Recently, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee’s CEO Agenia Clark took part in an interview with Aspire to Her. Below is some of the advice she gives to encourage others. You don’t want to miss her telling about how her perseverance got her to where she is today. Read the full story here.
Advice for Your Career Launch
Education is a matter of choosing what you want to do with it: My mother knew that education would provide value. She used to tell me, “Go and experience your education. You’re going to get something out of it. Once you get the education, no one can take that away from you.”
Treat everyone equally: Just because someone is a CEO or a VP, doesn’t mean they’re any more knowledgeable than the Executive Assistant or the janitor sweeping the floor at night. If you treat everyone the same way your career will be golden because each person brings a different set of skills and knowledge to the table.
Leaders are curious: When I hire, I like to ask, “What are you curious about?” Curious people know how to seek out a solution; they’re not just sitting there waiting for somebody to tell them what to do. Leaders constantly have to be willing to learn. If you’re not willing to learn to grow and develop your team, then you become a title. I don’t like to operate as a title.
To be empowered, empower yourself: Female empowerment stems from a woman who chooses to empower herself. If you haven’t empowered yourself, then opportunities will pass you by because you’re waiting for someone to give you something. When a woman has empowered herself, she can embrace opportunities.
Don’t second guess yourself: I’m always amazed at how we, as women, still second guess ourselves on so many occasions. I don’t spend a lot of time second-guessing myself — either I’m going to do it or I’m not. Between getting it done and not getting it done is a learning process. The last I checked, I knew how to read, write and do arithmetic, so I’ll figure out how to get it done. That’s my personal self-empowerment.
Want to Hear More from Agenia Clark? Visit Aspire to Her for the full story.