Who is a woman who has inspired your career? #IWD25? Here's the story of mine. ??
Margie Johnson - now retired but not out of the game! Retail is dynamic, always evolving and an industry that is woven into all of our lives. Margie & I met nearly 15 years ago and what started as a consultant relationship quickly grew into a mentor-student relationship. There is truly no substitute for a young women starting out in this industry to have another more seasoned woman in the industry guiding her, teaching her, caring for her and giving her the wind beneath her wings to keep going. Often someone else sees our potential long before we see it in ourselves. She was the ultimate facilitator - a skill that I like to believe I deploy well because she taught me well. She was the kind but honest voice in the room even during difficult conversations, teaching me that empathy is a cornerstone of building trust and confidence with those that your serve. She taught me to stretch - to get comfortable being uncomfortable because that's where the magic happens. She introduced me to Retail Alliance. After all, she was the first woman to grace the "ChairWOMAN" role at that time in its 100+ year history. I became the second woman CEO of Retail Alliance in February 2023 in it's now nearly 124-year history. This is because of her and all she has taught me. Margie didn't just break glass ceilings - she reached for the sky and landed amongst the moon and stars. At the tender age of 23, she developed the first strip shopping center in the Outer Banks. She owned several businesses, traveled to parts of the world where women were told not to go to develop manufacturing relationships. She's helped fundraise for hospitals. She's worked in countless Main Street communities across the United States, all for the love of people, community and this complex world we call retail. She didn't just land amongst the stars. In my book, she is the brightest one out there. Thank you, Margie for your faith in me, your mentorship, friendship, and frankly your love as I continue my journey in trying to be a little like you every day. The picture below is from last week - we got together for dinner and the picture basically says it all...we have a unique connection and one I'm truly grateful for.
