My first foray into partnership management actually happened at a law firm in Chicago, Illinois.  Somehow or another, through several promotions from other positions, I found myself managing the relationships of 200+ demanding clients.  And that was just my day job.  At night, I moonlighted as a Web developer for another dozen or so clients.  Both jobs were demanding; only one was fulfilling.  But because I wanted to learn more about both of my jobs, I stuck with it.  By day I learned how to give presentations, collaborate with technology, business development teams, and hit demanding, moving targets. By night, I became the product manager, the business development manager, the engineer, the customer service manager and the billing department manager. It was challenging, it was hard, and it was a learning experience. But it wasn't until subsequent work experiences that the stars came into alignment.

That next working opportunity came at a start-up Internet marketing company in Chicago, the least likely of locations at the time because the majority of start-up companies were located in either New York or on the west coast. I was hired as a Vendor Manager and charged with managing the relationships my company had with Google, Yahoo!, MSN, ASK and many other Internet search providers. It was then that I was able to combine the relationship management skills acquired at the law firms along with my technology background in e-Commerce... and I haven't looked back since. 

Very few people can say that they love the work that they do. I'm proud to say that I am one of them.