ADVANCE: Montgomery Women's Leadership Digest

February 2023

A Message from Leadership

"Check engine" light comes on 24 miles from home. Loose tooth crown becomes a surgical extraction and implant. Credit card hack requires time-consuming updates to online business subscription services. All on one day! How's that for a new year's start? While I call these first-world problems, by the end of my day that day in early January I gave thought to a question that also carries over to leadership experiences. "What makes the difference between becoming completely bummed-out and defeated after such a 14-hour experience versus taking immediate actions to recover and solve each individual challenge?"

I determined it is mindset and connection. Every one of us has "stuff happens" and WTF days whether personally, professionally, or both at once. Yet as leaders - formally in our roles and titles or informally in our lives - how we prepare ourselves mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and operationally BEFORE stuff happens influences how we react, act, and lead ourselves and others when it hits the fan. When we live our lives with plans B, C, and sometimes G as conscious possibilities, we are better prepared to activate those plans when needed. When we have people with whom we can vent, cry, call for help, and learn of solutions we may not have considered ourselves, those connections are what get us through our challenges.

Due to limits of space and time for my message here, my intention is not to trivialize the challenges we experience. My experiences were insignificant in the scheme of what's going on in our worlds. Allow me to point out the value of connection and learning from others that we experience through Montgomery Women relationships. I invite you to form, cultivate, nourish, and expand your relationships with and within Montgomery Women so that you maintain the mindset and connections that enable you to be your best as a leader.

In solidarity,

Sylvia Henderson

President, Montgomery Women

Member Spotlights

Tanya Baskin

President,

TBG Strategies

Tanya is a creative strategist and brand builder with over 20 years of experience working with global organizations. She has conducted cause related marketing campaigns on multiple continents and has successfully worked with international corporations to hone their brand narratives. From higher education to global nonprofits to Fortune 100 brands, Tanya has a track record of proven success in delivering strategically innovative solutions that help organizations and companies elevate their agendas and achieve their promise.

Kathy Stevens

Executive Director,

MCAEL

Kathy has been the Executive Director of the Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL) since 2012. She has extensive career and volunteer experience in higher education and nonprofits, including work as a senior executive of an international, non-profit membership organization. Further, Kathy is a fundraiser, lawyer, community organizer and mediator. An active community member, she is one of three Co-Chairs for Montgomery Moving Forward, a collective impact group in Montgomery County.

Quick Tips

For the Everyday Leader

"Cultivate a network of trusted mentors and colleagues. Other people can give us the best insight into ourselves—and our own limitations. We must have the courage to ask for help and to request feedback to expand our vision of what's possible.”

- Maria Castañón Moats (Assurance Partner, PwC)

What makes people feel included in organizations? Feel that they are treated fairly and respectfully, are valued and belong? Many things of course, but mostly it comes down to leaders. An inclusive leader is someone who builds community and brave spaces and encourages colleagues to bring new perspectives and ideas to a team. They are aware of their own personal preferences and biases and work to minimize these. Inclusive leaders see diversity, whether it be in nationality, ethnicity, socio-economic background, or ability, as a competitive advantage for their organization.

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Key Updates

Renew Your Membership with Montgomery Women

We are kicking off the 2023 Montgomery Women membership renewal season. If you have not already done so, please go to the Montgomery Women

membership page and complete the two-part process, which includes 1) filling out a very brief membership form and 2) selecting your payment option. We also encourage you to send this information along to a personal or professional friend, inviting them to join the organization. Word of mouth is our best recruitment tool! We are looking forward to another great year with you in Montgomery Women.

Call for Nominations: Women Making History

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2023 Montgomery County “Women Making History Award" presented by the Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women. The deadline for nominations is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7. The annual award is given in recognition of outstanding women in Montgomery County, including high school seniors and college students, who are making significant contributions to their vocation and to the community.

Recipients of the Women Making History Award will be recognized and featured during Women’s History Month in March and again at a panel discussion and dinner to be held at a later date. Access the nomination form here.