There is absolutely zero irony in the fact that Women’s Entrepreneurship Day falls on the same week as the anniversary of the business formation of SuiteSpot Talent Solutions. “Anniversary Week'' is always a time of deep reflection for me, as I look back over my career journey, pivotal milestones and meetings along the way, ultimately leading me to a place where I am blessed beyond measure to do work I love every day surrounded by the most ridiculously talented, incredibly intelligent and hardest working women.
Some may call my journey a series of fortunate events, and while that’s true, there is absolutely zero coincidence that the vast majority of these course-altering intersections included an amazing cast of entrepreneurial women.
It was a sharp, rising star in Marketing who became the first legal administrative placement for our then attorney-based recruiting firm. She may not know this, but the recruitment journey she and I shared changed the entire trajectory of our firm and hence, my professional path. In the years that followed, we adjusted our business model and became THE trusted and respected go-to for legal executive recruiting.
It was a trailblazer, a singular woman amongst a highly esteemed and highly competitive COO candidate pool, who emerged the clear frontrunner to lead her firm into a new era. There were many more like her, and although I didn’t realize at the time the lasting impact they would make upon their industry, their firms, and their people, I am not surprised. To this day, they lead the charge as Directors and Chiefs in Legal Operations, Marketing, Business Development, Accounting, Human Resources, Strategy, Client Relations — you name it. These are the women who, one-by-one and then day-after-day, continue to level the playing field and validate the absolute necessity for more female executives in the boardroom, client-facing, and involved in strategy and policy and decision-making. Being even a small part of their respective journeys was truly an honor that I appreciate more with time.
It was an old friend, whom I met years before “by accident,” casually catching up over coffee in downtown Savannah when we realized we had both reached impasses and inequities in our respective careers. We spent all of five minutes bemoaning the predicaments before shifting quickly to action-mode:
Step One - The obstacles would not be viewed as setbacks, but rather, catalysts for opportunity.
Step Two - Grab ahold of said opportunities and work with ferocity to bring them to fruition.
And we did. She is absolutely crushing it, despite working in a saturated field, by creating on her own terms, delivering with the highest quality and reliability, and having a lot of fun in the process.
It was the first client under a new business umbrella, who serendipitously called on THE VERY DAY we filed our business license four years ago. More specifically, it was that very first hire, who had a less than traditional career path in legal but all. the. right. stuff. for the job, for the client, and for her. She remains a shining star within that firm today. Answering that initial call was answering a greater need we knew existed and one that we strive to meet every day.
The story holds true today.
It is the business partner who meets you on the field of play, engaged and committed to making the firm’s investment worthwhile. Even through growing pains. Even through pushback. Even through change. Even through a pandemic. These are the women who diligently fight the good fight for what is best for the firm and for the people. These are the women who just ‘get it.’
It is the colleague. Advisor. Friend. Strategist. The person who forces me to raise my game, command my talents, and know my value. She plays a relentless game of devil’s advocate, often to the point where I wonder if she just really likes to argue. In reality, she knows the immeasurable gift of both giving and getting that feedback, as it forces us to interrogate our realities and discard any outdated or unproductive thought patterns that might be keeping us from truly finding our sweet spot.
It is every woman on my team. I can’t say enough about them. They are all entrepreneurial in their own unique ways, but what remains consistent is their drive, their professionalism, their work ethic and their delivery. Their ability to pivot. To step up in times of all-hands-on-deck need. And doing so for all the right reasons. There is no selfish motive. No glory sought. No job too big or too small.
It is, and always has been, my daughters, who may be some of the most entrepreneurial women I know. One I carted to college classes where she, in very short order, won the hearts of the toughest professors and became the unofficial departmental mascot. One I carried through college finals and across the graduation stage - in utero - although it could be said that she carried me before making her grand entrance to the world 10 days later. Another continues to explore the endless possibilities of the future, and by age 12 had already built an entire community out of cardboard, started at least four direct-sales businesses, coordinated the best backyard holiday show in town, drawing neighbors far and wide. Of course, she was gracious enough to extend a friends-and-family discount in my direction in exchange for providing the venue.
Some of these women fall into multiple categories within these descriptions. Some have no idea the difference they have made and continue to make:
It was the star who taught me it’s never too late to chart a new path, if only we remain brave enough to try.
It was the trailblazer who reminded me to show up with my full arsenal of gifts, tell my story, and, may the best woman win.
It was the friend who demonstrated the value of boundaries and staying the course while staying true to myself.
It was the unconventional candidate who affirmed that trusting one’s instincts almost never fails, but fear of the creative almost always does.
It is the business partner who validates that TRUE success is manifested through GENUINE collaboration, REAL teamwork, TANGIBLE fostering of said team, and DEMONSTRATED integrity.
It is the colleague who proves that intentionality, perseverance, and investing in the right people elevates your life - on all fronts - in ways you’d never imagine.
It is the team of women at work and the team of women at home who remind me of just how much can be accomplished when a group of intelligent, driven and compassionate women convene on a shared mission. Stand back, folks; these are forces with which to be reckoned.
I would be remiss not to mention a couple of most significant individuals in the interest of focusing solely on the female entrepreneur. As a matter of fact, that is exactly what two male mentors did when they decided to invest in me as their very first hire - even after I pointed out the typos on their website in need of attention. In fact, they later told me it was that level of candor that sealed the deal, because I was willing to offer feedback for their benefit regardless of the outcome of our interviews.
Their investment in me helped create and mold a most unexpected career path. It shaped who I became as a professional and as a business owner. Their investment in me included teaching and training and, in the beginning, answering a litany of questions. More importantly, their investment included trust and backing, two essentials for growth, fostering creativity and effectiveness. They spent more than 15 years investing, and they spent exactly zero moments worrying if they’d made the right decision all those years prior. Their investment reminds me that when all is said and done, it starts and ends with support and mentorship to be continually paid forward. I am forever grateful for the opportunity, the investment, and for the reminder of my responsibility to do the same.
I plan to carpe diem the heck out of it.