Feedback

EDITOR’S NOTE

Feedback this month extends to four voices. For the full responses, see this article on.inbusinessphx.com.

FEEDBACK QUESTION:

Let us know what you want to know from the Valley’s top business leaders. editor@inbusinessphx.com

For all past Feedbacks go online to inbusinessphx.com and see what Valley executives think on various business topics. As a former Women of Achievement honoree, you’ve been recognized for outstanding leadership. Different times seem to call for different strengths, so what do you feel are the most important leadership qualities for the times we are in now?

2018 Woman of Achievement

MESHA DAVIS

Chief Executive Officer Arizona Foundation for Women Given today’s climate on multiple issues (e.g., global health, political and DEI), leaders must be resilient; visionary times 10; and willing to accept, embrace and implement strategic change. Unexpected pandemics change the landscape of our lives and workplace. Most critically impacted is our spiritual, mental and physical well-being. The latter can make or break an organization even if one is compromised, creating barriers for an effective leader. Leaders must remain resilient and find ways to cope.

Our actions are magnified during adversities and all eyes focus on how we react. Those counting on us tend to feed off our energy and mimic our actions. Our responsibility is to realize that accepting, embracing and implementing change is vital to success. Remaining static and expecting the same or improved results is often not feasible and doesn’t necessarily equate to success. Those who adapt, survive. Those who remain stagnant, fail or become non-existent. Mesha Davis is the CEO of the Arizona Women’s Foundation , where she fights for the safety, health and economic empowerment of women in Arizona. azfw.org

2017 Woman of Achievement

KATE HICKMAN

Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking Alliance Bank of Arizona

2020 Woman of Achievement EILEEN ROGERS

Owner One Creative View, LLC

2019 Woman of Achievement BAHAR SCHIPPEL

Partner Snell & Wilmer It’s an interesting time to be a business leader. As companies face a growing paradigm shift that calls for us to not only adapt how we do business but how we lead and how we serve, it becomes increasingly critical to ensure those who are paving the way forward have the qualities to persevere in changing times.

The past few years has taught us that flexibility and nimbleness are more important than ever as we respond to the many twists, turns and unknowns ahead.

Additionally, as companies navigate through staffing challenges, it has become crucial for leaders to bring compassion and empathy to the workplace, specifically making sure that teams aren’t overloaded, overwhelmed or overworked, and helping shoulder the workload.

Kate Hickman is senior vice president of commercial banking for Alliance Bank of Arizona . With nearly two decades at Western Alliance Bank and multiple honors from the business community, Hickman works with nonprofit, political and business clients throughout Arizona. westernalliancebancorporation.com/alliance-bank-of-arizona

Today’s leaders need curiosity, calm and resiliency to lead in a powerful way. Curiosity is the skill that allows you to lean deeper into discomfort, which is where you can identify exactly what the right problem or challenge to solve is. If you don’t dig deep enough into uncomfortable territory, you are likely very good at solving the wrong problem, fast. What your direct reports come to you with is most often not the core issue. Asking more (and sometimes tougher) questions while remaining calm, creates a space where people feel heard and acknowledged. Creating accountability becomes an easy next stage in the conversation. Clear, kind and accountable.

Eileen Rogers is a leadership coach and advisor. She is a recognized Arizona community leader and accomplished entrepreneur who is passionate about supporting and growing more daring and courageous leaders. Rogers leads yearlong Women’s Leadership Development Forums and facilitates Dr. Brené Brown’s courage-building course, Dare to Lead™, as part of this mission. onecreativeview.com

Regardless of the industry, organization or point in time, the characteristics that most successful leaders embody tend to remain the same. Here are just a few:

Planning: Today’s leaders face significant challenges. Constantly shifting circumstances affect their organizations and their employees. Quick decision-making requires preparation for a broad range of possibilities. As a result, planning skills are vital.

Relational Connections: Relationships are everything. In employee-employer relationships, employees tend to prioritize the relational, wanting to be valued for who they are, while employers often prioritize the transactional, valuing individuals for what they do. To help bridge this gap, leaders should emphasize the relational by making time to connect, expressing personal vulnerability, respecting all opinions and promoting self-care.

Bahar Schippel is a partner with the Phoenix, Arizona-based law firm Snell & Wilmer. Bahar specializes in many legal service including tax planning for joint ventures and real estate transactions, including 1031 exchanges, drafting LLC and partnership agreements, structuring tax-efficient debt workouts, and more. swlaw.com