A Seat at the Table Leading Women Executives

In this episode, Kelly Tufts, Vice President, Field Talent at Discover and Leading Women Executives Fellow, Spring 2015, discusses her focus on finding meaningful and impactful ways to lead with purpose. In her role at Discover, Kelly has been integrally involved in the opening of a new contact center in Chatham, a disinvested neighborhood in Chicago. Through this work and other civic roles, Kelly is able to help employees, customers and community members thrive, as well as chart her personal growth as a leader. Kelly also shares how adopting a growth mindset has empowered her to serve as a customer champion, lifelong learner and collaborative connector.
 
Discussion Questions
 
We encourage you to connect with your peer board, team or colleagues to discuss the podcast. Please use the following questions to guide your conversation:
Questions:
1.     How does your organization lead with purpose?
2.     Where might opportunities exist for your organization to take a hyper-local approach and impact local businesses?
3.     What can you get involved with to help you foster a growth mindset?
 
Highlights:
How Discover Leads with Purpose [4:59]
Finding Success by Taking a Hyper-Local Approach [9:40]
Leadership Requires a Growth Mindset [11:35]
Empowering Women through PayTech Women [14:06]
Being a Curious, Lifelong Learner [16:46]

In this episode, Jennifer DelVecchio, Senior Director Global Content and Culture at McDonald’s (Leading Women Executives Fellow, Fall 2022), shares her leadership journey, that has allowed her to travel the world while tackling unique and challenging growth opportunities. Throughout these experiences, Jennifer has fostered and developed her creativity as a way to approach new challenges, solve complex problems, and find new ways to connect with others.
 
Discussion Questions
 
We encourage you to connect with your peer board, team or colleagues to discuss the podcast. Please use the following questions to guide your conversation:
1.     How might the changing nature of communities impact the future of your organization's business and brand?
2.     Where are opportunities for you to both lead in the moment and also remind your team to be in the moment and not miss the moment?
3.     How have other leaders effectively built followership for the mission they are responsible for pursuing? 
4.     How do you spend your time as a leader? Are there ways to change how you spend your time that would make you a more effective leader?
5.     What routines have you seen other leaders use to elevate their leadership impact? Are there routines that you could adopt that would elevate your leadership impact?
6.     What non-negotiables do you need to set for yourself?
 
HIGHLIGHTS:
Meeting the Moment and Not Missing the Moment [7:39]
A See and Seize Leadership Style [9:50]
The Power of Routines [11:19]
Utilizing the Language of Leadership [15:20]
Where to Spend Your Time as a Leader [20:16]
ROI Can Mean ‘Return on Inspiration’ [22:12]
Using the FOAM Method to Craft a Compelling Story [23:48]
Tapping into Your Creativity [27:42]

In this episode, Ilene Gordon, former CEO & Chairman of Ingredion, and her husband, Bram Bluestein, former management consultant, share their advice and successful strategies for dual-career families. Juggling family, relationships and work responsibilities is not an easy task, but over the course of their 40+ years of marriage, Ilene and Bram learned how to balance their robust careers while employing creative methods to stay connected and engaged as a family. The priorities and insights that they share in this episode expand upon concepts from their recent book, Doubling Down: The Secret Sauce for Dual-Career Families.
 
Discussion Questions
 
We encourage you to connect with your peer board, team or colleagues to discuss the podcast. Please use the following questions to guide your conversation:
 
1.   What are your non-negotiables around family and work?
2.   What trade-offs have you made in order to maintain those non-negotiables?
3.   Do you have rituals -- like Ilene's and Bram's Sunday-night dinners -- that you have put in place to help you stay organized as a family?
4.   How do you or other leaders in your organization model work-life balance?
 
 
HIGHLIGHTS:
First Encounters: 5:38
Issues Facing Dual-Career Couples: 8:03
Finding Your Non-Negotiables: 12:06
Modeling the Behavior as Leaders: 16:30
Making Inevitable Trade-Offs: 21:15
Being Inventive to Make it All Work: 23:19

In this episode, three women leaders from Boise Cascade discuss the organization's foray into their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey. Leading Women Executives Fellows Jo Barney, Vice President Western Operations (Fall, 2021), and Bertha Villalobos, Engineered Wood Products National Accounts Manager (Fall, 2022), are joined by Trina Finley Ponce, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director, as they share the challenges that Boise Cascade is overcoming and the goals the company is striving to achieve through this important and impactful effort.
 
Discussion Questions
 
We encourage you to connect with your peer board, team or colleagues to discuss the podcast. Please use the following questions to guide your conversation:
 
1.     What is your company doing to create a sense of belonging and an environment where all employees can bring their authentic selves to work?
2.     How are you using your voice and 'seat at the table' to create pathways for other women?
3.     What advice would you give to women who are working to overcome the “confidence gap”?
4.     What questions are you and your organization asking ‘why’ about when it comes to DEI efforts?
 
HIGHLIGHTS:
Building the Foundation for DEI at Boise Cascade [7:13]
Embracing Differences [12:17]
Navigating Conversations to Foster Change (14:37)
The Importance of Being Intentional When Recruiting and Hiring (20:00)
Keep Asking “Why?” (23:41)
Boise Cascade’s DEI Accomplishments to Date (29:23)
Words of Advice (32:32)

Linda Nolan, Senior Managing Director at Northern Trust, and Leading Women Executives Fellow (Fall, 2011), shares how core values provide a foundation for leadership style; and how alignment of your values with those of your employer can empower you to lead with your colleagues' and clients' best interests in mind. Linda discusses how embracing this servant leadership philosophy guides her professional and civic roles, where she strives to lead with kindness and compassion.
 
Discussion Questions
 
We encourage you to connect with your peer board, team or colleagues to discuss the podcast. Please use the following questions to guide your conversation:
 
1.     What is the personal, family and community legacy you want to leave behind?
2.     In the spirit of "People don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care", what are ways you can authentically convey as a leader how much you care?
 
HIGHLIGHTS:
Finding the Right Space and Place as a Leader [5:18]
The Financial Power of Women [8:07]
What Executives Need to Understand [12:13]
Women and Philanthropy [13:33]
Focus on the Servant Leadership Model [18:06]

In this episode, Deborah Gordon, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chief Legal Officer for Memorial Hermann Health System, discusses her career journey and becoming an authentic leader. Deborah explores issues that many women leaders face, including building an executive brand, overcoming imposter syndrome and investing in your own personal and professional development.
 
SHOW NOTES:
The Opportunities and Challenges of Working in the Healthcare Industry [4:27]
Expanding into New Roles [8:57]
Executive Brands are Always Evolving [12:09]
Finding Your Authentic Self as a Leader [14:06]
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome [17:42]
How to Step Up as a Leader [20:34]
The Benefit of Bi-Directional Relationships [23:18]
Connecting with the Community [31:40]
 
Discussion Questions:
·       How are you actively working to evolve your personal brand?
·       What are some examples of authentic leadership that you have observed recently?
·       What do you tell yourself/others you mentor to help overcome feelings of imposter syndrome?
·       How can you find ways to connect with your community and reap the benefits of those networks and new opportunities?