Here's a recap of the Auburn Hills Chamber Women Empowered luncheon, which featured women leaders discussing their career journeys and insights.
In June 2024, the Auburn Hills Chamber hosted Women Empowered at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham, MI, to share an inside perspective on how women leaders position themselves at the top of their profession, including lessons learned and challenges they have faced along the way.
Here are some highlights from the questions asked by the moderator, Joscelyn Davis, President and CEO of JADE Strategies, Inc!
The Panel
 |
 |
 |
| Dana Schmitt President United Shore Professional |
Nicole Logan Director of Human Resources FANUC America Corporation |
Dr. Remy Bruder VP of Academic Affairs Rochester Christian University |
What is the most challenging aspect of leadership, as well as the most rewarding?
Dana: Knowing or learning that not everybody's going to like you. And you have to be okay with that because you're going to have to tell people to do things or initiate policies that they aren't always going to like. The biggest reward is helping to Mentor other people and seeing them become successful.
Nicole: The challenge is balancing business needs and your team's needs. And yes, not everybody will like you all the time, but you must always do the right thing, even if it's hard.
Remy: I would say a combination of both, right? The most challenging are people, and the most rewarding are people.
What guides your leadership style, and how do you inspire others?
Dana: I'm more of the commander, but I think it's leading by example. I don't ask my staff to work harder than me or do anything that I wouldn't be doing myself.
How do you promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in your field?
Remy: It's really about creating spaces where everybody is able to have a conversation. Everybody is able to be heard. If we have diversity of thought, diversity of race, and diversity of opportunities, then we'll see a different organization.
Lessons that have been most significant in your own leadership development.
Nicole: One lesson is to understand the strategic plan, financials, and how what we do impacts the business. Where we are today may be different from where we're going tomorrow.
Another lesson I learned a long, long ago was don't discount any feedback; you can take something from every piece of feedback you receive, whether it's positive feedback, constructive feedback, something you don't like, or something that might hurt your feelings.
Who supported your development, and how did you develop those relationships?
Nicole: I've been very fortunate throughout my career to have people bring me along. In one of my first jobs, the president actually put me in some really uncomfortable situations. He exposed me to a lot of things that were well beyond my comprehension at the time, such as mergers and acquisitions. I got to be a part of the team. I didn't know what I was doing or really understand everything, but I got fully immersed!
Remy: Like Nicole said, be open to learning and trying new things because that's when your mentor can really take you to a different level.
How do you exhibit your whole self at work while balancing self-care?
Dana: You have to try to take some time for yourself. One thing that I've learned is that I do not look at my phone after a certain time of the night. If you do what you love, that also helps. Even if you're working long hours, you're getting satisfaction out of enjoying your life even though you're working.
Nicole: I do a lot of landscaping, especially softscaping. I could work from morning until night digging in the dirt. That is my sanity!
Remy: I struggle with balance, but early, quiet mornings help me find that space and that peace when nobody is there to speak to me.
Comments