Everyone has a role model on some level. Whether it’s someone you know personally, such as a parent or family member, a figure from your formative years (e.g., a teacher, neighbor or clergy), or someone who shaped your earlier years as a professional (manager or co-worker), we often take our cues from the attitudes, philosophies and mantras of others. They’re mostly good models, but occasionally, we’re forced to deal with others whose ideas and methods run counter to all we believe in. Those people become role models in an ironic sense.
But let’s talk about the good, shall we?
In this installment of our State of the Industry look at women in leadership roles throughout the office technology galaxy, we’ve asked our dealer execs to share insights into the women who helped mold and influence their own perspectives and approach.
Breaking the Chain
People of a certain age can vividly (and sadly) recall an era when women were groomed to believe their lot in life was that of a wife, a mother, a caregiver. Their leadership centered on the household, and those who stepped outside of these imagined boundaries were maligned and vilified, quite often by fellow women. Thus, it’s not surprising that those who help to break the pattern of subjugation are the mothers who yearn to see their daughters take a path of personal and professional fulfillment that isn’t tied to matrimonial fortunes.
Pamela Feld found that catalyst in the form of her mother. Feld, the CEO of Triumph Technology Group in Tustin, California, has the utmost respect for her mother’s accomplishments in light of her challenges. While never an executive, Feld’s mother was a tireless worker, and the “queen of the side hustle before it became a thing.” A single mother, she would eventually earn a bachelor’s degree to become a teacher (she taught for 20 years), then earned a master’s and, later, a Ph.D. at the same time Pamela received her college diploma.
“She took risks as a single mom; she’s an adventurer who isn’t afraid to do things,” Feld said of her mother. “People would always tell her not to do things. Taking risks wasn’t a popular thing to do at the time. The older I get, the more I appreciate her. She’s definitely done some amazing things. I try to remind her of that because she doesn’t realize what she’s accomplished and how much she’s influenced me and the thousands of students she taught.”
Mom Power
When one’s mother is a tireless worker with multiple jobs who can balance every aspect of her life, it’s difficult not to take notice. That’s the case with Lauren Hanna, the vice president of sales at Blue Technologies of Cleveland. Hanna’s parents were divorced, and her mother was a master in taking care of business as an artist, real estate agent and parent. She did whatever it took to get the job done.
“Her number-one job was raising us and in hindsight, I didn’t recognize it then,” Hanna noted. “She could prioritize multiple jobs, careers and tasks, and get them done without dropping the ball. One thing she taught me was, no one is going to do things for you, no one is going to do something as good as you. It’s important to grab the bull by the horns and really learn from it. Try not to depend on anyone else too much. She really instilled a work ethic in me.”
Many of our panelists have been blessed with multiple inspirational females, as is the case with Stephanie Keating Phillips, director of solutions and production print for Advanced Imaging Solutions (AIS) of Minnetonka, Minnesota. Examples include her stepmother, a teacher who attended every sporting event and conference in which Phillips participated. During her college days, Phillips benefitted from supportive female (and male) coaches who stressed empowerment and leadership, which gave her the confidence to lead at an early age.
In recent years, Phillips has developed a deep respect for Konica Minolta’s Laura Blackmer, one of the industry’s most influential leaders. “I’m lucky to be friends with her, as well as having her as our [OEM] dealer president,” she said. “She leads in a similar way in empowering her people. She lets them know she’s there, and she won’t ask her people to do things she wouldn’t do. She’s all about being kind and humble.”
Firm Foundation
Many women in executive positions are first-generation corporate leaders who have been fortunate to be surrounded by strong, dominant women who were formidable in their own right. For Susie Woodhull, this list includes her mother, mother-in-law and aunts who have left their mark in various ways. Some served as community volunteers in hospital and educational environments, while her mother-in-law’s garden is so prolific, it is on display at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C., as an example of a wonderful American garden.
“They have had successes in the world outside of the workplace,” said Woodhull, the CEO of Woodhull LLC in Springboro, Ohio. “What they had in common is that they were not quitters, and that’s a big characteristic of mine. It’s not necessarily that I won’t quit; I don’t understand why I wouldn’t succeed. It can be both a benefit and a curse because you can’t stop yourself. You’ve got to do whatever it takes to succeed.”
Bits and Pieces
At different junctures during her career, Dawn Abbuhl has had the good fortune to glean the perspectives of a number of women. Not one to normally seek out guidance from others, the president of Repeat Business Systems in Albany, New York, has occasionally conferred with other business leaders to get their takes on a situation.
Interestingly, Abbuhl has found inspiration in the form of an executive’s wife. Linda Weiss, a visible figure in the industry and the better half of Larry Weiss—top executive for Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office—has long struck Abbuhl as being kind and gracious, and always having something nice to say.
“It’s always reminded me that you can never be too kind,” Abbuhl said. “I always try to lead with kindness. And anytime I run into anyone who I feel is successful, talented or I respect, I can usually take away a little kernel from them to remember.”
For Christine Wakefield, the director of marketing/technology for Pacific Office Automation of Beaverton, Oregon, Jennifer Healy left an indelible impression on her. Healy, director, marketing strategy and programs, dealer and partner channel for Ricoh USA, was the first woman Wakefield ever worked for and a major career influencer.
“Jen has the capability to see the big picture of every situation,” Wakefield said. “Regardless of the direction, Jen can articulate the reasons behind a decision, the positive or negative effects and anything in between. Jen has taught me to approach situations with a wider lens.”
