Beth Stephens
Megan Hudgens Commercial Banker, Simmons Bank
President, Soapbox Influence “If she can see it, she can be it.” We all need to be able to identify people who set the trajectory for our careers by exhibiting traits we admire or working in industries that might have been outside our consideration set. I’m immensely grateful for the people who took a shot on me early in my career or put their name and stamp of approval on me. I try to say yes to every single younger (or older!) person who reaches out to me for help, support or advice … and sometimes I throw my unsolicited support at someone who is just getting started. Women have an opportunity to set the benchmark for being supportive leaders who share freely of their time, talent, relationships and lessons learned.
relatively introverted, yet I’ve found myself in a career that requires me to not only sell a product but also sell my personal brand along with that product. I still suffer from imposter syndrome from time to time, but I’ve been fortunate to have had some amazing mentors over the years who have helped me develop confidence in what I do. I think it’s important for young women to not compare themselves. In a world with social media platforms and filters that only show the good stuff, it’s easy to think someone else is more successful or to erroneously believe you’re not measuring up to some invisible standard. You’ve heard the adage, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and it’s so true. I think there are seasons throughout your career where you may feel like you’re not making any headway, but if you keep a good attitude and never quit hustling, good things are inevitable so don’t question whether your success measures up to that of your peers.
It was astonishing to me early in my career when I was promoted and learned that the perception existed that I had slept my way to the top — and while that may seem raw to share, I think those sorts of archaic assumptions need to be given the light of day so that we can combat them. I remember being appalled, and my Mom told me that women truly harm the overall advancement of women when they perpetuate those sorts of rumors. I resolved to work in my career at giving others the benefit of the doubt and not contributing to catty behavior and rumor mills.
Be unapologetically you. Embrace your uniqueness both in terms of personality but also the attributes we possess as women. I think when you do your job with passion and in a manner that aligns with your own personal standards and principles, not only do people resonate and respect your authenticity, but in the process of staying true to yourself you gain a sense of success and accomplishment in your work.
I hope to see more women claim their seat at the table. And I’d love to see it become less common for strong female leaders to be characterized as bossy, abrasive, outspoken or aggressive.
You’re not growing if you’re not uncomfortable they say. I’m not a good public speaker, and I’m
Melody Martens
Annye DeGrand Fox Vice President, Outlyr I am fortunate to have been surrounded by female leaders for virtually all of my career. Managers, colleagues, mentors, friends – I have never had to look too far to find inspiration from a remarkable woman. Although my experience may not be the norm, it is my hope that someday soon it will be.
President-Bentonville, Signature Bank of Arkansas Today it is more important than ever to have women in leadership roles. The world we live in has changed dramatically in the last two years and women all around are thriving for several reasons. Women in general are multitaskers, compassionate and have the ability to adapt to new situations and circumstances. We are strong communicators, which is essential when negotiating and closing deals. Communication is vital and addressing issues quickly is the key to resolution. Sharing knowledge is so important in developing younger women. I’ve been in banking for many years and love to share and make a difference in the workplace and in our community. It’s important to share what we have learned as women in any role. We can never stop growing and gaining knowledge. I love to
encourage and give back in all areas of my life. I’ve been fortunate with great role models at a very young age: my Dad (Don Phillips), school teachers and basketball coaches. Some of my great role models in my career were King Gladden, Ann Main and Gary Head. I think as women we can do anything we are determined to do. A key is to lift other females up and mentor them to gain wisdom, education and experience to use their talents toward their goals. Companies will become stronger and more diverse as more females are put in leadership positions.
With more women in leadership today than ever before, it is inspiring to think that perhaps there is an entire generation of girls growing up to believe that (in the words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg) – “women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” As women, we are inherently powerful – regardless of our job title. I hope to always be able to harness that power no matter what I do for a living, but even more importantly, I hope to be able to model that for the remarkable women in my life as well as the next generation of female leaders to come after me. I have no doubt that they will be even more powerful than I am, and I cannot wait to witness it. Honestly, one of the biggest obstacles I’ve had to overcome is myself. I think as women, we are often our own worst critic, and I am certainly guilty of that. Self-doubt and imposter syndrome plagued me for quite some time (and sometimes still do). I’ve learned to embrace the “fake it ‘til you make it” method when I am faced with thoughts of inadequacy. I may not know why I deserve to have a seat at the table all the time, but I’m certainly not going to let an opportunity to make an impact pass me by.