>> HELLO AND WELCOME BACK TO BEHIND THE WOMAN.

I'M YOUR HOST, DOCTOR JUHANNA ROGERS, AND TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE TWO SUCCESSFUL CEOS FROM CENTRAL NEW YORK.

STEPHANIE CROCKET, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF MOWER AD AGENCY, AND KIMBERLY TOWNSEND, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF LORETTO, A NON-PROFIT HEALTHCARE COMPANY THAT SPECIALIZES IN ELDERCARE.

I WANT YOU TO GATHER YOUR FAMILY AND FRIDAY YOUR FRIENDS BECAUSE THIS IS AN EPISODE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN" THAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS.

HI KIMBERLY AND STEPHANIE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> SO EXCITED TO BE HERE.

>> YEAH OUR PLEASURE.

>> MY FIRST QUESTION FOR THE BOTH OF YOU IS LIKE WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A WOMAN C.E.O.?

>> WELL, IT'S A HUGE HONOR.

IT'S A HUGE WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY.

AT TIMES, IT CAN BE LONELY.

BUT OVERALL, I WOULD SAY IT'S JUST A TREMENDOUS HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SERVE, PARTICULARLY IN A COMMUNITY LIKE SYRACUSE, WHICH, YOU KNOW, SYRACUSE STAR IS ON A RISE, RIGHT?

THAT HAS BEEN TRUE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.

IT'S ALL THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE OVER THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS THAT HAVE BROUGHT US TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

IS BUT JUST SO EXCITED TO SEE MORE PEOPLE LIKE STEPHANIE AND I WHO ARE NOW STEPPING INTO THE TOP LEADERSHIP ROLES AND ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS OUR REGION.

>> YEAH.

>> I WOULD AGREE WITH EVERYTHING THAT KIM SAID.

I HAVE ONLY BE A C.E.O.

FOR A FEW MONTHS.

AND KIM IS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE AND HONOR TO KNOW HER FOR QUITE SOMETIME; THAT I CAME TO AND TALKED TO FOR ADVICE ON MY SORT OF PATH TOWARDS THIS ROLE.

AND I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PIECE, RIGHT, FOR US IS EXACTLY WHAT KIMBERLY SAID.

I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT IT LIKE MY JOB IS TO SERVE THE EMPLOYEES OF MOWER AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.

AND SO BY DOING THAT, YOU ARE ALSO REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW ARE WE TRYING TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT, CREATE A COMPANY, AND CREATE A COMMUNITY FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES THAT THEY CAN THRIVE, THAT THEY CAN REALLY SEE THEIR PLACE IN THE ORGANIZATION, THEIR PLACE IN THE COMMUNITY, THEIR PLACE IN THE FUTURE, AND THERE IS A LONELINESS THAT COMES FROM BEING A C.E.O.

BUT THAT'S WHERE I THINK THIS COMMUNITY IN PARTICULAR, HAS SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT, YOU KNOW, COMING TOGETHER AND COLLABORATION, ESPECIALLY AS WOMEN LEADERS.

I THINK SYRACUSE HAS FOUND A REALLY SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY WITH THINGS LIKE WOMEN UNITED AND SOME OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHERE WE ARE REALLY HERE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER, AND IT IS A, YOU KNOW, TRIBE OF WOMEN WHO REALLY ARE THERE TO SAY, OKAY, HOW CAN WE HELP LIFT EACH OTHER UP AND THEN, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT WE DO FOR THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE EVERY DAY IN OUR COMPANIES.

>> I LOVE THAT BOTH OF YOU HIT ON THAT COMPONENT OF SERVICE TO OTHERS.

LEADING IS SOMETIMES SO CENTERED ON LIKE THE MAN'S EXAMPLE OF HOW TO LEAD.

AND I THINK THE DIVERSITY THAT IS SHOWING UP IN LEADERSHIP IS HELPING US THINK MORE BROADLY ABOUT LEADERS SERVE OTHERS, RIGHT?

AND I'M NOT SURE THAT IS OFTEN TALKED ABOUT.

>> I THINK SKIES WAS A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT FOR ME AS I WAS COMING UP THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THE CORPORATE RANKS BECAUSE THERE WERE REALLY EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN LEADERS IN THIS COMMUNITY.

KATHY RICHARDSON, KATHY RICIDO, ANN MESSENGERRER, WOMEN THAT I LOOKED UP TO, WHO WERE LEADING LARGE ORGANIZATIONS AND THEY WERE ALL CENTERED AROUND SERVICE, RIGHT?

AND SO I THINK THAT IS A UNIQUE THICK TO THIS AREA, THE FACT THAT WE HAD SUCH A LARGE CONCENTRATION OF EXCEPTIONAL WOMEN LEADERS AND THE FACT THAT THAT'S KIND OF A FEMALE LEADERSHIP IMPERATIVE, RIGHT?

THAT NOTION OF IT'S NOT MY POSITION AND MY TITLE.

IT'S WHAT CAN I DO.

HOW DO I USE MY VAL VALUE IN SERVICE OF OTHERS.

THEY WERE GREAT EXAMPLES TO ME.

>> THE OTHER INTERESTING THING ABOUT LEADERSHIP, TOO, IS YES IT'S ABSOLUTELY ABOUT SERVING THE PEOPLE, BUT THE REALITY IS THAT PEOPLE CHANGE AND THE NEED OF THE PEOPLE CHANGE.

AND WARM FRONT RECERTAINLY-- WE HAVE CERTAINLY SEEN THAT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

THE WAY WE NEED TO SHOW UP FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEIR EXPECTATIONS HAVE CHANGED, THEIR LIVES HAVE CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE OF THE WORLD THAT HAS CHANGED AROUND US.

AS LEADERS, YOU REALLY HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW CAN I ADJUST BECAUSE LEADERSHIP ISN'T REALLY ABOUT ME, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT ABOUT MY STYLE AND WHAT I WANT TO GET OUT OF THINGS OR HOW I WANT THINGS TO HAPPEN.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE, ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AND THEIR GOALS AND SO FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, AS THEIR NEEDS CHANGE, OUR NEEDS HAVE TO CHANGE.

I THINK THAT ABILITY TO BE EMPATHIC, THAT ABILITY TO BE FLEXIBLE, AND TO RECOGNIZE THAT YOU JUST HAVE TO KIND OF ROLE ROLL WITH IT A LITTLE BIT AND THE EXAMPLES THAT KIM TALKED ABOUT WITH THE OTHER FEMALE LEADERS THAT WE HAVE HAD AS THESE INCREDIBLE ICONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY'VE ALL BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT AND THEY HAVE REALLY STEERED THE WAY FOR US AND PAVED THAT ROAD.

>> REALLY POWERFUL.

SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN C.E.O.

A COUPLE MONTHS AGO AND KIM YOU HAVE BEEN AT THIS A LITTLE LONGER, WHAT CHANGED IN YOUR LIFE?

>> I WOULD SAY EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED.

WHEN YOU ARE FINALLY IN A POSITION WHERE YOU CAN-- YOU ARE THE ULTIMATE DECISION MAKER, I THINK THAT CHANGES THE WAY YOU LOOK AT YOUR LIFE, RIGHT?

IN TERMS OF BEING MORE INTENTIONAL, I THINK IT CHANGES THE WAY THAT YOU INTERACT WITH OTHERS.

AND EXCEPTIONAL LISTENING SKILLS ARE IMPORTANT WHEN YOU ARE IN A LEADERSHIP POSITION.

IT REALLY CHANGES YOUR MIND SET, RIGHT?

IT CHANGED MY MIND SET IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, HOW DO I PUSH FORWARD THESE THINGS THAT I REALLY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT, ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE FOR ALL?

I BELIEVE EVERYONE DESERVES WORLD CLASS CARE.

THINGS THAT I WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT.

NOW IT'S UP TO ME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

SO IT WAS A REAL CALL TO ACTION FOR ME AND IT WOULD JUST-- IT RADICALLY TRANSFORMED MY LIFE.

>> DO YOU GET UP EARLIER?

>> I'M UP AT 4:30 EVERY MORNING.

>> I HEAR THAT.

IS THAT REALLY, REALLY TRUE?

>> THE WEIGHT OF RESPONSIBILITY AND THE CALLING AND THE CALLING.

>> BUT YOU HADN'T BEEN GETTING UP AT 4:00.

>> YOU GET UP AT 4:30?

>> I GET UP AT 5.

>> SLACKER.

>> I'LL GET THERE, RIGHT?

YEAH, AND I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY THAT FEELING OF RESPONSIBILITY, THAT LIKE GETS YOU UP AND THERE IS A PRESS #UR FOR SURE.

AND I THINK WITH THAT, TOO, NOT ONLY IS IT THAT EVERYTHING CHANGES.

IT'S ALSO HOW YOU PRIORITIZE YOUR TIME OUTSIDE OF WORK, RIGHT?

BECAUSE BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCH A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND PRESSURE, NOT ONLY FOR LIKE MOST PEOPLE HAVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES, YOU STILL HAVE THAT, TOO.

THAT ALL DOESN'T GO AWAY, RIGHT?

YOU STILL HAVE THOSE SAME RESPONSIBILITIES.

AND SO TO YOUR POINT OF BEING INTENTIONAL, IT'S REALLY ABOUT OKAY, I HAVE TO PICK MY MOMENTS AND PICK MY TIMES AND BE ABLE TO FIND TIME FOR YOURSELF, TIME FOR YOUR FAMILY, TIME FOR YOUR FRIENDS, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

I THINK IS ALL PART OF IT.

AND YOU REALLY RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF HAVE TO SHIFT THINGS A LITTLE BIT AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU THAT, IF THEY ARE LIKE ANYTHING IN MY LIFE, AND KIM'S TOO, YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE SUPPORT SYSTEM AROUND YOU.

AND WITHOUT THAT, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE DO WHAT WE DO FOR SURE.

>> ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

>> THE SUPPORT SYSTEM AND 4:30 OR 5.

I'M WRITING THIS STUFF DOWN.

TAKING TIPS.

LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO LOOK AT HOW THESE WOMEN ARE INSPIRING OTHERS WITHIN THEIR FIELD.

>> TODAY WE ARE AT LORETTO HEALTH AND REHABILITATION AND WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR CNAs AND ALL OF OUR GREAT STAFF DURING THE CNA WEEK.

AND THIS IS JUST FOLLOWING UP ON A WEEK WHERE WE REALLY HAVE QUITE A FEW EXCITING EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION EVENTS GOING ON.

LAST NIGHT WAS THE WORKFORCE RUN.

WE HAD 72 LORETTO EMPLOYEES WHO WERE AT THE WORKFORCE RUN.

AND WE EVEN HAD SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEE PLACE PRETTY HIGHLY IN THE COMPETITION.

SO IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO INTERACT WITH EMPLOYEES AT EVENTS LIKE THIS.

HERE AT LORETTO, WE TALK ABOUT THE LORETTO FAMILY AND THE COHESIVENESS OF THE LORETTO FAMILY HAS SUCH A CRITICAL IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY.

FOR NEARLY 100 YEARS LORETTO HAS BEEN SEEN AS AN ANCHOR EMPLOYER, KIND OF AN INSTITUTION IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THAT WAS JUST PEOPLE CARING FOR PEOPLE.

AND SO IF YOU FAST FORWARD NOW ALMOST 100 YEARS LATER, THAT'S STILL WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT.

WE ARE PEOPLE CARING FOR OTHERS AND WE ARE CARING FOR EACH OTHER.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF ANY FAMILY ARE THOSE GREAT FAMILY DINNERS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE DOING HERE TODAY.

AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO DO EMPLOYEE EVENTS LIKE THIS BECAUSE EMPLOYEES FIRST OF ALL REALLY ENJOY IT, RIGHT?

THEY ENJOY GETTING TOGETHER IN A CASUAL SETTING AND HAVING A GREAT MEAL.

AND THEY REALLY ENJOY THE RECOGNITION ON THE PART OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR HOW HARD THEY WORK BECAUSE THEY DO WORK REALLY HARD.

EVENTS LIKE THIS REALLY PROMOTE THE LORETTO MISSION, WHICH IS TO BE A FAMILY OF EXCEPTIONAL PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR AND ABOUT EACH OTHER.

AND THIS IS JUST PART OF THE WAY WE CARE FOR EACH OTHER IS BY CELEBRATING EACH OTHER'S SUCCESSES, RECOGNIZING ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND REALLY PROVIDING A PATH OF GROWTH FOR OUR EMPLOYEES BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

SO MY LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY IS THAT LEADERS EXIST EVERYWHERE AND THEY'RE THROUGHOUT OUR ORGANIZATION, INFORMAL AND FORMAL LEADERS BECAUSE LEADERSHIP IS MORE THAN A TITLE.

LEADERSHIP IS A WAY OF BEING.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT SETS OUR LEADERSHIP HERE AT LORETTO APART FROM MAYBE OTHER PLACES IS JUST A REAL FOCUS ON PEOPLE.

LIFE CIRCLE LEADERSHIP REALLY SAYS DOING GOOD FOR OUR EMPLOYEES IS DOING GOOD FOR BUSINESS.

AND I BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE IN ANY ORGANIZATION.

WE SEE SO MANY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP OUR EMPLOYEES THROUGH SOME OF THE GREAT PROGRAMS WE HAVE, WHETHER IT'S THE FREE DIAPER BANK OR OUR EMERGENCY FUND, THE WE CARE FUND, OR OUR POWER BUYING PROGRAMS, JUST ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO LET OUR EMPLOYEES KNOW THAT WE NOT ONLY CARE ABOUT THEM HERE AT WORK, BUT WE CARE ABOUT THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES OUTSIDE OF WORK AS WELL.

AND THAT'S WHAT REALLY MAKES LORETTO A UNIQUE AND SPECIAL PLACE.

>> SO TODAY WE ARE AT THE 46th ANNUAL CRYSTAL BALL AWARD, THE CENTRAL NEW YORK SALES AND EXECUTIVES GIVE THIS AWARD EVERY YEAR RECOGNIZING AN INDIVIDUAL IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SALES AND MARKETING PROFESSION AS WELL AS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

AND SO MY WORK IN THE COMMUNITY HAS REALLY GONE ACROSS A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS FROM MEALS ON WHEELS OF SYRACUSE TO HELIO HEALTH TO CENTRAL NEW YORK, SALES AND MARKETING EXECUTIVES TO THE UNITED WAY OF CENTRAL NEW YORK, AND TO THE LANDMARK THEATER.

THIS AWARD IS SUCH AN HONOR FOR ME.

IT'S REALLY ALMOST SURREAL TO BE ON THE LIST OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THIS.

MY MENTOR AND FOUNDER OF OUR AGENCY, ERIC MOWER RECEIVED THIS AWARD BACK IN 1984.

PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN RECIPIENTS ARE REALLY LEGENDS IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND TO BE IN THE SAME LIST WITH THEM IS REALLY SORT OF OVERWHELMING.

KIND OF SURPRISING.

BUT VERY, VERY NICE AND EXTREMELY HUMBLING.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY PEOPLE IN MY VERY LONG CAREER, AND THAT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL.

CERTAINLY ALL MY AMAZING COLLEAGUES AT MOWER, MY PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN EXTREMELY SUPPORTIVE.

MY SISTERS ARE LIKE MY GREATEST CHEERLEADERS AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANTLY, WOULD BE MY AWESOME HUSBAND, WHO IN IN HIS OWN RIGHT, IS AN INCREDIBLE MARKETER, ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE PEOPLE I KNOW.

HE HAS BEEN PUSHING ME ALONG AND ALWAYS BEEN A GREAT SUPPORTER.

EVERY WOMAN IN THIS ROOM WHO TAKES THEIR OWN PATH CHARTS THEIR OWN COURSE, SETS THEIR SIGHTS ON SOMETHING AND DOES NOT STOP UNTIL THEY ACHIEVE IT.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

WE ARE ALL HERE.

WE HAVE YOUR BACKS.

WE WILL PUSH YOU FORWARD.

WE WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU FALL.

AND WE WILL PROVIDE A SOFT LANDING.

THIS CAREER HAS REALLY BEEN SO FULFILLING TORE ME.

I THINK BECAUSE I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO WORK WITH SUCH AMAZING INDIVIDUALS WHERE I NOW HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS THEIR C.E.O.

AND HELP EACH ONE OF THEM HAVE A CAREER THAT THEY LOVE, HAVE A PLACE THAT THEY FEEL SUPPORTED AND APPRECIATED.

BUT ALSO TO WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT NOT ONLY REALLY APPRECIATES TAKING CARE OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE SERVE AND LIVE, BUT REALLY SORT OF EXPECTS IT OF US.

I GREW UP WITH A BACKGROUND, MY PARENTS WERE VERY ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY AND ALWAYS ENCOURAGED THAT OF MY SISTERS AND I.

SO TO BE WITH A COMPANY THAT REALLY RECOGNIZES THAT AND SEES THAT AS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT OF WHO WE ARE AS AN ORGANIZATION, AND ENCOURAGES THAT FOR US AS INDIVIDUALS IS REALLY MEANINGFUL THIS IS A COOL INDUSTRY.

IT'S NOT FOR THE FEINT OF HEART.

BEING IN AN ADVERTISING AGENCY IN PARTICULAR HAS ITS UPS AND DOWNS.

IT IS FASCINATING.

THE BEST ADVICE I CAN GIVE IS TO FIND SOMETHING YOU ARE TRULY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND TO MAKE SURE YOU WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT YOU WAKE UP EVERY SINGLE DAY PROUD.

THAT YOU HAVE SHARED VALUES, THAT YOU UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, THAT YOU RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE AND THAT YOU FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP.

IT'S HARD TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT IS NEXT FOR ME WHEN I THINK ABOUT REALLY WHERE I HAVE GOTTEN TO AND I SEE MY ROLE NOWINGS TO HELP GROW THE AGENCY, TO HELP CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF THE AMAZING INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK WITH US EVERY DAY.

ALL MY FIERCE FRIENDS AT MOWER, MAKING SURE NECESSITY RECOGNIZE THE AWESOMENESS THAT IS MOWER AROUND THE COUNTRY AND BRINGING IT TO LIFE AND DO MY BEST TO FULFILL THE LEGACY OF ERIC MOWER.

>> TO SEE EXAMPLES OF YOUR WORK, I'M SO INSPIRED, EVEN MORE SO.

HOW DO YOU KEEP LEARNING IN YOUR ROLES?

>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, MOST OF THE WOMEN WHO ASPIRE AND GET TO THE TOP SPOTS ARE LIFE LONG LEARNERS, RIGHT?

SO HAVE YOU TO HAVE A REAL PASSION AROUND LEARNING.

AND YOU KNOW, FOR ME, I LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERY DAY IN MY JOB.

AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT ENERGIZES ME.

SO I THINK THAT THAT LEARNING IS THE KEY COMPONENT OF THAT LEADERSHIP.

>> GOTCHA.

BUT IT'S A LIFE LONG-- IT'S NOT LIKE SOMETHING-- >> YOU DON'T GET TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE A TITLE, I'M DONE.

I KNOW EVERYTHING.

NO.

NO,.

>> YOU KEEP GOING.

>> HAVE YOU TO KEEP GOING.

>> BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT THAT SPACE AND WATCHING MY PRESIDENT AND MY 9-5 AND WHAT HE MUST BE GOING THROUGH, THINK ABOUT THAT ROLE OF WOMANHOOD AND HOW OFTEN WE ARE HELD SOMETIMES TO SOCIETY'S STANDARDS, RESPONSIBLE FOR LIKE THE ROLES THAT WE PLAY IN A DIFFERENT WAY THAN MEN ARE.

HOW DOES THAT ROLE OF WOMANHOOD -- DOES THAT SHIFT?

DOES THAT MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

DOES THAT MEAN SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO YOU ALL IN YOUR ROLES NOW THAN IT DID MAYBE BEFORE?

>> I THINK FEMALE LEADERSHIP IS KNOWN TO BE DIFFERENT THAN MALE LEADERSHIP, RIGHT?

I MEAN AND SOME WOULD ARGUE IT'S MORE SUCCESSFUL IN SOME WAYS IN TERMS OF THE LISTENING, THE EMPATHY, THE CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING AROUND PEOPLE PROBLEMS, BUT SOMETHING THAT I FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT, AND PROBABLY MY ONE LEARNING FROM BEING A C.E.O.

FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS, IS THAT EVERY PROBLEM IS A PEOPLE PROBLEM.

SO IF YOU HAVE A STRATEGY PROBLEM, YOU HAVE A PEOPLE PROBLEM.

IF YOU HAVE A FINANCE PROBLEM, YOU HAVE A PEOPLE PROBLEM.

SO THE MOST CRITICAL THING IS TO REALLY BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO BECOME AN EXCEPTIONAL LISTENER, TO BE VERY GOOD AT REFRAMING CONVERSATIONS AND TO BE VERY FLEXIBLE IN YOUR THINKING.

AND THAT'S WHERE THE LEARNING COMES IN.

AS YOU GATHER INFORMATION, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY FLEXIBLE IN YOUR THINKING BECAUSE THE WORLD IS DYNAMIC AND CHANGING AS STEPHANIE SAID.

AND EVERY DAY THERE IS SOMETHING NEW TO BE LEARNED AND EVERY DAY THERE ARE DECISIONS TO BE MADE.

AND SO I THINK-- I THINK THAT A UNIQUELY FEMALE APPROACH TO THAT IS VERY RELATIONAL IN HOW IT LIVES OUT.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE KEY THINGS THAT I'VE LEARNED FOR SURE, AND HOW I LOOK AT IT IS THAT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF LEADERS, RIGHT?

AND THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THAT RELATIONSHIP, RIGHT?

I ALWAYS SAY I'M KIND OF A NON-TRADITIONAL WOMAN.

I DON'T HAVE CHILDREN, I DON'T HAVE THAT ASPECT OF BEING A WOMAN LEADER WHO IS ALSO A MOM.

AND FROM A SOCIETAL PERSPECTIVE, I LOOK DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS, RIGHT?

, FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

AND I THINK RECOGNIZING THAT WHAT EVERYBODY BRINGS TO THE TABLE THAT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT AND THE PEOPLE THAT YOU ARE WORKING WE CANS ACTUALLY LIKE KIM SAID, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PEOPLE, RIGHT?

WE ARE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ORGANIZATION.

WHAT WE MAKE IS PEOPLE, RIGHT?

THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES US DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER AGENCY IN THE WORLD IS WHO WE HAVE, RIGHT?

AND SO IT'S ALL ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE CHALLENGES AND BEING ABLE TO RELATE TO PEOPLE AND BEING ABLE TO MAKE THOSE DECISIONS WITH THEM IN MIND AND LISTENING AND ALL OF THAT, I THINK, IS A HUGE PIECE OF IT AND THAT THERE ISN'T JUST ONE WAY, RIGHT?

IT ISN'T JUST YOU READ A BOOK, THIS IS THE LEADER YOU BECOME.

IT'S REALLY ABOUT THAT-- AS UNIQUE AS WE ARE AS INDIVIDUALS, IS UNIQUE AS WE ARE AS LEADERS.

>> THAT'S REALLY POWERFUL.

AND STEPHANIE, ONE OF THE THINGS-- WE GO-- I FEEL LIKE WE GO BACK.

>> WE DO.

>> A LONG WAYS.

AND TO SEEING THE WAY THAT YOU'VE ENGAGED, RIGHT, AND HAVE THIS AUTHENTIC VERY APPROACHABLE AND ENGAGING WAY OF CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE, YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LIKE STILL MAINTAIN THAT.

YOU SHOW UP PERSONALITY, SMILES, JOKES, VERY DOWN TO EARTH, LIKE... >> WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET, YEAH, YEAH, FOR SURE.

>> AND OFTEN TIMES WE HEAR THAT WOMEN HAVE TO CHANGE.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY... >> IN ORDER TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE.

>> IT'S SO FUNNY THAT YOU SAY THAT.

I REMEMBER YEARS AGO I WAS AT A CONFERENCE, SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST AND IT WAS WOMEN IN TECH AND THERE WERE THESE WOMEN LEADING THIS PANEL AND THEY WERE BASICALLY ADVISING ALL THESE YOUNG WOMEN WORKING IN TECHNOLOGY THAT THE WAY FOR THEM TO COMMUNICATE BETTER WAS TO COMMUNICATE MORE LIKE MEN.

SO THAT THEY COULD RELATE TO THE MEN THAT THEY WORK WITH.

AND I WAS LIKE I DISAGREE.

I THINK THAT WOMEN BRING SOMETHING TRULY UNIQUE AND SPECIAL TO THE TABLE.

AND IT IS THE WAY THAT WE AREN'T AFRAID OF VULNERABILITY, THE WAY THAT WE ARE COMFORTABLE MAKING RELATIONSHIPS, THE WAY THAT WE ARE COMFORTABLE PUTTING OURSELVES OUT THERE AND BEING UNIQUE AND DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

THAT IS WHAT MAKES WOMEN SUCH STRONG LEADERS.

AND SO I DISAGREE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US IN ORDER TO RELATE AND TO GET AHEAD THAT WE NEED TO BEHAVE LIKE MEN.

I NEVER DID THAT.

AND I THINK I COME FROM AN EXTREMELY STRONG MOTHER.

I HAVE TWO INCREDIBLE SISTERS.

I HAVE A VERY FEMALE SORT OF ORIENTED UPBRINGING.

AND ALL EXTREME AUTHENTIC INDIVIDUAL POWER HOUSES AND SO I THINK AS WOMEN, THAT'S A BIG IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO TEACH THE WOMEN WHO ARE LOOKING TO MOVE UP AND TO BECOME LEADERS IS YOU DON'T HAVE TO CHANGE, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE TO REALIZE THAT IT'S ALL ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS AND YOU HAVE TO RELATE TO OTHERS.

BUT IT'S NOT ABOUT SORT OF CONFORMING, RIGHT.

>> I'M GOING TO END WITH YOU IN ASKING THIS QUESTION.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR YOUNG WOMEN SITTING HERE LIKE I WANT TO BE THAT PERSON.

>> PROBABLY TWO FOLD.

ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, I WOULD SAY YOUR MISSION IN LIFE IS TO BECOME YOUR TRUEST SELF.

AND SO YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THAT PATH WHEREVER IT LEADS YOU AND IF IT LEADS YOU TO A C.E.O.

ROLE, THEN THAT'S GREAT.

I WOULD ALSO SAY THAT WOMEN FREQUENTLY DON'T GET GREAT ADVICE FROM COACHES, FROM BOOKS, FROM OTHER PLACES, TELLING THEM... >> CAN YOU SAY THAT ONE MORE TIME.

>> WOMEN DO NOT GET GREAT ADVICE FROM COACHES AND BOOKS AND OTHER SOURCES.

THEY'RE TOLD THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO WORK ON YOUR RELATIONAL STYLE, YOU WANT TO BE APPROACHABLE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO SEEM PRICKLY, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU, WHEN BOARDS PICK PEOPLE FOR TOP SPOTS, THEY LOOK FOR WOMEN WITH HARD SKILLS.

SO THAT'S FINANCE, THAT'S UNDERSTANDING THAT, THAT'S STRATEGY, THOSE HARD SKILLS.

AND I THINK A LOT OF TIMES WOMEN HEAR THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK ON THEIR PERSONALITIES, AND I WOULD SAY IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING YOUR PATH TO YOUR TRUEST SELF, YOU WILL GET THERE.

THE KEY IS THAT YOU ALSO HAVE TO BUILD YOUR SKILLS.

AND I THINK WOMEN DON'T GET THAT ADVICE.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT.

WOMEN DON'T GET GOOD ADVICE.

>> I'LL NEVER FORGET ONE OF THE THINGS SOMEONE SAID TO ME IS LIKE WELL, YES, YOU HAVE TO DIAL YOUR RESUME BACK, RIGHT BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BE THREATENED.

AND THAT'S A GENUINE LIKE THING.

AND AS A PERSON OF COLOR, YOU ARE TOLD, YOU KNOW, IS YOUR NAME SOMETHING PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT AND HAVE STEREOTYPICAL IDEAS ABOUT, RIGHT?

YOU ARE CONSTANTLY THINKING ABOUT HOW MUCH OF MYSELF CAN I HIDE OR PULL BACK, RIGHT?

>> I'M SURE AT SOME POINT IN ALL OF OUR LIVES WE HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO AS AGGRESSIVE.

>> BOSSY.

>> BOSSY.

>> I TALK TOO MUCH.

>> I AM TIM DATING.

RIGHT, ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

>> YES.

>> AND I COMPLETELY AGREE.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT SHIFTING WHO YOU ARE AND THE WAY THAT YOU ARE HIVE BEHAVING.

IT'S ABOUT MAKING SURE YOU HAVE THE GOODS TO BACK IT UP.

>> THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MIXED TAPE.

LIKE WE ARE ALMOST ON...

THE SKILLS TO BACK IT UP.

MAYBE WE COULD DO A CHAPTER OR SOMETHING.

>> LOVE IT.

>> BUT IT'S REALLY AWESOME AND STEPHANIE, YOU KNOW, I HAVE PUT YOU IN TOUCH WITH A COUPLE OF FRIENDS WHO SAY HEY, THEY'RE REALLY HAVING A TOUGH TIME IN THIS PARTICULAR FIELD.

I KNOW KIM YOU HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME TO COME AND TALK TO SOME OF YOUR STUDENTS WHO.

YOU TEACH ALSO.

IT WAS AT A WOMEN'S UNITED VENT THAT THEY TALKED ABOUT YOUR BOOK.

ONE OF THE FIRST WOMEN UNITED EVENTS THAT I WENT TO DOWNTOWN AND I'M HONORED AND HUMBLED.

THANK YOU FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US LADIES WHAT WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP LOOKS LIKE AND THANK YOU FOR AFFIRMING THAT WE GET BAD ADVICE.

I'LL JUST THANK THEM BOTH FOR JOINING ME ON THIS EVENING'S EPISODE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

AND LO ALLOWING US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHO WUR WE ARE AND HOW YOU ARE INSPIRING OTHERS.

IF WOULD YOU LIKE TO VIEW TONIGHT'S EPISODE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN" AGAIN, GO TO GO TO WCNY.ORG/BEHINDTHEWOMAN.

ROGERS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE BEHIND THE WOMAN TEAM THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.