by Suzanne Abbott
That is a quote from Gloria Vanderbilt, but so true. I had the opportunity to attend the Ad Club’s Women’s Leadership Forum 2016 recently for the first time. Being invited was exciting because I feel strongly about the benefits of women working together and supporting each other. At this amazing event, I was surrounded by 1,000 women all there to share about women in leadership roles with no filter. There were speeches given by some of the most innovative and inspiring women. It got me thinking about what advice I would give a younger me, or another woman just starting out in the industry.
I also had to ask some amazing women that I know to share their insight on this topic:
Carole Wedge, FAIA, LEED AP, president, Shepley Bulfinch
“My dad always used to say, ‘Aim for the stars — if you miss you will still be pretty high up there.’ I think I would tell my younger self to enjoy my ambition and keep pursuing my ideas and goals.
“Say yes — when you are asked to lead, participate, or engage in an effort — you will always learn from the experience, and there is a power in saying yes and being open to possibilities!
“Set your own limits — no one else will. Be humble and compassionate to everyone you work with, and take all of your vacation! No one else will, and recharging is as important as working hard.
“Thoughts for younger women in the industry . . .
“Work smart — working hard is overrated – burnout is real and you need to be good to yourself.
“Make sure you are being paid equally to your peers — it is a simple sign of whether you are in the right environment and truly valued.
“Stay ambitious for yourself and your profession. Embrace the opportunity to change your firm, culture, and business model, and change jobs if you do not think your heart is in what you are doing. You are more powerful than you think you are!”
Rachel Zsembery, AIA, LEED AP BD +C, vice president, Bergmeyer Associates
“Throughout your career, continue to refine personal and professional goals that are driven by a sense of purpose. Working towards achieving purposeful and meaningful goals that align with personal values can spur the momentum necessary to develop new skills by requiring you to push beyond your personal comfort zone.”
Erica J. Chapman MCR, ESQ, vice president, Global Real Estate + Workplace Productivity Akamai Technologies
“These are the things that I would tell a younger me: Practice bravery; gratitude buttresses optimism; be generous; never compromise on character; and harness entrepreneurship.”
Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA, senior associate, Arrowstreet
“When I was younger, I got too caught up in defining my goals by how others saw me. It is difficult to challenge influential people when they provide well-intended career advice. But if their vision for you does not align with your passions, it can get you off track. You alone know the limits of your ambition. Think and dream beyond anyone’s expectation.”
Lisa Davey, P.E., vice president, Thorton Tomessetti
“If I had to give one piece of advice to my younger self it would be to speak up. Too many times I would hang back, afraid I may sound stupid, only to have someone at the table say what I thought of 10 minutes before. Trust in yourself and in your knowledge and have the courage to speak your mind.”
My own experiences have taught me many things.
Suzanne Abbott
Surround yourself with people who are different from you. They should be different ages and have different skills and backgrounds than your own. Too many young women in the professional world flock together in groups based on things that they have in common, instead of embracing variation. My most valuable relationships are with women who have characteristics and backgrounds that differ from mine.
Never underestimate the power of networking; some of the most valuable relationships begin this way. Continuing to develop those relationships over time will be a great investment. Networking is a constant exercise that can never be truly mastered because there is always another relationship to build. Take care of your colleagues and contacts and they will take care of you. Networking also builds your brand, and building a strong brand is the most important advice that I can give to young people when asked.
Continually educate yourself, personally and professionally. Always reach for the next innovation in your field. It doesn’t always have to be in the form of a degree or formal education. Take a class or seek out a webinar. Know what’s going on outside of your industry. You never know when you will be in a position to switch markets. If you are personally interested in something that is different than your work, do it. I became a LEED AP when I had no design or construction involvement; I just wanted it. It has created many opportunities for me throughout my career.
Give everyone a second look. Sometimes I have met people who seemed very different than they actually were based on a first impression. I have definitely gained in business by giving people a second chance or a second look. Do a self-assessment. You should know your strengths and weaknesses and be able to leverage both to your favor. Set personal and business goals often and reach for whatever seems unachievable.
Collaboration over competition. “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women,” former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright once said. Both personally and professionally we are taught from a young age to compete with each other, and it is engrained in society that women cannot truly be friends and support each other. We learn it in grade school, and it follows us through young adulthood. I am grateful that I have realized that I am not competing with women in my network. Collaborating with the great women in my life has led me to the greatest opportunities in my career. If I come across a roadblock that I cannot move myself, I consult trusted women who I know will offer insight.
Listen! That is something that as a business development manager, business leader, or friend could never be overstated. Always encourage others to share more about themselves in a conversation. You will get to know them better and understand what makes them who they are. This understanding will benefit you in both professional and personal relationships.
Find a trusted adviser and ask to be mentored; never stop seeking input from others. Ask good questions whether you are in a meeting, with clients, or out at an event. Better questions give you an opportunity to truly understand a subject.
Trust your intuition — it’s always right. Women have an uncanny ability to listen to their intuition. I think sometimes we let the competitive nature of the business world dull that sense, or we override it. Stick with it; this will pay off in the long run. This applies in your personal life as well, maybe even more so. If someone or something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Trust yourself.
Suzanne Abbott is business developement manager at Gilbane Building Company in Boston.
