MOST POWERFUL WOMEN

from Nashville Post Fall 2021

SWINGING OPEN THE DOORS

Dating back to 2011, we’ve convened a group of the most interesting, forward-thinking women in Middle Tennessee’s business and nonprofit sectors at our Most Powerful Women event. This year’s group is another impressive one and includes Kate Burke, Cordia Harrington, Dee Patel and Tina Tuggle. The four women will gather to discuss leadership, career development and more on Sept. 17 at the Grand Hyatt, and you can join them by buying a ticket at nashvillemostpowerfulwomen.com.

The event is a collaboration with our colleagues at Nfocus and their Model Behavior program. More information on those honorees, and the nonprofit causes they champion, can be found on pages 32 and 33 and at nfocusmagazine.com.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL MEIGS

kate burke

COO and Head of Private Wealth, AllianceBernstein

What is the biggest challenge facing wom-

en in leadership? I think all women are facing a critical crossroads during this post-pandemic return-to-office and navigating the new way of working. I ask myself constantly, “How do we continue to support women without enabling gender bias and stereotypes?” If men are in the office more than women, how do you ensure women are not passed over for promotions? Leaders of nearly every company and corporation in America are trying to find the answer. I hope it continues to be a priority for companies.

Who was an important mentor and what’s the most lasting tenet that person left you?

Rick Galiardo, who is now retired, has been a mentor to me. He appropriately saw that there were things that I could help him with, and he really leveraged me and helped me show others that I could really get things done. There’s no shortage of great ideas out there; getting from a great idea to the actual execution is what is really challenging. Rick let me really execute. He believed in me and advocated for me, which is something that I will always take away from my time working with him.

He taught me the importance of sharing in your success — rather than taking sole credit. He was always quick to recognize great work and he was very generous in his recognition. To me, that’s an important characteristic of a good leader. It is not about the “I,” it is about the “we” — what have we done together.

What’s the best leadership advice you re-

cently received? Knowing the difference between urgency and patience. I know where I want to go and where I want to take AB. I just want us all to get there faster, together. Incremental change is the first step, but we want to keep a steady cadence of those incremental steps to begin to see real change at a quicker pace. I recognize the reality of needing to work through the organization, and there is a fine line between urgency and patience — the balance is so crucial. I’m working toward achieving that balance and understanding that it’s a journey and not a switch that can be flipped on and off.

What have you learned about how to lead

during the COVID pandemic? The pandemic has taught me to be more agile and the power of perseverance. I had to learn to change tracks mid-course and embrace the fact that we are currently living in the unknown. I have continued to grow comfortable with that discomfort and more comfortable with not having all the answers. I will carry this agility with me back to the office, and I strongly believe that individuals in senior leadership positions should also be extremely willing to adapt, change and overcome. At the end of the day, we must remember that these mindsets have a trickledown effect, and in such times, the role of leadership can alter a person’s career.

What’s the most common piece of advice you find yourself giving other leaders or as-

piring leaders? Opportunities that scare you or make you uncomfortable may be good for your career. Every “next” opportunity I have had has always made me uncomfortable. Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Even if you fail or decide to alter your career trajectory or course, you have ultimately expanded your knowledge and expertise even further. That still counts as a success.

cordia harrington

Founder and CEO, Crown Bakeries

How would you say your leadership style

and strengths have evolved over time? My leadership style has evolved to a place where I listen more, ask the associate’s opinion on the best way to resolve an issue, then let them handle it. It may not be done “my way,” but often they handle issues better than I would have!

What is the biggest challenge facing women in leadership? Women are still not “heard.” Sometimes a man down the table repeats my idea five minutes after I make a suggestion and it then becomes a “good idea.” That is frustrating.

Who was an important mentor and what’s the most lasting tenet that person left you?

My husband Tom often tells me, “Shake it off, kid!” and he is typically right. It can be better to cool off and let a little time pass before addressing an issue.

Was there any advice that you received when you started that really stuck with you and inspired you? Hire for character; you can train the skills. If you have trust and are working with honorable people, you can reach any goal!

What has come relatively easy for you during this odd pandemic time? What has been difficult? COVID has offered me the chance to really slow down and be more “present” at meetings, read details in business documents and even try new recipes at home. It has been more difficult not seeing customers and associates in person. I appreciate Zoom but it is not the same as being in person.

What’s the most common piece of advice you find yourself giving other leaders or as-

piring leaders? It is important to encourage bravery, to “go for it.” Have the courage to give your idea a try! Believe in your instincts, trust your judgement and move forward.

What advice would you give those looking

to become an active mentor? Be willing to spend the time, initiate the meetings and create opportunities for the candidate.

dee patel

Managing Director, The Hermitage Hotel

What is the biggest challenge facing women

in leadership? Balancing professional goals with personal lives continues to be a challenge. We continue to be faced with obstacles that prevent many working mothers from achieving their desired professional potential. The pandemic was a stark reminder of this. Extraordinary numbers of women found they needed to step back or away from their careers because of childcare demands exacerbated by the pandemic.

Who was an important mentor and what’s the

most lasting tenet that person left you? I can’t think of any more important mentors than my parents. I was raised by hard-working people who didn’t take things for granted, and I have my parents to thank for building a strong foundation that has grounded me throughout my journey in life. Today, it’s my own children, whose innocence and joy in life are my most meaningful inspiration.

What’s the best leadership advice you recently

received? “Don’t sweat the small stuff” is advice I received a while ago, and it’s timeless. I live by it and I give that advice to others. It has helped me put small challenges in context and stay focused on the most important objectives.

What have you learned about how to lead

during the COVID pandemic? Being flexible as a leader is paramount. It’s essential to find ways to work around challenges and look for the opportunity in adversity. There was no playbook for running a hotel during the pandemic and The Hermitage never closed. We thought like entrepreneurs and chose to focus on the silver lining.

We learned what we could do within pandemic boundaries and developed creative programs to engage our guests, such as inventive Afternoon Teas and centennial Suffrage Movement celebrations. Additionally, we seized the opportunity to embark on a comprehensive plan that will take The Hermitage into the future with an elevated new experience, beginning with the launch of our culinary collaboration and new restaurant this fall.

What’s the most common piece of advice you find yourself giving other leaders or aspiring

leaders? Take the emotion out of a situation so that you can examine it with clarity.

tina tuggle

Vice President of Community Impact, Tennessee Titans

What is the biggest challenge facing women in leadership?

Believing that you belong is important in showing others that you deserve to be there and are an important asset based on skills and not gender — and in my case, ethnicity.

Who was an important mentor and what’s the most last-

ing tenet that person left you? I was raised in a family of strong women and I learned so much from each of them. When I was in college, my mother would always mail me clippings with quotes from the Commercial Appeal comic section. The one that I’ve carried with me throughout my career reads, “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence.”

What’s the best leadership advice you recently received?

I have so many people in my life that have inspired me. When I think of this in the perspective of leadership, I was once told to hire people that you wouldn’t mind working for someday. One of the biggest marks of good leadership is the success of those you lead.

Can you tell us about a pivotal moment or decision

you made that helped advance your career? Working at Rhodes College in Memphis in 1997, we were excited to host the Tennessee Oilers for a three-day training camp on our campus. It was important that we were on our best behavior for them. One of the coaches didn’t have what was needed for practice; I overheard the conversation and assisted. Later that day, the head coach thanked me and asked that I meet with him and the general manager regarding employment opportunities. I did and was offered a job immediately. That was Aug. 2, 1997, and my first day was Sept. 2, 1997. In that moment, I understood the importance of being your best even when you don’t think anyone is watching.

How do you think you’re leading differently as we’re

(hopefully) putting the pandemic behind us? I think connectedness has always been a part of my leadership style. I like to know the people I work with to best understand how to best service them. Most people see leaders as in charge but I see it differently: Typically the person who leads really is the person that serves. In order for my team to be most effective, I need to ensure that I’ve provided them with the tools necessary to succeed.

What advice would you give those looking to become

an active mentor? Appreciate being a part of the journey by meeting people where they are and helping them get to where they want to be.

JOIN THE CLUB JOIN THE CLUB

We’ve been honored for the past decade to bring together area women leaders for candid and inspiring conversations about leadership, growth and paving the way for others. Here’s who preceded this year’s class and where they worked at the time.

2011

Sharon Hurt, Jefferson Street United Merchants Partnership Ellen Lehman, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee Jenneen Kaufman, Tennessee Titans Linda Rebrovick, Consensus Point Claire Tucker, CapStar Bank

2012

Megan Barry, Premier Agenia Clark, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee Aileen Katcher, Katcher Vaughn & Bailey Dawn Rudolph, Saint Thomas Health

2013

Jacky Akbari, Nashville Career Advancement Center Sherry Stewart Deutschmann, LetterLogic Stacey Garrett, Bone McAllester Norton Janet Miller, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce

2014

Lisa Boggs, Bridgestone Americas Glenda Glover, Tennessee State University Heather Rowan, TriStar Centennial Medical Center Sally Williams, Ryman Auditorium

2015

Paula Lovell, Lovell Communications Joelle Phillips, AT&T Renata Soto, Conexión Americas Christie Wilson, The Wilson Group Real Estate Services

2016

Tammy Hawes, Virsys12 Beth Hoeg, Trinisys Nicole Tremblett, HCA Healthcare Rachel Werner, Built Technologies

2019

Maneet Chauhan, Morph Hospitality Jane MacLeod, Cheekwood Mekesha Montgomery, Frost Brown Todd Sharon Roberson, YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee Carol Yochem, First Horizon Bank

2020

Jane Allen, Nashville Entrepreneur Center Mignon Francois, The Cupcake Collection Shanna Jackson, Nashville State Community College Becca Stevens, Thistle Farms

Pinnacle Financial Partners would like to congratulate Cordia Harrington and the 2021 Most Powerful Women honorees.

CORDIA HARRINGTON

Founder and CEO of Crown Bakeries

model behavior

For 17 years, Nfocus has celebrated the beauty of philanthropy through its annual Model Behavior issue. Each fall, local nonprofits nominate female philanthropists, volunteers and board members who have shown selfless generosity and service to their causes, and Nfocus selects 10 to honor in its September issue. The Post salutes the 2021 class of Model Behavior honorees. To learn more about these women and the organizations they represent, pick up the September issue of Nfocus or visit nfocusmagazine.com.

PHOTOS BY DANIEL MEIGS