SHECENTER(FOLD): REBECCA STEELE extensive experience in large and small companies, but also with the dynamics of leadership, courage and patience is incredible. To me, that brings a lot of power to the table that I’m excited to share. NAWRB: Do you have any hobbies? What is your favorite
way to spend your time when you’re outside of work?
Rebecca Steele: I like to work out. My latest workout is
spinning and cycling. I have just become addicted to spinning and think it’s a great exercise. I’ve met a lot of cool people and it’s been really fun for me. I like to cook, I really do. I also like to drink and study wine. If you ask my friends they’ll say, “Oh, she goes to every restaurant in Philadelphia.” I’m always trying different foods and wines. I’m a total foodie. I love Asian fusion and places with tapas. My plans on my bucket list are to travel. I love to travel and I like to just pick up and go.
makes both parties and the teamwork more successful. It is not about you; try to take yourself out as the focal point. It’s about helping influence others to be successful. I found that I was really bad at that, at letting go and understanding how to use and build teams. That’s one of the things I still work on. It not only makes you a better and more balanced person, it helps you gain a following and people who will be friends for life, individuals who you admire and admire you equally. It’s such an important dynamic to have. I think a lot of women, like me when I was starting out, struggle with this. I’ve learned to be more grounded and help people around me become more successful. NAWRB: What excites you most about your work as CEO
and President, Sigma Associates, LLC?
Rebecca Steele: I get to manage projects that are really
creative. We are doing special work that is helping special causes. We get to pick not only the work we do, but also with whom we work, and that’s just such a fantastic thing that doesn’t happen a lot.
“I am a big dreamer. I’ve always had these big goals for myself.”
NAWRB: Why is it necessary for women
to support one another? Do you think that gender-based barriers are still prevalent in today’s workplace?
Rebecca with her daughter and son.
NAWRB: What is the most trenchant piece of advice you
can give to other executive C-suite women in the competitive workplace?
Rebecca Steele: I would say be true to yourself. Challenge and surround yourself with people you trust. If you don’t have a couple of people with whom you can really discuss challenges and opportunities, honestly it’s really hard to change, adapt and grow. You really have to open up with people. You must be honest with yourself first and then you must be able to open up to some confidants that you can really trust. The other thing which I think is just as important is don’t think you have to do it by yourself. Surrounding yourself with people, giving people credit and pulling them up
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Rebecca Steele: It’s essential that women support other women. There are not enough women working in management and C-levels in our industry. I find it challenging, even though I’ve done it for many years, to work with large groups of men. There are a ton of women who are smart, capable, and have the desire to move up, but they feel they don’t understand the path or don’t have the confidence. Companies are actually losing out on them. If you think about it, half of the mortgage industry is women. Women are in operations, sales, and the lower level. I feel that as you go up, there are less and less women. It was like this 10 or 15 years ago and it’s still the same today. It may be a little bit better but not a lot. I feel that the businesses are losing out and women are losing opportunities to be dynamic growth leaders and make a difference for themselves, their careers and the companies in our industry. We have a long way to go and I feel like in the past 10 years