This Women’s History Month, OpenSesame is celebrating our women colleagues across the organization. Today, International Women’s Day, we’re shining the spotlight on the women of our senior leadership team. Hear their first-hand advice to future leaders and what this nationally recognized day means to them.
Hallie Janssen | Vice President of Marketing
Deborah Dang | Vice President of Finance
Ria Delamere | Vice President of Engineering
Melanie Goldstein | Vice President of Product Development
Marta Altree | Senior Director of Customer Success
Abby Miles | Senior Director of People
Kolene Hammer | Director of Sales, North America
Katerina Maerefat | Director of Digital Marketing and Operations
What does International Women’s Day mean to you?
Hallie: International Women’s Day means two things to me. First, the day is to celebrate and acknowledge the sacrifices that women across the world have made to further women’s rights and equality. It also serves as a reminder that not all women are treated the same across the world. I think Americans can easily forget how hard it is for other women in other countries.
Kolene: It means thanking those that yesterday paved the path, supporting those that are continuing to do so, and encouraging those that are yet to find their path. The day to me is a reminder that I have had to prove myself in business at times, twice as hard as a male has had to. But it also is a day to reflect on all the men that have supported women in our request for equality. It is also a day to remember that I want to pave the path for others….with a chair at the table that was earned.
Deborah: International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate and recognize all the advances made by women to achieve gender equality in this world and the amazing achievements of women. But at the same time, there is still work to be done both in America and the rest of the world.
Katerina: I believe International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the path that has been forged throughout history for the advancement of women. While we have made great strides to close the gender gap, there is still work to be done in other countries to ensure the same equality.
Ria: This day symbolizes the progress many women have made to allow us to have role models to look up to. Even though we haven’t gotten to the end of the road it is important to recognize the struggles and triumphs many have gone through to make progress in gender equality, women’s empowerment. This day reminds us that we still have hills and mountains to climb to gain a greater momentum towards gender equality worldwide.
What advice would you give to women who want to be future leaders?
Marta: practice self-confidence – know and trust your strengths, knowledge and experience. Tell imposter syndrome to beat it.
Abby: That your work product, life experience and past challenges make you uniquely qualified to be a leader. Women at every level should know that there is always someone with less experience, confidence or ability than you. Seek them out and offer them support on their journey – coach a team, mentor an intern, take a new hire to coffee – there are little opportunities that allow you to strengthen your leadership muscles around every corner.
Deborah: Don’t let imposter syndrome stop you from seizing opportunities or trying something new. Stretch yourself – so you can grow and learn. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Celebrate the achievements of others and help others grow too.
Katerina: You are more than capable of anything you set your mind to. Learn from others, learn from your own mistakes, and never stop growing and striving to be better for yourself and others.
Ria: You will get a lot of advice and some contradictory advice to help further your career. Remember that being your authentic self is the most important. You are like a magnet. The same traits that attract people to you and want to work with you are also the same traits that can repel others. Do not lessen those traits just to attract more likes, because you are also weakening those traits that initially attracted people to you.
Melanie: You can succeed as a leader without changing your beliefs or your approach to working with others. Leadership can be more diverse, inclusive and collaborative than the models we have all seen on the world stage. You can contribute to that trend and bring others along with you.
What characteristics do you feel make women great leaders?
Hallie: When I think of great women leaders that I’ve had the privilege to work for and with, they were humble, self-aware, empathetic, and focused on elevating others. They acknowledged their mistakes and were willing to change and had a learning mindset. They knew their limitations and weren’t overconfident or narcissistic. I saw them be kind and caring and effective at leading without carrots and sticks. And they were great mentors, quick to find motivations and goals in order to create career paths.
Kolene: I believe that what makes up the best women leaders is an ability to bring out the best in others. That can be done through empathy, through challenging others, for being the voice for those who aren’t confident in their own, and for being able to see the importance of work/life balance. Great women leaders make others realize their strengths they may not know they have, and they take what others may see as a weakness and turn that into an asset. I also believe that the absolute best women leaders are those that show vulnerability. Vulnerability takes a great deal of strength and it also allows other women the space to realize that we are still in fact women!
Ria: When I think of great women leaders a common theme I see is she knows she is enough. She doesn’t allow anyone to make her feel insufficient or insignificant. She knows what she has to offer and what she is able to give. She creates an environment of inclusion, encourages participation and shares information so others feel empowered to also take the lead. She is a multiplier leading with empathy and encouragement.
Melanie: The great women leaders that I have seen are listeners, empathetic, driven, and highly collaborative. They are not trying to go it alone. They work hard alongside others and encourage their teams to challenge them with new ideas and approaches. The right answer doesn’t have to come from them for the team to succeed.
What are the benefits to having women leaders in an organization?
Marta: Empowered women empower women – women in leadership roles serve not only as role models but also as advocates and sponsors who can champion other women wanting to pursue a leadership path.
Abby: Women leaders add great value to organizations – the benefits that I see and appreciate in the women around me are that they lead with empathy and kindness while being some of the most intelligent and effective performers on the team. This is a powerful combination that leads to highly engaged teams to be led by smart people that also are aware of the more human feelings & elements of work.
Ria: The obvious answer would be for diversity in lived experience and thought, but I think it goes deeper than that. History has shown that societies who valued a matriarchal society based their values and decisions on care-tracking, nurturing and creating a community with excellent support structures. We know the value of team dynamics as a result this type of mindset that women leaders bring to the table