Professional Documents
Culture Documents
How has your life experience made you the leader you are today?
Every experience in my life, whether it was good or bad, has helped to shape the
individual and professional that I am today. My two sisters and I were raised by a single
mother. To watch her do it all on her own with courage, strength and determination
gave me a unique perspective growing up, which contributes greatly to the leader I am
today. One of her biggest lessons was that you do not get rewarded for what you can
do, but rather when you do something extraordinary. She always wanted us to strive for
more and instilled in me the expectation that I could do and be anything I wanted. This
gave me the tenacity to overcome any gender or racial challenges I faced to get to
where I am today. Something my mother practiced that I have brought with me to every
job I've had is to create a "collective wisdom" - which is to surround yourself with others
who fill the gaps and strengthen your weaknesses. I seek coaches or mentors who are
better at the things that I want to improve upon, no matter their age or level - because
expertise and excellence exist in many places. In return, I am passionate about "paying
it forward" to others with the knowledge I have learned.
My experiences growing up are the filter through which I lead my life and my work and I
wouldn't trade any of those experiences for anything. I hope that how I conduct myself
in business is reflective of the values that my mother instilled in me - excellence,
integrity and compassion.
How has your previous employment experience aided your position at Dow?
I started working when I was 14 years old as a cashier in a local drugstore. I
immediately felt a connection with wanting to succeed and enjoyed doing the things
that my job required. In high school, I worked as a receptionist at IBM in a work study
program which was a defining role. I became intrigued by the corporate world - the
dress code, the way people conducted themselves, the responsibility, basically
everything it entailed - this inspired me to want to become part of this world someday.
Each small lesson I learned during these experiences has helped to shape who I am
today with Dow.
I started at Dow as a college intern because I needed money for my tuition at Howard
University and the jobs I had at the time were not providing enough support. Interning
at Dow was one of the best decisions I have made and I have thoroughly enjoyed
learning and growing during my 20-year career at Dow.
What have the highlights and challenges been during your tenure at Dow?
The main highlight of my career is witnessing and enabling the success of my team. It's
a great feeling for me to see people I work with move closer to their definition of
success- whether that is moving to other countries, getting a promotion or simply
helping them to clarify how they define their personal definition of success. I'm
fortunate to work for a Company that gives me the opportunity to help people inside of
Dow and in the greater community.
One of my greatest highlights professionally, and personally, was when I lived and
worked in Shanghai, China. I had the opportunity to not only better understand my role
as a global citizen, but to also help drive the business and financial earnings. I am so
grateful for this experience to develop both professionally and personally, travelling all
over Asia and India, engaging with amazing people and learning every day. It was a
pivotal time for me personally and professionally because I took on a new role, worked
in a new business and was immersed in a new culture and geography all at once. The
experience was amazing and it allowed me to expand my views and stretch in ways I
thought were unimaginable.
I don't view challenges with a negative connotation. I have accepted every challenging
role as an opportunity to push my limits, personally grow and make a difference for
Dow. The most challenging role for me with Dow was the opportunity I was presented
with upon my return from Shanghai. My new role was all about driving change
management in a business that had been successful for many years. I was charged
with creating new, innovative ways to go to market and deliver new business growth.
It's easy to change something when the system is failing, but it becomes more
challenging when it is already successful. It's only been successful because of the
outstanding team members that work in this space, the commitment of the business
leaders and the experts with whom we have collaborated.
What advice can you offer women who are looking for a career in marketing?
Firstly, it's important to be clear about your professional priorities - particularly knowing
what you want and where you want to be. Once you understand these things you can
build a plan to get there. Marketing is fundamental to the success of any enterprise and
true marketing experts make a financial impact on a company's bottom-line. To be a
marketing professional, it is important to build your capabilities through education and
experience to differentiate your skill sets and create a work ethic that is unparalleled. It
is also important to follow the evolution of the industry. "Marketing" can mean different
things in different industries and while the 4Ps (product, price, place and promotion)
don't fundamentally change, industries are constantly evolving to create new ways to
reach constituents. It is important to keep up with the latest trends and technologies to
sustain your relevance in this evolving field.
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
For me it is about work life choices vs. balance. We all have 24-hours in a day and we
have to choose what we do to fill that time. When we make a commitment to one
activity over another we are prioritizing what is most important to us at that particular
time. It isn't about feeling like I have it all - it is about owning my decisions and the
subsequent consequences. I am fortunate enough to be married to an amazing man
who enables me to focus a significant amount of time on work, but there are also family
times and events that deserve my undivided attention that are non-negotiable. At
times the balance tips towards work and others towards family, but I take full
ownership of which way the scale tips.
Earlier this year I publically committed to not sending e-mails to my team on weekends,
holidays and vacations unless it was urgent. When I am with my family or on vacation I
work hard to be completely focused (as I am when I'm at work), and this provides me
with a revitalization and refreshment that is critical to sustained performance. The
action of disconnecting and leaving my team in charge in my absence shows them that
I trust them. This in turn, has elevated my team's exposure and positioned them for
more leadership opportunities. It's win-win solution for all.
What do you think is the biggest issue for women in the workplace?
Gender inequality of pay. Huffington Post recently published an article that indicated
women won't make as much money as men for at least another 75 years - and that is
simply too long to wait. We have many women who are the sole providers of their
households, either by choice or by consequence. When women are fairly and
appropriately compensated it has a direct impact on families, communities and
societies around the world. In the end, fighting for gender equality of pay is the RIGHT
thing to do, we owe it to our daughters and granddaughters and to ourselves.
How has mentorship made a difference in your professional and personal life?
Mentorship has made a significant difference if not "the" difference in my career. And it
has been a contributing factor to my current success at Dow. A number of people have
been gracious enough to teach, share and even advocate on my behalf by opening
doors and removing barriers. From a personal perspective, I am fortunate to have had a
number of people "stand in the gap" for me by coaching and helping ensure I met my
potential. It has absolutely taken a village in my case. And when you have had as many
mentors as I have, I believe it is a small price to pay - by "paying it forward" to others
and sharing what I have learned as knowledge sharing can truly help someone else
while also impacting individual and corporate objectives.
Which other female leaders do you admire and why?
Ursula Burns - 1st African-American female CEO of a Fortune 500 Company Xerox and
one of Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Women. She was raised by a single mom, so I
feel a similarity to her and admire where she has been and what she's achieved. I had
the pleasure of meeting her last year at Dow and appreciated her transparency and
self-awareness.
Hillary Rodham Clinton - Former United States Secretary of State, U.S. Senator and First
Lady of the United States. Regardless of your political affiliation, you can't argue that
she has persevered through adversity and has played a key role in policy.
Indra Nooyi - Chairperson and CEO of the second largest food and beverage company,
PepsiCo. She is a highly educated, naturalized American who is recognized as one of
Forbes' World's 100 Most Powerful Women, and she also made Forbes' World's Most
Powerful Moms list.
Most importantly, Karen Cayce - My Mom. My mom is the woman I strive to be most
like, simply because she played the deck of life she was dealt with high integrity,
optimism and grace.
What have your current highlights AS WELL AS challenges been through the
tenure on Dow?
The main highlight connected with THE employment can be witnessing ALONG
WITH enabling your success regarding MY PERSONAL team. This has the feeling
for me to help see anyone i WORK WITH move closer to their definition
connected with success- whether This can be carrying to be able to different
countries, finding a great promotion or perhaps very easily helping them for you
to clarify how they define its Particular definition connected with success. now i
am fortunate to be able to perform pertaining to an firm The item offers me
your own opportunity to be able to people inside of Dow AS WELL AS in the far
better community.
One regarding MY PERSONAL greatest highlights professionally, IN ADDITION TO
personally, \'m my partner and i lived AND worked inside Shanghai, China. my
spouse and i had your current opportunity for you to not single much better
recognize OUR role to be a global citizen, but to likewise support drive this
company ALONG WITH financial earnings. now i am so grateful about this
experience to help produce both professionally AND personally, travelling most
over Asia IN ADDITION TO India, engaging inside astounding a person ALONG
WITH learning every day. This \'m a pivotal time intended for me personally AND
ALSO professionally because the my spouse and i took in a whole new role,
worked within a brand new business IN ADDITION TO are immersed within a
fresh culture IN ADDITION TO geography just about all from once. the experience
was remarkable AS WELL AS That authorized me to help expand THE views AS
WELL AS stretch within measures when i thought were unimaginable.
I don't see challenges which has a negative connotation. my spouse and i have
acknowledged every tricky role for opportunity to help push OUR limits,
personally grow IN ADDITION TO Build a difference intended for Dow. your current
just about all challenging role regarding me within Dow are ones opportunity we
am presented inside on to MY OWN return via Shanghai. THE new role are
exactly about driving change management with a corporation The idea had been
successful intended for many years. i \'m charged throughout creating new,
innovative ways to help check out market AS WELL AS deliver new business
growth. It has straightforward to change something As soon as your technique
is failing, but This becomes more challenging Any time That is already
successful. It\'s singular been successful by the incredible department members
The idea perform inside the actual space, ones commitment of your company
leaders as well as the experts inside whom my spouse and i have collaborated.
What solutions may anyone provide women whom usually are to find an
employment in marketing?
Firstly, It\'s mouse clicks to be able to be clear information on ones professional
priorities - particularly knowing what an individual want AND ALSO during which
you want to be. just after a person understand most of these things You will
Make a plan for getting there. Marketing is usually fundamental to the success of
your enterprise AND precise marketing experts Produce a financial impact from a
corporation\'s bottom-line. as a marketing professional, This is ticks for you to
generate the features during education ALONG WITH experience in order to
differentiate your own skill sets AND ALSO Create a run ethic This can be
unparalleled. This really is in addition ticks to help follow your own evolution of
any industry. "Marketing" can mean various other details in various industries
ALONG WITH though your own 4Ps (product, price, place IN ADDITION TO
promotion) don't fundamentally change, industries tend to be constantly evolving to
write down new ways to reach constituents. It is mouse clicks to help keep up
through the latest trends IN ADDITION TO technologies to sustain ones relevance
in the actual evolving field.
How do an individual maintain an work/life balance?
For me This really is about operate life choices vs. balance. when i many have
24-hours throughout an day AS WELL AS i be asked to Pick out what my
partner and i do for you to complete It time. When when i Produce a
commitment to be able to one activity greater than another my partner and i are
prioritizing What\'s most mouse clicks to help us all in The idea Personal time.
That isn't all about feeling just like when i have The item almost all : This really
is about owning MY decisions and the subsequent consequences. i am fortunate
enough to be able to always be married to help a great astounding man who
enables me to help focus a important range of day on work, but There are
family times AS WELL AS events The idea deserve OUR undivided attention which
are non-negotiable. in times your balance tips for the run IN ADDITION TO others
on the family, but we consider full ownership that way ones scale tips.
What do an individual think would be the biggest issue with regard to women with
the workplace?
Gender inequality of pay. Huffington Post recently published the article This
pointed out women won't make As much income Just as men pertaining to at the
least another 75 many years - AND This is quickly too long for you to wait. we
have many women whom are generally the individual companies regarding
it\'s households, either from choice or even by consequence. Whenever women
are generally fairly AND appropriately compensated It has a great immediately
impact from families, communities AND societies In regards to the world. in the
end, fighting with regard to gender equality of paycheck could be the appropriate
thing in order to do, i owe It to THE daughters IN ADDITION TO granddaughters
AND to help ourselves.
How possesses mentorship designed a difference With your professional IN
ADDITION TO Individual life?
Mentorship features intended a essential difference if not "the" difference in
THE career. ALONG WITH It has been the contributing factor to help MY OWN
current success from Dow. a number of you may be gracious enough to teach,
share and even advocate at MY PERSONAL behalf from opening doors ALONG
WITH removing barriers. through the Individual perspective, i\'m fortunate to
have had quite a few people "stand for the gap" regarding me through coaching
IN ADDITION TO helping make certain i met MY OWN potential. This has surely
accepted a good village within MY case. IN ADDITION TO While you use had
Equally numerous mentors As when i have, my partner and i believe it is an
small price to pay for : via "paying That forward" to be able to others AS WELL
AS sharing what i have learned Equally knowledge sharing will certainly this
season assist somebody else though in addition impacting individual ALONG
WITH corporate objectives.
return, now i\'m passionate about "paying This forward" for you to others by the
knowledge i have learned.
My experiences growing up tend to be the filter during which my spouse and i lead
THE life ALONG WITH THE operate ALONG WITH my partner and i wouldn't trade
almost any connected with those experiences with regard to anything. i hope It
how my spouse and i accomplish myself in corporation is actually reflective of
the values The item THE mother instilled with me -- excellence, integrity IN
ADDITION TO compassion.
How possesses ones previous job experience aided the area in Dow?
I switched on logging when i am 14 a long time old like a cashier within an
local drugstore. we instantly felt a connection with wanting for you to succeed
ALONG WITH enjoyed doing your points It MY career required. with high school,
my spouse and i worked being a receptionist at IBM inside a great operate study
technique in which \'m a good defining role. we became intrigued from the
corporate world - your current dress code, your way a person conducted
themselves, your current responsibility, basically everything The item entailed -the particular inspired me to help want for you to always be segment of your
world someday. Each small lesson i learned throughout these kinds of experiences
has granted for you to shape whom i\'m now with Dow.
I turned on in Dow being a college intern because the we required funds for
THE tuition from Howard University and the jobs my partner and i had on the day
were not providing enough support. Interning on Dow feel single of the Best
decisions i have created AS WELL AS my spouse and i have thoroughly enjoyed
learning IN ADDITION TO growing while in OUR 20-year employment at Dow.
What have the highlights AND ALSO challenges been during ones tenure at Dow?
The main highlight involving OUR job is actually witnessing AS WELL AS enabling
your current success connected with MY OWN team. It\'s the feeling pertaining to
me to help check out anyone my spouse and i WORK WITH move closer to be
able to their definition associated with success- no matter if This really is carrying
to help different countries, obtaining a great promotion or maybe easily helping
them to be able to clarify how they define it is Particular definition associated with
success. i am fortunate to be able to work intended for a business This gives
me your own opportunity to be able to an individual inside Dow AS WELL AS with
the better community.
One associated with MY OWN most significant highlights professionally, AND
personally, feel i lived AND worked with Shanghai, China. my partner and i had
the opportunity in order to not only much better recognize MY PERSONAL role
being a global citizen, but to additionally assist drive the organization AND
financial earnings. i am so grateful on this experience to help develop both
professionally IN ADDITION TO personally, travelling most in excess of Asia IN
ADDITION TO India, engaging with amazing anyone AS WELL AS learning every
day. It are a pivotal day pertaining to me personally IN ADDITION TO
professionally considering that the we took from a fresh role, worked throughout
the latest company AND are immersed in the latest culture AS WELL AS
geography many in once. the experience \'m astounding IN ADDITION TO The
Indra Nooyi - Chairperson AND CEO of your second biggest foodstuff AND ALSO
beverage company, PepsiCo. She can be a highly educated, naturalized American
which can be acknowledged As individual connected with Forbes' World's 100
just about all Powerful Women, ALONG WITH she in addition designed Forbes'
World's most Powerful Moms list.
Most importantly, Karen Cayce - MY PERSONAL Mom. MY PERSONAL mom will be
the woman my spouse and i strive for you to always be all like, quickly because
she played your deck of life she was dealt in high integrity, optimism ALONG WITH
grace.