B L AC K H I S TO RY M O N TH
AMERICAN EXPRESS
PLAY-PLACE FOR AUTISTIC CHILDREN Shell Jones President and Founder MY INSPIRATION
Maya Angelou has always been my inspiration! She epitomizes the art of eloquence. Her ability to sculpt her thoughts and experiences with such precision, detail, and affect has been the cornerstone of my business purpose, programming, and design. I aim to impact the world with the same shine through service and creativity.
Suzan B. Kereere Senior Vice President & General Manager, National Client Group WHO INSPIRES ME
I am deeply inspired by remarkable people like Harriet Tubman, whose extraordinary courage and ability allowed her to work with other remarkable human beings (specifically white women). Together, they created the “Underground Railroad,” a network of escape routes and safe houses along which Ms. Tubman personally led upwards of three hundred slaves from the American South to freedom. The unsung heroes of this extraordinary work were the white women who, at great personal sacrifice, opened their homes as “stations” or safe houses. This story is significant in at least one respect: When our humanity transcends our differences, we accomplish extraordinary things together.
LESSONS LEARNED
The most important lesson I have learned in the course of my career is projection: of confidence, intelligence, and perseverance. In order to sell your vision, you have to radiate passion, leadership, and entrepreneurial spirit. Those are magnets of success.
CAREER ADVICE
My advice to someone just beginning his or her career is to be extra thorough, be inquisitive about everything, and be patient. The key: “Don’t fit in, stand out.”
NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. Mark W. Johnson Vice President of Legal Affairs, Home Solutions, Government Affairs and Latin America
GIVING BACK
I am very proud of my role as mentor to a lot of young women of African descent who currently attend numerous colleges and universities around the United States. The sponsoring organization for this mentoring activity, Zawadi, was founded in 2002 by a very close childhood friend of mine, Dr. Susan Mboya Kidero. Zawadi sponsors young women through college with the goal of creating strong women leaders for the future.
LESSONS LEARNED
I have learned two critical lessons during my career: First, in the context of a rapidly changing business environment, it is important to develop new skills constantly; and second, do not underestimate the value of creating and maintaining relationships. Relationships create the types of strategic partnerships that drive business success.
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PROFILES IN DIVERSITY JOURNAL
LESSONS LEARNED
I have learned that effective leaders can communicate differing opinions without being disagreeable. I believe successful organizations foster environments that encourage constructive debate and finding creative solutions to problems. Skilled leaders can voice opposing perspectives in these environments while maintaining the respect and trust of their colleagues.
FINDING BALANCE
Focusing on my family helps me keep perspective. Maintaining balance is a constant objective for me. I believe you have to identify areas of your life that you want to make your priorities, and then work just as hard at succeeding in those areas as you do at succeeding in your professional life.
CAREER ADVICE
You are ultimately responsible for managing your own career path. Be aggressive in seeking out new challenges and learning opportunities. You have to be willing to venture outside your comfort zone to grow. I work at a company that is creating larger, more challenging roles for its employees. Taking on increased responsibility or tackling a more diverse scope of work can seem daunting, but it’s incredibly satisfying. Meet these opportunities head on.
January/February 2014