By Chloe Meyere, Duck Career Network Communications Associate and UO Student 
 

Sandra McDonough ’76 
President and CEO, Portland Business Alliance

As a shy, young reporter for the Daily Emerald and an undergraduate journalism student, Sandra McDonough ’76 could never have imagined that one day she would find herself president and CEO of the Portland Business Alliance. However, McDonough’s path to success was spent committing herself to a variety of different industries, and flourishing everywhere she went. The knowledge she gained through career transitions allows her to share wisdom and professional advice with others. 

After graduating, McDonough interned at the Oregonian. Several months later, she became a full time reporter for the newspaper. She remained there for seven years, and then decided to accept a job working for the Seattle Times. Since she had been young, McDonough had always dreamed of being a reporter. But after ten exciting years in the industry, she found herself itching for something new. 

 

A Lesson Learned Early On

“I worked with a guy at the Oregonian, a very talented and smart reporter, who announced that he was leaving the paper,” she remembers. “We went to lunch, and I asked him why he would leave such a great place—he got to work for the biggest newspaper in Oregon. He told me that his approach to his career was to stay someplace for as long as he was learning something, and when he was no longer learning, it was time to move on. This man, Bill Keller, went on to become the editor of the New York Times. Since then, that has been my guiding principle.” 

 

A Leap of Faith

With such great advice in hand, McDonough began reaching out to different connections in search of her next step. She was offered a position working for Bill Robertson, the vice president of PacifiCorp Power and a man she considered to be her mentor. In a leap of faith, she took the job. Although the work did not relate to her career to that point, McDonough was eager to see where this change would take her. She was launched into government relations, and moved to Washington, D.C. where she lobbied for the company and managed their federal issues. 

“I didn’t even know what the job was when I accepted,” McDonough jokes. “All I knew was that this brilliant guy, who I really looked up to, was offering me a job at an interesting company. That was when I started to understand that when you pick where you’re going to work, who you’re working for (and with) is as important as what you’re doing.” 

 

Ready for Her Next Transition

Upon her return from D.C., McDonough began running the corporation’s communications department. However, once again, she began feeling the need to transition to something new. She was approached by what she initially believed to be a much smaller operation. Following her mantra, McDonough pursued the opportunity and learned that the “small pipeline company” was in fact owned and operated by PG&E, one of the largest energy corporations in California. In time, she became the vice president of communications and external affairs, and embraced all of the phenomenal opportunities the business provided. 

Unfortunately, after eleven years, a crisis in the energy field left her branch of the company bankrupt and sold to a Canadian Corporation. When the national aspect of the business was eliminated, so was McDonough’s position. However, instead of being scared of the future, she embraced it as another opportunity for change. 

“I had been on the board of this organization, the Portland Business Alliance, which is the chamber of commerce here, and was asked if I would consider applying to be the new president.” McDonough recalls. “I got the job! I think what they liked about me was that I had spent so many years in business and had seen the other side. I’ve been here since 2004.” 

 

No Day is Routine Now

Her job at the Portland Business Alliance keeps her on her feet: no day is routine. 
“One minute, I can be on the phone talking about major tax policy, and my next phone call can be about garbage cans downtown,” she explains. 

With her team of approximately thirty, McDonough works to expand the opportunities and success of local businesses. Her job consists of meeting with people to collectively move issues forward. Specifically, a large portion of her time is spent communicating with members and elected leaders to determine what’s important to them. 

 

A Recipe for Success

She emphasizes how the growth and change in her career has allowed her to develop the skills and mindset for her success today. Although she knows career transitions can be difficult and scary, she always reminds people to keep an open mind. To McDonough, taking a risk and embracing new and unique opportunities is the only way for a career to expand and flourish, just hers has. 

“In the end, it pays off. You have to be willing to move sideways if you want to move up. Just remember to always look behind you, and know there’s always someone who needs you to open a door for them. The more you do this, the more you’ll have doors opened for you.”