PARTING WORDS
TEX BLA ON
Y
We Can Do Better Y
Jim Lee, LPC Executive Editor
interview for the role to lead LP for the company. He also ‘marketed’ ou never know and rarely can predict when tragedies or me when he could, speaking to accomplishments in senior leadership catastrophic events will occur and alter the course of history meetings or supporting me to present in his place. This one person or change the direction of your life. We have had many such made a significant difference for me.” events in the course of our American history—Pearl Harbor, space Finding a Mentor. “In a recent article, Gene Smith shared his shuttles Columbia and Challenger explosions, Oklahoma City career advice about finding a good mentor. I can’t reiterate this bombing, Hurricane Katrina, and 9/ll. Perhaps one of these had a enough. Not every leader will make a good mentor, so choose life-changing effect on you or someone you know. Such is the case someone who will be willing to invest the time and be honest with with me. you about your growth. Then, mold the role you are in to play to Fifty years ago I experienced the assassination of President your strengths. While everyone needs to follow the job description, Kennedy. Up until then, my life had consisted of school, sports, there is tremendous latitude in how you approach your role. By and the desire to someday be a coach. This one event turned my playing to your strengths, you will make an impact more quickly.” world upside down. From that moment on I wanted a life in law Improving Diversity at the Senior Level. “Often, a company enforcement, specifically the Secret Service. Long story short, it did is pleased with their diversity statistics, yet this is not work out for me. Instead, I chose a career predominately due to entry-level positions. One in retail security. As it turned out, I got the executive told me, ‘They just don’t stay.’ I believe best of all worlds—a career that had elements these leaders need to ask why individuals leave of law enforcement, business acumen, and dig to learn the answer. Establish a diversity coaching, and crisis management. council where individuals can speak freely about Over time I have heard the challenges Lee Bland, Stage Stores the barriers they see within the company and made on how well things are going or Megan Curtis, Disney Stores what they believe will change the company’s not in loss prevention. Now you cannot Patti Felz, Ralph Lauren diversity path. Set goals to increase diversity and compare these challenges to those of the Kelly Gorman, PETCO be clear with your teams about why diversity aforementioned disasters, but often the effects Sonya Hostetler, Walmart is important. Goals should not be numeric, but are every bit as personal. I recently had an Cindy Hudson, Target directional in nature. Be clear that this is a business experience that stopped me in my tracks and I Joan Manson, The strategy, a part of the overall strategy to reduce wish to share it. Container Store loss. Fill positions only after exhausting diversity At our recent magazine and Loss Debbie Maples, Gap Inc. candidates.” Prevention Foundation annual board Melissa Mitchell, LifeWay Christian Stores Retiring near Hilton Head. “I recently meetings, we were enjoying an energetic Libby Rabun, AutoZone completed a gratifying seven-month consulting discussion when a voice from the back of the Tina Sellers, Delhaize America assignment with Soya Hostetler in Walmart’s room proclaimed, “You don’t have enough Kathleen Smith, Safeway AP organizaiton. What’s that line from The women represented in the room. It appears Rosamaria Sostilio, Godfather? ‘Just when I thought I was out, they loss prevention has not made much progress Saks Incorporated pulled me back in.’” in the past twenty years.” Helping Women and Minorities. “I am very That challenging, emphatic statement enthusiastic about diversity of thought. It is the power of more than came from Debra Rood, a former senior-level executive of operations, one perspective or way of thinking. This is only achieved with a LP, and other functions for major retailers, such as Toys“R”Us, diverse workforce, a term that has almost become a cliché. It would Staples, The Gap, and Walmart. After the meeting, I sat down with be my pleasure to interrupt my golf game to help where I can.” Debra to get her thoughts on women in retail and here are some of Debra is correct that we can do much better with women her candid comments. and diversity. I am reminded that fifty years ago before his death, Moving Up in an Organization. “I was lucky enough to have an President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and, yet, we are awesome mentor early in my career. He was supportive, yet brutally still striving to close the diversity gap. honest. He encouraged me to take intelligent risks and to increase my value to the organization by stepping outside my comfort zone to accept roles in different disciplines within the company. For example, I had zero industry knowledge about LP, but my mentor suggested I
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Women in Executive LP Positions
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