organize and assess processes, lead agile ceremonies, develop projects, and fight last minute fires.
Leadership Matters
MaryBeth credits her overall success to Clarus' leadership. “It's the skeleton of the company and why we're so successful,” she says. “I was the 10th employee in this rickety old office and now we have thousands of square feet and 400 people. Things have definitely evolved and my success at Clarus was matched by the success of the company as a whole.”
But the growth doesn’t stop there. MaryBeth takes advantage of professional development opportunities whenever she can, and Clarus makes that easy. “Every year, Clarus grants each employee $1,000 for training and upskilling,” she explains. “I’ve used it to take classes and learn about new technology within the PMO sector. More recently, my team’s been focused on the SCRUM master training, as we have transitioned to agile development last year.”
MaryBeth hopes to provide her team with the same support that she got from her leaders earlier on in her career, which is why she prioritizes continual learning and career pathing for her team. “I want them to feel like they are seen, encouraged, and challenged,” elaborates MaryBeth. “I want them to feel at home, because they work with people that value their efforts, their interests, and their dreams.”
How to make work feel like home
Along her 15 year-long career journey, MaryBeth has learned how to navigate career success, overcome challenges, and support her team along the way. Keep reading for four ways MaryBeth cultivates success for her team.
1. Build a solid team. “Get a team that you can jive with, not only professionally, but people you can go get a coffee with, too,” MaryBeth advises. “My philosophy is to be friends with the people that you work with. You spend 40 hours a week with your coworkers, sometimes you spend more time with them than with your family. Just make sure that they’re willing to work hard and that you actually take the time to get to know each other.” MaryBeth chats with her team every day, and not only about work. Because Clarus has a hybrid work model, she’s intentional about connecting her team and staying updated on what is going on in each other's lives.
2. Set clear expectations. “Project management is often looked at as the place to go when you have a problem and we're going to solve it for you,” explains MaryBeth. “And we don't want to let people down.” Which is why she prioritizes transparency and organization in her work by establishing clear expectations with her team members and other departments
3. Clear your inbox every day. “It sounds funny and it doesn't sound like it would be a big deal, but coming into work not knowing what to expect is hard,” explains MaryBeth. “Having a clear inbox allows me to completely focus on the new set of challenges, the new set of successes, or whatever it may be that day.
4. Adjust your processes. “Love what you have put into place, because if you don't, you won't like coming to work every day,” says MaryBeth. “So take the time to look back every so often and see what can be adjusted. That way you are motivated by your process and the kinds of things that help your team and company grow.” MaryBeth constantly takes inventory on her team’s process to see how it can improve. “Throughout the week I make mental notes of processes and team members’ strong suits. I'm always thinking of ways to make things better.”
Ace Your Interview at Equinix With These Recruiter Tips
💎Prepare for your interview at Equinix with some great tips from the company’s recruiters. Watch the video till the end to learn about Equinix’s application process and how you can stand out!
📼 Get ready for an interview at Equinix with the insights shared by their recruiters: Tori Smith, Global Talent Acquisition Recruiter, and Kelly Mackey, Talent Recruiter for the Operations Team. Together, they’ll reveal tips and tricks about Equinix's interview process and give you some insights into how to prepare.
📼 When preparing for an interview with Equinix, what is the importance of cross-functional skills? First and foremost, Tori will be looking at your attitude, aptitude, and potential. No matter the technical skills they seek, their interest is to see how you work as a teammate and member of a larger organization. (That's your attitude.) For your aptitude, they’ll focus on the previous skills you attained, plus your ability to learn new skills. Lastly, they’ll evaluate your potential. What does your unique background bring to the team that’s new and different? And how can you apply that to make an impact within the bounds of what Equinix is already doing?
📼 At the interview with Equinix, every candidate should come prepared with what Kelly calls an “elevator speech” to answer the question: “Tell me about yourself!” The best way to respond to that is, “Where do you want me to start?” When assessing candidates, Tori will be asking a lot of different questions. What happens if you don't have the answer to a question? In Tori’s view, that's totally okay! If that happens, take a minute to walk the recruiter through how you might approach the question. Next, if it's a technical interview, share your expertise. They'd like to see how you use your knowledge in play. Remember: when you're interviewing, it's your time to shine. Share how you made an impact in previous roles by using numbers, statistics, and any other information that'll help. Provide data on how you’ve made a positive difference at your last job.
Interview With Equinix - Resume and Research Tips
Key tip: Tailor your resume to the specific requirements and responsibilities listed in the job description. You should craft your resume with keywords from the job description so that it screams, “Good fit!” Before the interview, do some research on Equinix and their business model. Learn about the Equinix Data Center, and review anything else you can find on the web. Showing the recruiter your investment in learning about the company will prove your investment in the overall hiring process! Additionally, check out what candidates are saying about their interview experiences on Glassdoor, where you can also check out Equinix’s CEO's ratings.
🧑💼 Are you interested in joining Equinix? They have open positions! To learn more, click here.
Get to Know Tori and Kelly
Tori’s pronouns are she/they, and they’re a Talent Acquisition Recruiter and Global Program Lead at Equinix. The programs they lead focus on inclusion and belonging in the hiring process and the workspace, and the positions they’re recruiting for focus on the new-to-career and internship space. Do you want to work for a Fortune 500 company that makes sure every employee feels safe, that they belong, and they matter? If so, send them a DM on LinkedIn to connect!
Kelly is a Seasoned full-cycle Recruiter with a history of success combined with building solid industry relationships. She has comprehensive experience in recruiting, onboarding, and aftercare. Her goals are to provide a positive & consultative experience for prospects and clients.
If you are interested in a career at Equinix, you can connect with Tori and Kelly on LinkedIn!
More About Equinix
Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company. Leading companies depend on Equinix’s trusted platform to offer their services seamlessly and enable migration to hybrid cloud models quickly. Also, interconnect with partners, customers and employees easily, and at the same time innovating to deliver world-class experiences. With 220+ data centers in offices around the globe, Equinix has enjoyed 70+ consecutive quarters of growth while powering the world’s digital leaders.
CHG Healthcare Interview Tips From a Recruiter
💎 Trust us: you don’t want to miss any of these CHG Healthcare interview tips that you can find useful when preparing to apply for a role with the company. Watch the video to the end to get valuable insights on resume tips, job gaps, answering difficult questions, transferable skills, and more- this recruiter really covers it all!
📼 Follow these CHG Healthcare interview tips from Jules Boulter, Talent Acquisition Specialist at CHG Healthcare, who is going to help you understand the company’s interview process a little bit more so you can go out with confidence as you're applying. Yes, we know the interview process can be a little bit daunting, but you're going to do great!
👉 CHG Healthcare is hiring! Check out the company’s open jobs:
Sales Consultant https://bit.ly/CHGHealthcareSalesConsultantPTF
People & Culture Specialist https://bit.ly/CHGHealthcarePeopleCultureSpecialistPTF
Sales Manager https://bit.ly/CHGHealthcareSalesManagerPTF
📼 First of these CHG Healthcare interview tips from Jules: when people ask her how they can better prepare for an interview, she always mentions the STARinterview method. It stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, and it's a tool to help you clearly organize your thoughts and be able to get to the meat of the question. Practice with a friend! Have them ask you questions and just take a minute to think through: “What was the situation? What task did I have to fulfill? What's the action I took?” And, “What was the result of this?”. That'll give interviewers what they're looking for. Another piece of advice from Jules is to google questions that you might expect to come during the interview, and also, always go through the job posting. If there are requirements listed in there, then you can pretty much bet that you're gonna get asked about those.
📼 If you're struggling with how to organize your resume, you're not alone. When preparing for your CHG Healthcare interview, you can follow some of Jules resume tips: “The thing to keep in mind is that a resume is just a tool. So it doesn't need to be an artistic wonder, really. Just try and organize things in a way that's easy for someone to see pretty quickly”. A couple of things to keep in mind: first of all, triple check for grammatical errors Another thing that can sometimes disqualify people for a role is a really long and wordy resume: just target the things that are really important for the role. Next up, double-check your dates on your employment areas. Sometimes you can get disqualified if it looks like you've been job-hopping. If you have some job gaps in your resume, that's okay! It's not a deal-breaker, but it might be worth it to try to find some ways to restructure it, focusing more on your skillset. Last, but not least, If you really feel uncomfortable with your resume, you can go with a professional resume writing company. This can be really helpful if you have the resources for it. Make sure you don't neglect your LinkedIn profile, either! Nowadays, it's a huge tool that recruiters use to find new employees. So make sure that you're updating it, and to clarify that you're open to work!
CHG Healthcare Interview Tips - Are Transferable Skills Valuable?
Jules believes transferable skills are very valuable, to a point. What she recommend to someone who might have a profile that's different from the job description, is, first of all, to go over the job posting and get a feel for what the company is looking for. That will help you understand why a specific skill is a requirement. And if that's not a skill that you possess, but you know that you can do those things, because of, for example, your experience in a specific industry, plan ahead and know how you're going to answer that. Make sure that it's on you to prove that you're a good fit for the role!
🧑💼 Are you interested in joining CHG Healthcare? They have open positions! To learn more, click here: https://bit.ly/CHGHealthcarePTF
Get to Know Jules
Jules loves helping people find their perfect career match. She focuses on building strong relationships and advocating for equity, and she’s passionate about learning and growth. What energizes her? She’s attracted to difficult and challenging endeavors and doesn’t look for the easy way out. She loves to present, perform, and teach. She embraces change. She’s most productive when presented with the opportunity to learn and grow. She knows things can go wrong, but prefers to focus on the positives and opportunities. If you are interested in a career at CHG Healthcare, you can connect with Jules on LinkedIn!
More About CHG Healthcare
CHG Healthcare is a leader in healthcare staffing and USA's largest provider of locum tenens services. CHG is comprised of four respected healthcare staffing brands: CompHealth, Weatherby Healthcare, RNnetwork, and Global Medical Staffing. CHG also owns two technology companies: Modio Health and LocumsMart. CHG has been included on Glassdoor's Employee Choice Awards, a list of best places to work since 2020. One thing that makes CHG stand out from the competition is the commitment to Putting People First. The company has implemented this value through the extensive benefits it offers to increase employee happiness and engagement.
