Seize Opportunity: Women Leaders Share Insights

Resilience and being open to new opportunities - these are two of the key qualities that some of Milwaukee's top female leaders say will lead to success.

Alverno students and alumnae, plus local professionals, recently gathered for Women in the C-Suite. A panel of successful corporate leaders shared their career paths and insights at the Alverno-sponsored event.

A common thread of the panelists' stories was a willingness to change tracks and try something new.

For instance, Mary Ellen Stanek, president of Baird Funds and chief investment officer at Baird Advisors, was originally a pre-law student before deciding to pursue investment management. Marie O'Brien wasn't planning on becoming an entrepreneur but, after spotting a need for a workplace management and recruiting services, founded Enterforce Inc. in 2001 and serves as chief executive. And Susan Martin began her career as an environmental lawyer but was open to a new path that led her to become executive vice president, secretary and general counsel of publicly traded utility company WEC Energy Group Inc.

Martin recommended that young women beginning their careers not to feel trapped by well-meaning advice to follow their passion.

“An awful lot of us don't know what our passion is,” she said. Regardless of what your first job is, “do it really well. That will open doors.”

Nor should a woman wait for the right opportunity to arise. When O'Brien was ready for her next step, “I asked, and I asked again.” If the answer is no, “then you have to make the decision that it's not a good place to stay,” she said.

Besides speaking up for themselves, the panelists said female leaders on the rise must bring others with them. “Hold the door open,” Stanek said.

Teresita Becerra, a senior Management Accounting major and Doherty scholar, spoke at the event, introducing the panelists and Alverno's president, Andrea Lee, IHM. Becerra enjoyed the opportunity to meet women leaders and to hear their advice. Particularly helpful was the reminder to speak up.

“Sometimes we can be in a room where we are the only woman or the only minority and it's important to voice our opinions,” Becerra said. “As an introvert, this advice is very helpful because I tend to hold back on my ideas when I feel different from others.”

At the end of the evening, the panelists reminded the women gathered to recognize their own strength.

“We are all more powerful as women and leaders than we realize,” said Lori Craig, senior vice president and market executive at PNC Wealth Management.

Becerra, who is graduating this December, says she was heartened by the support and encouragement on display.

“I left the event with a smile on my face,” she said. “I felt great about myself and about my future knowing that there are women out there who support each other.”