When Cary Brinkley was 19 years old, she was focused on taking care of her family and had to put off school to work. She got her start in the corporate world through a temp agency and worked her way up as an executive assistant, eventually becoming the right-hand person for a CEO.
With 18 years of experience, she applied for a similar role at Cox supporting a senior VP — and it changed the course of her career. Thanks to the leaders she’s had at Cox, along with the company’s learning and development opportunities, a door Cary thought had been shut for good opened again.
Today, Cary is not only a college graduate, but she has also pivoted into a new career path as a senior communications specialist at Cox Communications, part of the Cox family of businesses.
Here, Cary talks about how Cox supported her going back to school full time and eventually discovering a new career she loves within the company.
“Let’s get you back in school”
Early into Cary’s tenure at Cox, her boss at the time said something that shocked her: “I want you to go back to school and get your degree.”
For Cary, this unforeseen opportunity was exciting. Over the years, she had considered going back to school, but taking that step became increasingly difficult the further she got into her career. In addition to her leader’s backing, Cary would be able to use Cox’s tuition reimbursement benefit to cover costs.
“It was the push of confidence I needed,” she said. “When I got home that evening, I started applying to schools. Hearing someone say, ‘You can do this’ and being there for support made the difference.”
That gesture, Cary said, showed her what Cox’s company culture is all about — and it’s what’s kept her at the company for over a decade.
Over the course of four years, Cary worked full time while getting her bachelor’s in business administration with a focus on communications from Liberty University. She graduated in 2020.
“There would be Saturdays where my husband would leave to go hunting and come back that evening, and I would still be in the same place at my desk in my pajamas,” Cary said. “There was nothing easy about it; it was a lot of late nights and weekends, but I finally pushed my way through it, and here I am.”
Pursuing a new passion in communications
From day one, Cary’s boss became a mentor to her and encouraged her to think about career possibilities beyond what she knew.
“He said, ‘You have so much more to offer this company than in your role right now. You can do it,’” she said.
So, Cary let it be known that she was interested in a career in communications. While she was getting her business degree, she was given opportunities to work on projects in that field, from writing articles to drafting speeches.
In 2022, Cary’s hard work paid off: she landed a role as a senior internal communications specialist. And in June 2024, Cary took another step in her new career path as a senior specialist on the digital communications team. In her current role, she works on digital communications projects across Cox’s family of businesses.
“I am loving every aspect of it,” she said. “I think it’s perfect for the way my brain works.”
In it for the long haul
Though her position in digital communications is fresh, Cary will be celebrating 11 years at Cox in October 2024. The people she has met throughout her tenure at Cox, and the company’s culture of investing in its people, are why she’s stayed long term.
“I love how the company wants their employees to grow,” she said. “They want to see you succeed, and they give you everything you need to be successful.”
At Cox, success extends beyond fulfilling professional growth. Cary appreciates Cox’s community engagement and takes advantage of volunteer opportunities, which have become an avenue for networking and career development.
“I like volunteering with other colleagues and meeting other people at Cox that I don’t know,” she said. “That gives you a chance to meet people from other areas in the company that might be able to help you see what else is out there and get you where you want to go.”
