25 Year Reflections: Elizabeth Whitbread

As we celebrate 25 years of building community, we asked our team to reflect on their own growth from 1999 to today. In 1999, Financial Operations Consultant Elizabeth Whitbread was just about to graduate with a degree in finance. How did she find herself at Bridgepoint 25 years later? Read the full interview below to get an inside look at Elizabeth’s story.

Reflect on where you were 25 years ago and what your expectations/aspirations were for yourself in your career at that time. What would you tell that person now, 25 years later?

I was an intern at Arthur Andersen, getting ready to graduate from Arizona State University with a Finance degree.

Compare your career progression over the past 25 years to where you thought you would be in terms of your role, position and achievements. How does your current career trajectory align or differentiate from your initial expectations?

I gravitated to a more accounting focused career over a finance focus.

Fax machines, pagers, and dial-up internet! What was your biggest work tech headache 25 years ago?

There was so much paper and the clunkiest of computers!

What was your dream office perk in 1999? Free coffee? Casual Fridays?

I remember the office begging for casual Fridays and having to pay a $5.00 charity donation for every Friday if we wanted to wear jeans.

Did your job require wearing a suit and tie every day in 1999? Share your most memorable (or outrageous!) work outfit from the late 90s!

We had to dress in the suit and tie category. Panty hose were a requirement with skirts or dresses.

Did you have a favorite office prankster in 1999? Tell us about the most epic (or most harmless) office prank you witnessed!

I don’t remember there being one person specifically, but I do recall people switching the letters on other people’s keyboards and putting honey on telephones.

What was your biggest work disaster 25 years ago? Did a printer meltdown ruin a presentation? Share your (hopefully) funny work mishaps.

I spilled the printer toner (fine black dust) on the floor. I found a vacuum which sucked the dust in and blew it up in the air. When I turned around, my coworker was completely black. I am pretty sure that was a very toxic day for all involved.

What skill did you use the most at work in 1999, and how has that skill evolved or been replaced by technology today?

I had to transfer money between many bank accounts each day. I had to call the bank and have a human enter all the details for each transfer because there were no online bank transfers at the time.

Looking back, what surprised you the most about how work has changed in the past 25 years?

I can remember a time when I couldn’t live without a printer. Now, I print something once a month at most.