Growing Before the Next Title

When Miranda Kerns joined Arch in September 2021, she was looking for the right next step — and the right culture.

After speaking with an Arch employee and learning more about the company’s Values, including charitable donation matching and volunteer time off, she found an organization that not only was in alignment with her priorities but also where she could grow professionally.

Since then, Kerns has taken two career jumps — first from Senior Internal Auditor to Manager and now to AVP, Global Internal Audit. Although the progression may look straightforward on paper, each step has been shaped by a willingness to take on new responsibilities before the title changed. “I asked for stretch opportunities,” she says. Rather than waiting for a promotion to begin doing the work, Kerns gradually took on managerial duties and looked for ways to take work off her supervisor’s plate.

That approach made each transition feel less like a leap and more like a natural next step. By taking on pieces of a future role early, Kerns had time to build confidence, learn through experience and understand where she could add value. “I was already doing those things,” she says. “So the promotions weren’t big, scary transitions.”

Her manager, Neil Chakravarty, has played a vital role in helping her think that way. Kerns describes him as a manager, mentor, sponsor and advocate — someone who has backed her directly through coaching and indirectly by creating opportunities for others to see her potential. “I know he’s supporting me even when I’m not in the room,” she says.

That mindset has also influenced how Kerns leads her own team. As a people manager, she looks for ways to recognize when employees are ready for more responsibility, helps them think about their development and advocates for them in the same way Chakravarty has advocated for her.

Mentorship has been another important part of Kerns’ career journey. She has participated in a formal program at Arch as both a mentor and a mentee, building relationships that expanded her network and gave her access to perspectives beyond her immediate team.

“Promotion is an outcome, not the ultimate goal. Growth and learning are the goals. Be comfortable getting out of your comfort zone and go for it.”