by Marianne Biangardi and Jennifer Bardot
When you began your career did you ever imagine you would have a leadership role like you have now? What advice would you give your younger self?
I knew when I began my career that I aspired for a leadership position. I realized early on that I had the qualities of a good leader: organized, motivated, confident, and a good problem solver, to name a few, and that I simply needed experience to build upon my foundation.
The advice that I would give my younger self would be to take more calculated risks, continuously learn from leaders and others around you, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and always focus forward.
Who inspires you and why? What is your most valued attribute in the leaders you respect or mentors you have had?
The person that inspires me the most is my son. The level of his passion, fortitude, hard work, and dedication to his schoolwork, sports, teammates, family, and faith is immeasurable. Each day he chooses resiliency and growth over giving up. He is my motivation to be a better leader, mother, wife, and role model for others.
I value transparency, accountability, leading by example, ability to think outside the box, and integrity. Good leaders have a confident and clear vision for the future. Most importantly, I value one’s ability to inspire those around them, to get them to become excited about a common goal.
What did it take in order to trust yourself to step into leadership?
Successes and failures. Learning in leadership is the same as learning in life. You learn from your successes, but you learn exponentially from your failures. When I failed, I took the opportunity to reflect on my faults, ask the appropriate questions, learn from my mistakes, and take the necessary steps to move forward.
Have you experienced any hardships and how did you overcome the obstacles. When did you know, the business was going to make it?
Certainly! Our most recent struggle has been related to company culture; making sure everyone feels good about how they contribute to the whole. Our company culture is unique. It has been and will continue to be one of the most critical parts of our success. We have learned over the years that when it comes to company culture, you cannot get complacent. It must stay in the foreground, and you must work on it all the time.
What do you attribute your success too? Secret to your success...
In my early years, my success started with two simple concepts, hard work and a “never give up attitude”. I still believe in concepts of hard work and discipline; however, I also attribute much of my success to my willingness to adapt to different situations, being a clear communicator, staying open to learning new ideas, and being humble. I also feel that a successful leader is only as strong as the team around them. The secret to the success of Key Equipment & Supply Co. is the strength, dedication, and commitment of not only our managers, but also all our employees.
What advice would you give other local women leaders?
As women in a leadership position, we often bring a different perspective or voice. Don’t be afraid to bring your opinions, outlook, or creativity to a situation. Surround yourself with other women leaders; develop your network. It helps to feel the support of other women in leadership positions. Take calculated risks; don’t be afraid to go outside of your comfort zone and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. And lastly, find your passion and stay curious throughout your career. Always push yourself to learn as much as possible; don’t get comfortable.
Join the GRIT Community:
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/8987243/
Jennifer Bardot (ownyourgrit@gmail.com, or
314-630-1451) is CEO and Founder of G.R.I.T. Community For Women.
Marianne Biangardi (mbiangardi@uhy-us.com or 314-322-4871) is Sr. Associate, Marketing and Business Development, at UHY LLP.