International Women’s Day

March 8th is International

Women’s Day. It is a day for celebrating women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements globally. The day is also a call to action to advance women’s equality. In honor of International Women’s Day, the Chamber DE&I Committee spotlighted Chamber President and CEO Terri Kimble and her experience as a woman in a high-visibility leadership role in a predominately male-dominated industry. Terri’s impressive career in the Chamber industry spans more than 30 years. Her remarkable journey led her to become President and CEO of Arizona’s third-largest Chamber of Commerce. Terri has served as the President and CEO of the Chandler Chamber for 12 years. She is recognized as a pillar in the business community, playing a vital role in supporting the growth, development, and sustainment of Chandler-based businesses.

Chamber DE&I Committee member, Dr. Cindy Banton, conducted the following interview with Terri.

Dr. Banton: What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

Terri: It’s a time to celebrate women! Celebrate where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going.

Dr. Banton: What qualities do you believe make a good female leader?

Terri: Honesty, integrity, compassion, vulnerability, and being a good collaborator. Collaboration is key. Being a good collaborator means ensuring you have a seat at the table and that you can keep things moving in a positive direction. It means not only ensuring your voice is heard, but the voices of others are heard as well.

Dr. Banton: What was your journey like to becoming President and CEO of the Chamber? What challenges did you face?

Terri: First and foremost, the journey entailed learning about and understanding the community. For the Chamber to be successful and for me to be successful in my role, I sat down with each key stakeholder in the City of Chandler and members of the business community, and I asked them what they believed the Chamber did well, what areas needed improvement, and what direction they would like to see the Chamber go in the future. The Chamber is a collaboration of people working together for the greater good of the business community and business professionals. I experienced many challenges over the years and made a few mistakes. When I began my career with the Chandler Chamber, there were few female mentors in leadership positions in the Chamber world. Through the advice and guidance of my mentors and Chamber board members, I overcame the challenges. Of the top three

Chambers in the state, I am currently the only female CEO. The most important lessons of my journey are to learn from my mistakes and always celebrate the wins.

Dr. Banton: Growing up, was there someone in your life that inspired you to become who you are today? Who was it, and why?

Terri: Yes! It was two people, my Mom and Aunt Barb. My Mom was a political that both instilled in me was that as important as having your voice heard; it is equally important to listen.

Dr. Banton: Why is it important that more women are represented in leadership roles?

Terri: Women make great leaders. We bring unique, fresh perspectives to the table. We are highly diverse in our thought processes. We are creative problem solvers and great communicators. We’re empathic, nurturing, and we’re great at crisis management.

Dr. Banton: What advice would you give the next generation of women leaders?

Terri: Always be sincere, genuine, and authentic. Find your voice and use it. Remember, “no” doesn’t always mean “no.” It means “not now.” When you feel you’ve reached the top of your game in your career or educational journey, there’s always more to learn – Keep learning and growing, don’t get comfortable. Embrace your beauty and femineity; it’s an asset. Finally, one piece of advice my mentor shared with me that I would offer women who are currently in Chamber careers is to “support the businesses and always give them grace when necessary.” and school board member. She taught me about the importance of service and giving back to the community. My Aunt Barb served in a leadership role at the phone company when women leaders in companies were extremely rare. She taught me that I deserve to be seen and heard and to use my voice. The most important quality

The Chamber DE&I Committee expresses its sincere thanks and gratitude to Terri for allowing us to spotlight her journey as a woman in leadership.

Please join us in celebrating International Women’s Month by attending our upcoming DE&I panel, “Cracking the Code on Gender Equality” on Tuesday, March 28th.