Woman of the Week: Shelly Stotzer

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Here at Executive Elements, we like to feature fantastic women we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Shelly Stotzer

My Current Job/Company:
Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer / Highlights for Children

My Birthdate:
04.03.1972

My Work:
I lead an amazing team of people who are focused on extending the Highlights mission of “helping children become their best selves.” My work includes aligning a diverse team of analytics, operations, brand communications, domestic and international sales & marketing, and strategic planning leaders to work within our values system to drive profitable business growth. I believe we can do the right things, in the right ways.

My Passion:
People. Giving people the benefit of the doubt, being open-minded and respectful.

My Family:
I have a supportive husband, Joe and two kind, smart, loving and funny daughters – Cambria, age 9 and Ava, age 7. Our family also includes our anxious rescue Goldendoodle, Max.

My Heroes:
My Grandmother. She was a strong, passionate, loving woman. She knew how to laugh and how to love.

My Escape:
The outdoors, especially the beach. I also love a great cup of coffee in the tranquility of our backyard.

My Pet Peeve:
When files are distributed without the right print settings (what a waste of time for all recipients) and when a question is answered with “Because that’s how we’ve always done it.” (Really, is that an acceptable explanation?)

My Indulgence:
Massage. I shoot for once every 6-8 weeks, but would like one every day.

My Roots:
Assiduous, frugal, family-focused, simple and grateful.

My Future:
Is what I make of it……it looks full, positive, productive and fun.

My Love:
Hugs from my daughters, the words “I love you, Mom,” and genuine and deep friendship.

My Movie:
“Mary Poppins.” The timeless message in the story and the combination of fantasy and reality makes it one of the only movies I’ve watched multiple times. Plus, who doesn’t want to sing “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” once in a while?

My Quote on Life:
“Anything is possible.”

My Accessory:
Optimism. Does that count? I try to wear it every day.

My Advice to Young Women:
Surround yourself with a variety of amazing women who lift you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Take the high road, even when it’s easier to take the alternative. And, always lift others.

How I Balance it All:
Having clear priorities and resetting them as new information becomes available. There is ALWAYS a way to do what’s most important. At first, the solution just might not be obvious or comfortable. Keep searching. You CAN take that business meeting AND make it to your daughter’s recital.

The Best Present…is Being Present

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By Chasity Kuttrus

How can it already be Thanksgiving?  If you’re like me, you feel like the Fourth of July was just yesterday!

But time marches on, doesn’t it? And try as we might, we can’t slow it down. But we can make better use of every moment we have. We can take some measures to be more present in our lives. When we’re present, we enjoy things, moments and people more. We take less for granted and we feel more fulfilled.

Here are some ideas to help you slow down a bit, to live in the “now” and enjoy your life just a bit more this holiday season.

Slow Down
That’s a tough one, especially during this time of the year! But sometimes by slowing down, you get more done. Rushing leads to mistakes, frenzy and frustration. Act more slowly, deliberately and thoughtfully. You’ll be surprised at the difference it will make.

Sit
Why do you have to be doing all the time? Just sit. When you have a moment between meetings or appointments, quit checking your email, scanning a magazine or making a quick call. Try just sitting.

Pay Attention
While you’re sitting, quit thinking about what’s going to happen next. Look around you and see what’s happening right now. If you’re so busy thinking about “what’s next” you’ll miss something really important, like the sweet smile on your daughter’s face, the sun bouncing off the clouds, or the very moment when the fragrance of your pumpkin pie starts to fill the house.

Observe
Be in a constant state of observation. Sit back and watch things unfold from where you sit. See how people act and interact. You’ll learn a lot about others – and the world – just by watching for a change.

Listen
When someone talks to you – put down the phone, look away from the computer or TV or from whatever you’re doing. Listen, really listen, to what they’re saying to you. Ask questions and repeat what they’ve said back to them so they know you’re truly engaged.

The next five weeks are going to be crazy ones. The irony is that the holidays are supposed to be about being together and spending time with loved ones, yet we spend so much time stressed out and frantic. This year, try something different. Be present. Because the only thing your family and friends really want from you….is you.

Inspirational Insights – Caroline Golon

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We are lucky to have so many tremendous women in our community! You’ve met quite a few of them in our Woman of the Week feature. Now, we’re going to ask them some probing questions and see what kind of insights we can glean from these talented, successful women. Some are Executive Elements clients and some are not. Some are seasoned professionals and some are just starting out in their career. And all are super smart!

Caroline Golon

Today we’re chatting with Caroline Golon, founder of High Paw Media, a content development, PR and social media firm.

EE: What do you know now that you wish you’d known when you first started out?

Caroline: In my first job, I had the most incredible bosses. I was a little 22-year-old living in New York City, trying to figure it all out. I was so naïve about so much! These ladies took me under their wings professionally and personally. They taught me things, let me learn and make mistakes and allowed me to create my own projects and do things the way I thought they should be done. I worked in a fast-paced, fun and creative environment with bosses who cared about my success. I didn’t realize at the time what a gift that was! I thought that all jobs would be like that. Unfortunately, they weren’t. I wish I’d appreciated my situation at the time and stayed in that job longer. I had no idea how good I had it!

But today, I am completely appreciative of all the great work and incredible clients I have. I learned not to take things for granted. Thank you, Pat and Jenny!

Being a Mom May Make Marissa Mayer More Effective

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By Chasity Kuttrus

Yahoo's new CEO, Marissa Mayer

Yahoo's new CEO, Marissa Mayer

There was interesting news in the corporate world this week. Yahoo! announced that it has hired Marissa Mayer, a former Google executive, as their new CEO. She’s tasked with leading the technology company into new territories. Well, that’s incredible news…..a new female CEO taking the reins!

But wait one minute… here’s the real news; she’s pregnant! What does all this say about Yahoo? Well, in Marissa’s own words: “They showed their evolved thinking.”

Yes, they did. And I’m guessing when push came to shove, someone recognized and pointed out what I believe to be true: many working mothers possess a certain extra motivation and drive that can make them extremely effective in high level executive roles.

Really?

Yes. Any working professional will tell you that if you surround yourself with the right people and the right tools, your job becomes much easier. The successful working moms that I know seem to have some sort of “work-life integration.” They have surrounded themselves with good people who support them at work. And they’ve done the same thing for their home life. They have support and help with their children, their homes, their grocery shopping, their housecleaning, and so on. They know when they get home they don’t want to spend time doing the laundry; they want quality time with their kids. True, not every working person has this luxury but I’m sure that Marissa does.

While Marissa has stated that she’ll be working through her maternity leave, no doubt she’ll have plenty of help on all fronts.

What good can come of this?

If she is successful and Yahoo! is successful, she will be the new “case study,” demonstrating how women can manage it all…with some good quality support. And, I believe that many women, when they are their busiest, with the most demanding schedules and the most important decisions to be made, thrive.

Why?

In a nutshell, because they have no time for nonsense. Sometimes leaders can wait too long for answers…and to make decisions. For Marissa and for all working moms, every second, every minute matters. I doubt she will allow a whole lot of politics, hot air or pettiness in her ranks, because she simply doesn’t have the time.

This built-in, mandatory hyper focus that many working moms employ may well be Marissa’s secret to success.

What’s your reaction to the news? Are you like Yahoo and “evolved” in your thinking? Are you Marissa’s greatest supporter? Or are you her greatest critic? Personally, I want nothing more than Marissa to be wildly successful. She has a lot of women cheering her on. Taking on the Chief Executive position is a bold, courageous step in anyone’s career. She’s doing it at a time in her life when she has some serious competing demands. While there are very few examples out there, I want my own daughter to know that she can be a CEO AND A MOM. One does not exclude the other.

8 Things a Dad Can Give His Daughter

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8 Things a Dad Can Give His Daughter
by Chasity Kuttrus

It’s Father’s Day and what a great opportunity to celebrate all the wonderful men in our world!

While my role is to elevate, develop and promote women in the workforce, let’s face it ladies – we won’t get ahead without the support of amazing men!

Ernst & Young recently put together a compelling article about how women who have a male “sponsor” significantly increase their likelihood of getting ahead in the work force.

With all the social media, technology and communication outlets that create self-image issues with our young girls, they need all the support we can give them.

My personal belief is that it starts at home. Young girls need a lot of positive support and reinforcement and it begins with Mom and Dad. I want nothing more than our Katie to have an incredibly confident, happy life and this is on my mind all the time!

Today and every day, I’d like to celebrate the guy who taught me some fundamental things that have stayed with me forever. Here’s to my incredible dad! And here’s to all the dads out there including Katie’s dad….my husband, Jack.

Fathers, teach your daughter these 8 things and she will love you forever!

1. She is a part of something bigger…she is Family!
Let her know you will always lover her and love her mother. Having a strong family unit creates the daily confidence she needs. Model the loving marriage you want her to have someday. Have fun!

2. She is Unique….and she is Amazing!
Tell her this regularly. Affirm it. Believe it. Let her know that her natural beauty is all the attractiveness she’ll ever need. Remind her that you love her exactly the way she is. Tell her over and over and over: it’s not okay to be like “someone else.”

3. She is Interesting!
Teach her to be intrigued by other places, people and things. When she is excited about something new, you must show interest and excitement. My dad loves the world and traveling and guess what? So do I! Live life fully!

4. She is Thoughtful…she is Respectful!
Yes, you need to help your daughter be confident and independent, but let her be respectful of others and of those who are not like her. She needs to learn to treat everyone with dignity – the military, teachers, neighbors, her parents! This gift of reinforcement has helped me a great deal in life. Experience everything.

5. She is Beautiful!
Show her examples of beautiful. Being attractive is being authentic. Young women that wear clothes that are revealing are crying out for attention. Teach your daughter that there are boundaries to what is acceptable and what is not.

6. She is Smart…she is Financially Independent!
Let your daughter figure out how to live on her own. What a wonderful sense of self confidence that will give her. This is liberating. My dad taught me early on how to live on a budget. He shared with me that debt is dangerous. He showed me the basics of how to manage my money and ways to save. I still give myself an allowance every week and when it’s gone….it’s gone!

7. She is Content!
Teach her to be content. Don’t let her fall victim to hyper-consumerism. It is a path she won’t like. Recognize “enough.” Give generously. This understanding comes from home. Be giving.

8. She is Your Love….Forever!
Guys come and go but your daddy will always love you. Above all else, show that your love is unconditional. You may not always like your little girls’ behavior, decisions and outcomes, but you will always love her! Make sure above all else, she knows this.

Thanks, Daddy. I know you love me forever!

Quote on Assertiveness

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“The basic difference between being assertive and being aggressive is how our words and behavior affect the rights and well being of others.”
-Sharon Anthony Bower

The Art of Assertiveness

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Anyone – male or female – can benefit from a few lessons in being assertive. But as women, we need to learn a few more nuances in order to be effectively assertive.

In her article, The Fine Art of Female Assertiveness,, Marcia Reynolds shares her own experiences learning this “art,” and some tips you can give your female leaders to strike that balance between being assertive and being considered aggressive and pushy.

Woman of the Week – Karyl Brown

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Karyl Brown

My Current Job/Company:
Director, Risk and Regulatory Administration at H. D. Smith in Springfield, Illinois

My Birthdate:
July 15th, 1965

My Work:
Regulatory compliance for a national pharmaceutical wholesaler.   I develop process improvements, controls and collaborative  customer solutions!

My Passion:
My Family and Ohio State Football

My Family:
My best friend and soul mate, Dave; daughters Kennedy [16] and Lyndsey [13]

My Hero:
My dear friend who has been living with stage 4 breast cancer since June 2004!  She is such an ongoing inspiration.

My Escape:
Curling up with a blanket, a good book and a glass of wine! The beach is nice too:)

My Pet Peeve:
A lack of accountability and poor customer service

My Indulgence:
Naps

My Roots:
Blue Collar/humble

My Future:
Full of unknown opportunities

My Love:
Faith, family and friends

My Favorite Movie:
Top Gun

My Quote on Life:
Character is who you are when no one is watching!

My Accessory:
I love pearls

My Mentor/Coach:
I often rely on the advice from several friends who are wiser than I am!

My Advice to Young Women:
Be confident and accountable.  Believe in yourself and your ideas.  Never underestimate the power of girlfriends, so take time now to develop these friendships!   Learn how to have non-electronic conversations and relationships (a.k.a., real face to face conversations!)

How I Balance it All:
My faith keeps me grounded.

Encourage Creativity

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Too many female executives think of themselves as “non creatives.” But creativity isn’t necessarily about painting or writing or the things we often associate with the word. It’s essentially about looking at things in a new way.

In fact, the definition of creativity is:

The ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination.

Your rising stars need encouragement to think creatively. But they also need some explanation around what “thinking creatively” actually means. Because, most of the time, successful business leaders are already “thinking creatively” and don’t even realize it! You need to encourage more of that behavior.

In his post about creativity, Think Smart, Brian Tracy offers some ways to help leaders tap into their mojo and think differently about solutions to business problems, challenges and issues.

Check it out. And then get your team’s creative juices flowing!

Perspective on: Creativity

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Creativity and problem solving skills are two of the biggest competitive advantages any associate can bring to an organization. If you want to add value to your organization, think about how to solve problems before situations even become problems!