Celebrating International Women's Day

1. Pay attention to detail!  I don’t just mean in your work, pay attention to what is going on around you.  Many times, you will discover more by observing what others do and say than you will from formal training. 
2. Helping others within your organization will help you to learn aspects of the business you may not be exposed to. There is something to be said about knowing how the organization as a whole works as opposed to just your area of the business.  Through helping others, you will gain their trust and elevate yourself.

"Women need other women in their lives that think they are a big deal. No competition, no backhanded comments, no jealousy, no hate, just “I love you; I support you, and there is no one on Earth like you” kind of energy." - Anonymous

Communication is key. Working hard and paying attention to details will always produce a more successful outcome. I try to find joy in the small things. If we can find joy in those small moments, the bigger moments will eventually come.

Each day is an adventure and I believe our attitude can make or break a situation.

One of my favorite quotes is:

“Attitude is the difference between an ordeal or an adventure." - Anonymous

My other favorite quote is:

“Be the change you wish to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi

One of PROBAR’s core values is to let your actions define you and, in my opinion, our actions are what will resonate far beyond any words ever could.

1. I was always told to learn from your mistakes, but to also teach others about your mistake so they wouldn't repeat the same one.  We are almost always asked in job interviews, tell me about a time when you made a mistake.  So many candidates hesitate and struggle with this question, but if every time you trained someone new you told them about a mistake you made, so that they would not make the same one, you would be able to quickly recall your mistake and what you've learned from that situation.  Also, sharing with others when we have messed up creates a vulnerable side to you as a leader where you become more approachable.  

2. I have always had bosses whose leadership styles vary, so to be successful sometimes you have to be adaptable and have ambiguity.  You also learn along the way what types of leaders you want to work for and what type of leader you want to be yourself.  You should always be learning from everybody around you, regardless of their position, background, or years of experience.  We each have a unique perspective on how we have experienced life and hardships, we should be open to listening and learning from each other. 

3. A good leader has nothing to do with being the smartest or the expert of a topic. A good leader puts people in the best position to succeed individually and for the company.  We often mistake an expert for a leader, or a manager for a leader.  Managing and leading are two different concepts.

4. Stop being afraid of failure, you'll never be successful or know how to handle adversity if you don't sometimes fail. 

5. Speak up for yourself, but don't stop there. Speak up for others who don't yet have the platform or the courage or the ability too.  Be a voice and an ally for others. 

6. Most important thing I have ever learned too truly be successful. . .  Work/life balance.  What that means and what that looks like is different for every person.  Find your own balance that works for you, don't be afraid to have boundaries.  When you as a leader can instill boundaries, you empower your team to also have them.  When you lead by example, you are giving your team permission to also create their needed boundaries to achieve their own work/life balance. 

"I can accept failure; everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan

"Your role as a leader is to bring out the best in others, even when they know more than you." -Dr. Wanda Wallace

1. Be yourself. Don’t shrink or reshape who you are to make others more comfortable.
2. Have a support system/cheering section. Having a spouse/partner, friends, or parents who support you, push you, and encourage you goes far. I wouldn’t be here without my husband being my hype-man!
3. Find a mentor. I’ve had a few over the years that I appreciate and value the learnings they helped me with. However, as a female in a male dominated industry, having a female mentor specifically has given me a voice and a confidence I didn’t know I had.
4. Dream big. Tying in with my “quote”, Sheryl Sandberg gave a commencement speech at Barnard College in 2011. She said, “Go home tonight and ask yourselves, “What would I do if I weren’t afraid?”  And then go do it.” Don’t be afraid to go after what you want.

I have found that one of the biggest contributors to success is to never stop learning; There is always a new skill to develop and knowledge to gain. Another contributor to success is establishing and maintaining your values and boundaries. This is important for any professional but is especially significant for women in male-dominated fields, such as finance and accounting. This provides the groundwork for our most authentic and satisfying achievements, and allows us to celebrate those victories, no matter how big or small.

One of my favorite women empowerments comes from Ruth Bader Ginsburg, when she said “As women achieve power, the barriers will fall. As society sees what women can do, as women see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and we’ll all be better off for it.”

My success is because of dedication, humility, hard work, and asking questions. I am always learning and growing from mentors and co-workers. Understand mistakes will happen as long as you use the mistake as tool for learning and not as a failure you will continue to grow and achieve your goals.

“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

We hope you enjoyed these insights from the empowering women leaders at PROBAR.

Happy International Women's Day from the PROBAR team!