Maria Bartiromo and Distinguished Panel Address Record Crowd of 1,400 members and guests at Executives’ Club Breakfast
More than living up to her reputation as a network "super-nova", Maria Bartiromo, Anchor of CNBC's "Closing Bell" and Host and Managing Editor of "The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo" drew rave reviews Tuesday from a record-breaking audience of 1,400 women and men, when
she moderated a panel discussion entitled "Personal Board of Directors: Building your Powerhouse Network."
The three panel members Carol Bernick, Executive Chairman of the Board, Alberto Culver Company; Christy Carpenter, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, The Paley Center for Media; and Michele Coleman Mayes, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Legal Officer, Allstate Insurance Company more than held their own both in their presentations, and in the riveting Q&A session that any Sunday morning network news program would have been proud to air.
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Not surprisingly, Bartiromo and each panelist mentioned their mother as a “life member” of their personal board. As Bartiromo remarked, her mother reminded her that “you can’t be successful without relying around a number of people around you.” Her mom gave Bartiromo her grounded perspective with the aphorism, “Maria, you’re not chopping wood!”
Bartiromo also said that you can’t be a success without relying on a number of people around you. She said that tapping into people who have “been there and done that” is critical. She also received advice that 100 mentors, or persons from many walks of life, is recommended.
In her talk,"Building a Personal Board-- Powerful Relationships that Last" Carol Bernick, Executive Chairman of the Board, Alberto Culver Company, outlined her strategies for building a Personal Board:
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The smartest people I know ask for help. Ask for help and seek advice from all facets of your life – work, family community. Out of all of the people that you know, ask yourself who can help and who really cares? With that, be very selective as you build your posse
- I have a core posse made up of family, girlfriends and 10-12 business executives I can call on any time I need to test an idea.
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Take advantage of every opportunity to look for a new director: your corporate board work, not- for-profit boards, speakers or participants at industry events who impress you with their insights and a genuine openness. Be thoughtful and make the connection. This isn’t for a list of Facebook friends. This is a circle who will really care about you.
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An important part of your life today is probably giving back to your community with sweat equity, dollars, your insights and passion. I have found the people I’ve met through this kind of shared commitment to be an invaluable resource in helping me address all kinds of issues.
Next, in her presentation, “Key Traits to Look for When Putting Together your ‘Personal Board’” Christy Carpenter, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, The Paley Center for Media, offered these tips:
- It is essential to have a core group of friends and professional acquaintances who will give me the straight scoop as well as the encouragement and emotional support I need. Because of the informality of my group, I feel more comfortable thinking of them as my “kitchen cabinet” than a board.
- When it comes to our professional lives, I do think there is real value in consciously developing a group of advisors who extend beyond our close friends, who you feel comfortable calling on as issues and important decisions arise. My experience suggests making sure this group offers some key traits and expertise.
- First, you want people you trust have your best interests at heart and with whom you’re comfortable. If you don’t feel safe to let your hair down, you may not get advice that’s truly on target. Trust is essential.
- Secondly, they should also be people who will give you honest feedback and not simply tell you what you want to hear. Feedback, whether negative or positive, will flow more freely and be easier to receive if it comes from people who know you and care about you.
- Thirdly, you want a range of expertise and perspective. Don’t only pick people who mirror your own background, skill set, and life experience. Make sure they have the expertise that you lack.
- Fourthly, by all means include people who think big and who will push you to reach for more than you might imagine possible. Women are often more likely to doubt themselves than men. We need to make sure we get the jolt we need if we’re wallowing in self-doubt or thinking small in terms of our careers and our potential impact on the world.
- Other people sometimes see us more clearly than we see ourselves. It’s really helpful to get feedback – some of which may point out weaknesses, of course – but we also need feedback and inspiration that gets us to open up, to dream, and to take action to manifest a bigger role for ourselves. We all need to make sure that we’re aligning with our passions even if it’s a leap to get there. So find at least one person inclined to push you to be bolder. Someone who really believes in you and is inclined to ask, “why not?”
- And lastly, in considering your board, I’ve found it helpful to reflect on those one or two people who have had the biggest impact on us and whose voices we can hear in our heads from time to time, even if they are no longer living. For me – and many people – our mothers spring to mind. Perhaps for you, it was your father, or a grandparent. But regardless, it’s helpful to reflect a little on the foundational messages that were imprinted in our heads during childhood and follow us through our lives as we make key decisions and deal with life’s constant challenges. They may occupy a seat even if you’re not conscious of them – an invisible seat. So why not bring them into the circle?
Finally, Michele Coleman Mayes, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Legal Officer, Allstate Insurance Company, in her presentation, “Work Your Brand – Don’t End up a Generic!" suggested:
- Build relationships -- Look for strategic mentors -- Allies will do as well. Enlist a Board of Advisors
- Build self-awareness -- Be authentic and Seek honest feedback. Know what folks say about you when you’re not in the room. Don’t be swept away by shallow praise and look out for the tyranny of low expectations. Understand your impact on others. Know what motivates you. Consider having a peer coach (serves as a mirror). Consider using an accountability partner (within organization)
- Articulate your vision and work to achieve it; hold yourself accountable -- Do it in the language of benefit. Learn from your mistakes. Focus on the future. Be decisive. Learn to embrace the unknown. Take smart risks – get out of your comfort zone. Know, and ask for, what you want and don’t defeat yourself. Make sure people know what you know. Take credit. Be true to your values and know when to move on.
- Build a strong team -- Hire smart, diverse people. Develop your people. Delegate. Earn team’s respect. Be willing to let folks fail and learn. Have empathy. Listen a lot and carefully- especially when folks disagree with you
- Enjoy the ride -- Take care of yourself – physically and spiritually. Learn to integrate what is important. Seek and generate positive energy. Avoid multi-tasking. Learn to let go. Set boundaries. Laugh out loud and often
The Club’s quarterly Women’s Leadership Breakfasts provide a forum for talented women to gather and discuss critical career issues, be inspired by those who have blazed a trail for others and develop the next generation of women leaders. For more information on The Women’s Leadership Series, contact Gabrielle Saylor at 312/263-3500 x 31 or gsaylor@executivesclub.org.