4 LOCAL WOMEN
Jeanne Porter: founder and president of Women in Business Networking in Dayton
Erin Hoeflinger: president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio
Denise Quinn: vice president and plant manager of the MillerCoors brewery in Trenton
Laurie M. Joyner: president of Wittenberg University in Springfield
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Many have heard recently about Sheryl Sandberg, chief operating officer of Facebook and author of a new best-selling book, “Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead.” Although the topic of women’s struggles in the work force and in their personal lives to achieve equality isn’t new, the idea of women supporting and encouraging one another to seize opportunities for executive level positions is.
Sandberg’s book and its concepts has struck a nerve with many women who have often felt hindered to reach for leadership roles, even from childhood.
We checked in with four local women professionals and asked them questions about their careers and lives.
Jeanne Porter on mentoring
Jeanne Porter, the founder and president of Women in Business Networking in Dayton, said the best mentors are not only focused on work and career but they also invest time to build personal relationships with mentees. “Pairing an experienced professional leader with a mentee can provide an opportunity to receive career guidance, skills necessary to take the next step in their careers, access to exclusive workshops and networking events, and expansion of professional networks by interfacing with women who are already guiding and transforming their communities.” Porter’s Women in Business Networking group was created with successful mentoring in mind and she will soon launch a new formal mentoring program, “Bridge for Success,” which will facilitate the development of emerging leaders by utilizing education, knowledge, experience and skills of established female leaders in the community.
Erin Hoeflinger on overcoming challenges
According to Erin Hoeflinger, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio, success often has a much broader definition for women than for men. “Leading a company responsible for more than three million lives in Ohio has ongoing challenges and it’s been a real journey,” she said. “I’ve overcome challenges in my professional life because I work with great people. I keep good people around me, and I keep the lines of communication open. Nobody does it alone.” Hoeflinger also attributes her success to having a strong support system at home. “I am fortunate to have a wonderful husband who is not only my life partner but also a vital help in raising our two daughters. I receive tremendous support and encouragement from my entire family. My kids often give me feedback on my parenting skills, whether I ask for it or not!”
Hoeflinger said she has always worked hard to remain solidly grounded. “One thing that helps me at the end of the day: reflection,” she said. “Am I spending time in the right places? There are times the job takes over and you need people in your life to bring you back to reality. For me, it’s my family. They have a way of reminding me what’s really important. If there is one piece of advice I can share, it’s this: Don’t lose sight of what’s important in your quest for success. You won’t remember the important meetings you missed in your life – but you will remember the birthdays.”
Denise Quinn on choosing a career path
Often women are challenged in choosing their career paths, especially when they don’t feel encouraged at a young age. Denise Quinn, vice president and plant manager of the MillerCoors brewery in Trenton, said she switched career paths several times before settling on a long time career in a mostly male dominated industry.
Quinn said she would have never imagined that she would head up a plant for the second largest brewer in the country. “I’ve learned I love the people side of the business and being a leader in a large organization” she said
Quinn, one of only six female brewery plant managers in the history of her company, advices women to “Set your goals around what you love to do, build a support system, be prepared to take risks, to take on challenges and be open to change. No matter how sure we are of the path we want to take, the journey will bring us alternatives and we need to be able to see the opportunities we hadn’t planned for ourselves and what they offer.”
Laurie M. Joyner on work/life balance
With often many balls to juggle, working women have always lamented the challenges of maintaining a good work/life balance. Laurie M. Joyner, PhD and president of Wittenberg University in Springfield, said that the idea of striking a balance between work and life has never made much sense to her because it doesn’t “capture my lived experience.”
“Early in my career as a sociologist, I knew that women invested more time in unpaid work and were underrepresented in such professions as medicine and academia,” Joyner said. “As a result, I understood the importance of choosing a partner who shared my belief in equality, appreciated the intensity of my work ethic and exhibited a commitment to parenthood in both theory and practice.”
Joyner said her husband far exceeded those expectations, building a management career with the same company for nearly three decades and remaining a loving partner and parent to their three children. "We are also fortunate to be able to spend much of our careers in our hometown surrounded by extended family. This extensive support network along with the availability of high-quality, affordable childcare in the community contributed immensely to our balance," she said.
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