Life is like a furniture kit from IKEA without instructions. There are a multitude of pieces, some of which seem to naturally go together, and others can take us in such divergent directions that they don’t remotely resemble the picture on the box.
Assembling a career is another matter entirely. There are no ideal models nor accepted standards for what success looks like or entails, so in that regard, life may be more akin to a box of Legos—it’s what we make of it.
Our August State of the Industry report on women in leadership was comprised of six brilliant and highly successful office dealer executives who shared their success stories, challenges and solutions, and how they connected their pieces to construct fulfilling and prosperous careers. In this final installment, these executives share their advice on how women can best approach their own professional initiatives.
Stephanie Keating Phillips, director of solutions and production print for Advanced Imaging Solutions (AIS) of Minnetonka, Minnesota, follows fundamental edicts: work hard, be kind and humble. She finds those simplistic guiding points are the basis for success in business, regardless of gender. As individuals continue their ascension in the business world, the ability to remain humble can also serve as a reminder to respect your own journey.
“As you win more deals and build on your success, don’t forget about where you came from,” she said. “Remember those days when you were eating mac and cheese or Ramen when it was feast or famine, and maybe you weren’t closing deals. If we focus on the fact that we got where we are because we showed heart, worked hard and were kind along the way, it can lead to an über-successful life.”
Right Environment
Exceeding expectations is only the first step in a journey that each woman needs to define, according to Pamela Feld, CEO of Triumph Technology Group in Tustin, California. As a woman in the technology field, Feld was accustomed to people underestimating her, and proving them wrong provides a measure of satisfaction, but the larger picture is setting the stage for that journey, that quest to outline a path that will yield satisfaction and results.
At times, that can entail switching blueprints when a work atmosphere reveals a toxic aspect to it. Lingering in such an environment—aside from the obvious drawbacks—only serves to delay the desired outcome. Finding a supportive scenario, even if it means starting one’s own business, can pay dividends and provide a healthier outlook on business.
Establishing and growing one’s network is also paramount to forging the desired career path and avoiding the tendency to “get into your own bubble,” which limits options. “You need to be persistent in finding where the best place is for you,” Feld said. “If you’re not happy, move on. Remove those people from your life who don’t make you happy. The pandemic taught us that life’s too short and you don’t want to be unhappy. Maybe you’ll discover you don’t want to be an executive, and that you’d be happier in another role. Find your place and stick with what makes you happy.”
In the eyes of Lauren Hanna, vice president of sales for Blue Technologies of Cleveland, those with the highest professional aspirations need to boast a thirst for knowledge and boundless ambition. The drive to succeed must be motivated beyond financial reward, she says, but driven by curiosity to garner the information and insight necessary to grow within the industry.
“If you constantly want to not only learn but improve yourself and become wiser, you’ll naturally be exposed to more opportunities,” Hanna related. “Know where your strengths are. Multitasking, attention to detail, communication skills…always seek to enhance your capabilities.
“Put on blinders and leave the drama out of it, because it’s easy to get sidetracked in this industry. Have goals, reevaluate them, build your network of influencers and keep your eyes on the prize, which is excelling in this industry. There’s no limit for women or men who are hungry for knowledge.”
Be Heard
There’s a lot to be said for confidence, and garnering the courage to let oneself be heard. Christie Wakefield, director of marketing/technology for Pacific Office Automation in Beaverton, Oregon, believes one of the worst feelings one can experience from a business standpoint is to walk away from a meeting knowing you’ve missed an opportunity simply because you were afraid to voice an opinion.
“You’ve earned that seat at the table with hard work, experience and competence, so have enough pride to confidently contribute to those meetings and executive-level conversations,” Wakefield noted. “No one will know what you’re capable of unless you use your voice and speak up with confidence.”
While the industry is decided male-oriented, Susie Woodhull, CEO of Springboro, Ohio-based Woodhull LLC, believes it offers a great opportunity to for those who seek to occupy the corner office. She sees the office technology sector as being welcoming, inclusive and cutting-edge.
“Certainly, men don’t have anything over women in terms of technology,” she said. “I think it’s a really good time for women because technology is blind in terms of someone’s capabilities.”
Lastly, finding a mentor whom you admire and respect and who is willing to work with you along the course of your development can help pave the path toward enriching leadership skills. Dawn Abbuhl, president of Repeat Business Systems in Albany, New York, provides mentoring for both men and women but finds more women gravitate toward her.
Leadership skills are learned; they don’t come naturally, she notes. Abbuhl believes the best method for women to become optimal leaders is to be one’s authentic self.
“You have to be really authentic because then people will trust you and they’ll know what they’re getting,” she said. “It’s not to say that you shouldn’t be more assertive, but if you’re not an assertive person, you can’t make yourself assertive. Form serious relationships with your team, because they make the world go around. That’s why RBS sells so much, and why we have little turnover in our team.
“My goal is to make every leader here 10 times better than I ever could be. If I can achieve that, it would be my best accomplishment.”
