Think About Pinking It Up in 2020

Over the holidays I realized my LinkedIn banner could do a better job of sharing the services I am proud to offer. I changed it up, gave a more focused overview of how I help businesses, checked the colors and edits.

After editing my profile, I uploaded this new piece…thank you Canva!

It looked better.

But was I satisfied? Something was missing.

I wasn’t being brave. Some of you who know me best are already on the ground laughing, but believe me. This took courage.

Was I really offering the subtext of part of my formula for my own success and yours?

So I did it.

I added an Asterisk. A Pink Asterisk. Do you see it now?

And I added the words. ‘Woman Owned and Operated.’

For far too long I longed to be ‘one of the guys’ but I slowly found that being friendly with everyone is different than sounding like the masses. I appreciate all of the great men in my world, but simply being ‘male’ should not give you exclusivity in Automotive. And hiring a ‘guy’ doesn’t guarantee you hired a professional. (Yep, I lost a few of you here, but a few more and now reading more closely.)

A primary differentiator in how I support businesses is powerfully rooted in the fact of being a female in my industry. I have an added and strategic perspective.

My voice was always different just by the very sound of it in conference rooms. I learned not to care about being one of the many- and took bold action- usually void of ‘the club’ and pressed ahead. Because I still didn’t get the popular vote. But more often than not, my ideas were right. Thoughtful, insightful, strategic, actionable and successful. And I’m still here, now working to help as my individuals and businesses as I can to make a needed difference in Automotive.

I am passionate about our industry.

I am concerned about the way many do it.

I can help get to the root causes due to my ability to shut out the noise of the crowd and see what is really happening. And I am constantly studying and collaborating.

I can motivate people because I did the work and I know what will make our efforts a success- because it matters to me. People know when you’re pitching a program and when you are actually enthusiastically invested in their success. People trust this. Not pre-packaged, over-priced programs.

So ‘Pink’ is here. It’s my signal to automotive friends everywhere that a different level of partnership for success is available. If you are wondering why your efforts with previous companies have not been as successful as you had hoped, I encourage you to ask yourself one simple question:

What did their leadership team look like?

If they all wore the exact outfit and looked like your owners, that may be your first clue.

When you are ready to move forward with a partner your team will get behind strategically, enthusiastically and successfully, add a bit of ‘pink’ to your thinking. I’m still surrounded by men in this wonderful world of Automotive, but I am proudly making you aware that my company is:

Women Owned and Operated. Making a Difference in Automotive.

To your success, with more Pink in it!

Laurie

Founding Partner -Foster Strategies Group, LLC

269.217.0414