8 minute read
MAGALIE CHAPOTEAU
POWERHOUSE GLOBAL MAGAZINE (PGMAG) INTERVIEW WITH:
MAGALIE CHAPOTEAU (MC)
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PGMAG: Magalie, great to have you on today’sinterview with Lady Anita.
MC: It’s a pleasure for me to talk to you as well.
PGMAG: Please briefly introduce yourself toour readers.
MC: I am a mom. I enjoy time spent with my family. I love to travel, to meet people, and enjoy different cultures, and to immerse myself in new cuisine. It gives me a wonderful appreciation of the world around me. I believe you can break barriers with new found friends over a great meal. I am all about inclusivity. I’ve discovered through my interaction and conversations with the people I meet, that everyone at their core is about connection and discovering how similar we all are. I try to learn new languages to help me communicate as best as possible with others in my travels.
I love to try new experiences, like zip-lining… oh my!
I also enjoy a great advertisement which quickly gets to the core of a product. Whether through sentimentality, or humor, it’s a synopsis of how a company wants to convey their culture. My love of interacting with people has led me to work with some of the most wonderful, openhearted people!
PGMAG: In your capacity as a leader, what are the ways of building an inclusive environment in the workplace?
MC: Inclusion is so key to a company’s success. Therefore, it has to be part of every aspect of a company’s business. It is important the leaders in a company understand the benefits of inclusion. Which is why training is one of the best tools to getting everyone on that same page; educating the leaders about the sensitivity surrounding inclusion and teaching our leaders to embrace and celebrate all people’s differences. It’s not an easy task. It starts with the behavior of leadership at the pinnacle, which affect the company’s culture. Leaders must listen to their employees. Give your direct reports a safe space to voice what matters to them. It is equally important for, we, as leaders to be mindful of the words/language we use. Companies have long held team building activities to create a symbiotic environment. Why not incorporate similar activities to break the walls of bias to create an inclusive environment. As a leader, I strongly believe in putting goals in place to ensure inclusivity throughout a company. Similar to financial performance goals, where we hold monthly meetings to make sure we are on track to exacting those goals, I would require that my department leaders do similarly with progress meetings on inclusion.
PGMAG: What is your message for the youth?
MC: Be fearless, be adventurous. Get out of your comfort zone and try new things. It is okay if you fail, you have a long runway to learn from your failures. Be open to new opportunities because new opportunities will be open to you. And, in the process of navigating through your life, be kind and respectful to others.
PGMAG: Please tell us more about your business.
MC: I have changed careers three times. Although I graduated from college with a pre-med major, I started my career in the financial district of Wall Street, to landing several leadership roles in telecommunications. Each experience broadened my insight and expanded my knowledge of these different industries. I recall how fascinated I was many years ago with what happens when you press ‘send’ on your cell phone to place a call. So, I set out to learn the mechanics behind that action of pressing ‘send’. Fascination does not even begin to describe the complexity or the excitement that comes with that simple action. The idea that I can take my calls beyond the confines of my home was truly exciting and pivotal. People use their cell phones for all sorts of activities from placing ordinary phone calls, to watching their favorite shows or sports games, to running their business on their cells, to playing video games, to creating a virtual album from their photos taken using their cell phones. It is truly a marvel. And decades later, I am still impressed at what we, in the telecommunications industry, have accomplished with the idea of a cell phone. And yet, this is just the beginning.
PGMAG: As someone who a has the capacity to resolve ‘complex’ issues in the workplace. What are some of the ways to manage disputes amongst team members?
MC: I have been so blessed to have had wonderful, talented people work on my teams during my career. To address disputes among team members, it is necessary to establish the understanding that we have a goal or task to complete as a ‘team’. Set the tone from the very beginning. It’s also making sure that everyone knows and feels their input is valuable, especially if it lends to the team’s successful completion of the task. Addressing the conflict immediately is necessary in order to move forward together as a team. Often times conflict or disputes start from misunderstanding of what is being conveyed. Give the party the opportunity to clarify his/her position. Make it clear to all parties to be respectful at all times. It is okay to have a different opinion or a different approach to a project, but ideas must be shared in a respectful and professional manner. Team building activities create an environment that builds trust. Therefore, with that level of trust, each team member knows that his/her teammate has the best interest for the project and for the team.
PGMAG: If you are given an opportunity to address ‘world leaders’ at a conference on issues that affects the economy of the world. What would be your top three points to them?
MC: Equity for the underrepresented. Not just financial equity, but equity through recognition, education, promotion, and to be allowed access to be part of the conversation. The world fares better when everyone participates.
Support free world market and encourage healthy competition, which provides freedom of choice. Promote sharing of resources, education and shared information. Build world unity. As humans, we would all benefit.
PGMAG: What were the top three books that changed your life?
MC: One book that influenced me is Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson which speaks to being open to new possibilities and to keep challenging oneself. I received my Bachelor’s degree in Biology with the idea that I would go into medicine. I pivoted three times in my life. Basically reinventing myself each time. Although I started out thinking that I would become a doctor, upon graduation from college, I landed a position in the financial industry with a Fortune 100 investment banking firm on Wall Street. When I needed to be more available for my son as he entered high school, I worked closer to home managing a law firm. Soon after, I transitioned to a Fortune 50 company in Telecommunications and moved up the ranks there. It’s very important to continue to push your own personal boundaries.
Success Through Diversity is another book which had a profound message to me. With every account or story, the author, Carol Fulp, points out the benefits gained through diversity. My perspective has always been Diversity should be all-inclusive. Oftentimes, people’s lens about diversity is linear and/or narrow. At times, they’re only looking at skin color. But to be truly diverse means to include Everyone, no matter their color, gender, creed, background. And, be sincere about it, not just to check off a box.
Another meaningful book to me is It’s Your Call. The author, Lawrence Powell, shared, “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves”. This book helped to center my soul; that all would fall into its proper place, but continue to persevere with my journey.
PGMAG: What keeps you going when you feel like giving up on your goals?
MC: The idea that what I do make a difference. That I am contributing to my family and my community. What I do could present opportunities for others like myself whose presence and voice are needed everyday at the table.
PGMAG: Finally, what would you say to your younger self?
MC: Be courageous. Be Bold. Go and explore. Don’t be closed off. Build relationships and learn from your experiences.
PGMAG: Thank you so very much for your time.
MC: Thank you for this wonderful opportunity.
PGMAG: Please share your link with us.
MC: My LinkedIn: www.linkedin. com/in/maggie.chapoteau
