Kimberly Reed: Work Hard and Find Great Mentors

Kimberly Reed joined our podcast recently, and we were thrilled to have such a great addition to Fast Frontiers. Kimberly is an American attorney who knows a thing or two (or million) about forging ahead and leading, thanks to her previous roles, among which included her serving as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and CEO at Export-Import Bank of the United States.

EXIM provides loans, guarantees, and export credit insurance to export U.S. goods and services from enterprises ranging from Fortune 100 companies to small businesses in many sectors, including infrastructure, power, agriculture, transportation/aviation, health care, commodities, industrial, and technology. Not only was Kimberly the very first woman to lead EXIM, but she also received its highest honor while there, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Award.

As we jumped into the interview, while speaking of Fast Frontiers and how we are constantly looking to glean wisdom from experts who are forging ahead and blazing new trails, Kimberly explained what drives her pioneering attitude and work ethic. According to her, it can be traced directly back to her roots: “I’m half Ohioan and half West Virginian … from Buckhannon, West Virginia, and I would say that that mountaineer spirit and the values that West Virginians hold true really gave me a great foundation and a great background to now be where I am today.”

And where she is today is impressive. But, we had to wonder, what came in between those strong, promising roots in West Virginia and having a seat at the table in the prestigious U.S. Senate? Inquiring minds wanted to know (and be inspired), and thankfully, Kimberly gave great insights.

Since we knew that Kimberly has been involved in many areas that interconnect between policy and our government—and innovation and industry—and that she also appreciates all of the assets that we do have across the country, we were excited to hear what she had to say.

We dove right into a question that is particularly relevant in today’s world. From a leadership standpoint, we asked her what lessons she would pass down to her own daughters or nieces—or any other young women for that matter—who aspire to achieve the leadership positions that she has? As to what she would share with them, Kimberly did not hesitate before starting in on a stellar list of best practices for the soon-to-be super girls of the next generation.

Be Diligent

Make diligence a top priority was the must-do task that topped the list. In her own words: “I would say work hard. You need to take the approach [of] looking at your leadership and saying, ‘What do I have to offer to help this organization be more successful?’”

Kimberly coined this proactive approach with a clever phrase that immediately rang true: “Know your substance,” she encouraged while explaining how important it is to stand confident in what skills, assets, and contributions you have to bring to the table. Only when leadership sees you in this light—of how you can come on board and be an asset to the team—will they be able to truly begin to see where you could fit in as a part of the organizational family.

While voicing this advice, Kimberly was quick to also offer a word of caution and a reminder regarding your mindset, especially at the onset of your work relationships: “As you’re growing in an organization or company, it’s not about you, it’s about the organization and the bottom line.”?

Check the Ego at the Door

Clearly, this is a pivotal point, as she further reiterates taking yourself out of the center of the equation: “Take it out of being about you.” Ouch. It’s a hard, yet necessary, truth to hear.?

So, if it’s not about us, then who or what is it about? According to Kimberly, “It is how your skills take an organization or a company to a new level and (how hard you) work.”

Communication is Key

Wondering what else is on that list? Communication. According to Kimberly, communication is not only important, it is a key ingredient for any leader to be a success on any real level: “I believe that, as a good leader, not only do you need the substance, but you need to be a good communicator as well.” She adds, “I think that’s something that all leaders should strive to do… [ask ourselves]: ‘How do we improve what we do, and how do we share that message with our stakeholders?’” And once we find the answers to those queries? Do it. Period.

Ask (and Observe) the Experts

Yet another item on the list for great leadership must-dos, according to Kimberly, is to make it a priority to learn from those experts who have gone before—those true pioneers that have already been forging fast frontiers. Of this mentorship, Kimberly clearly embraced this practice and is very happy she did. Kimberly recalled, “Find great mentors and sponsors, as we call them, people who believe in you, want to be invested in you, and teach you [the necessary] skills.”?

Be Aware

Cultivating and fostering awareness is the next item on Kimberly’s leadership list. Specifically, she points to the vital importance of a leader having self-awareness. She even provides a great way to go about this: “A lot of management tools now involve something called a 360 review, and that might be hard for a lot of executives to have, but it’s important to know how your team views you as a leader in what you can do to be better.”

She adds further reasoning for the why behind this adopting this as a usual practice: “You’ve got to keep attuned to what’s happening not only within your organization but within competing organizations and sectors because if you don’t keep up, you’re going to lose the talent.”

Stay Current

Also of great importance? Keeping up with what’s new and staying current amid a constantly evolving industry. Kimberly encouraged: “Constantly get training and build that awareness on best practices.” She then focused on how it’s never too early to begin doing this: “You can start learning those skills as a young person, whether you’re in a 4H club—I was in 4H, and that taught me a lot from fourth grade … doing public speaking and demonstration contests, where you present a topic, and you’re judged on it—and then you hopefully bring it to scale someday.” According to Kimberly, just start, and from there, the sky is the limit, and young leaders, the world is your oyster.

Be Proactive

But, while that thought is exciting, Kimberly is quick to point out that opportunities and becoming a great leader won’t just fall in your lap, no matter how talented or intelligent you are. Instead, you have to actively put forth the effort and take the leap to be seen and heard. Kimberly calls it “getting yourself out there.” Kimberly explained: “I counsel a lot of young people and former employees, [and I tell them] you got to get yourself out there because the people you expect to help you the most don’t, and the person you hardly know are going to give you your next job and change your life.”

For even more great insights, advice, and in-depth discussion, head to our website to listen to the full podcast and more.