Encore C-suite Female Executives Discuss Their Inspiration, Philosophy and Advice for Women Colleagues
As we celebrate Women’s Equality Day on August 26, we sat down with three of Encore’s female executive leaders to learn about their accomplishments, what inspires them, their philosophy for success, and advice they would give to other women aspiring to C-suite positions. Read on for more insights from Amy Anuk, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Encore Advantage; Monique Dumais-Chrisope, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, MCM & Encore; and Tracy Ting, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Encore.
Amy Anuk, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Encore Advantage
Encore Communications (EC): As a C-suite executive, what inspires and drives you?
Amy Anuk (AA): I’m driven by the personal responsibility I have as a leader to my team, who commit their time, talent and energy toward our shared goals. As leaders who make decisions that affect others, we have a greater responsibility to constantly evaluate our environment and adapt to the needs, wants and feelings of our team members as individuals who each matter and have uniquely valuable contributions. This purpose inspires me.
EC: What is your personal philosophy on leadership, and how would you describe your leadership style?
AA: My views and philosophy on leadership have been an evolution over many years of practicing, refining, learning and adapting. This continues to be an area of growth and opportunity as I look ahead. I believe leadership is first about self-exploration, and self-awareness as to who we are as a whole person, finding confidence in that purpose, and then sharing yourself with others, creating a positive and lasting impact on their lives.
EC: As a C-suite female leader, what has been the most significant accomplishment of your career?
AA: Taking risks and expressing points of view I know to be valuable and should be considered, even when not popular. Creating and effecting positive change for the betterment of all. For example, founding our Women@Encore initiative in 2012 with the goal of developing and advancing more women into leadership and positions of influence and its lasting legacy fills me with pride. Investing in helping others to succeed, in their personal goals and in finding their voice and their purpose.
EC: What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a career in business and finance?
AA: Surround yourself with people who believe in you. Lean on them. There is always a way forward, and every obstacle can be overcome in pursuit of our interests, goals, and dreams.
EC: What advice would you give women who aspire to the C-suite?
AA: Reflect on your WHY. Influencing and creating a positive impact on others, for example, is a fulfilling reason to make the significant sacrifices over your career. Be driven toward this goal to create pride and fulfillment in your life.
EC: What are some ways women can empower other women in the workplace?
AA: Take more risks on other women, set them up for success, and invest in their learning and experience. Advocate for and push for opportunity, growth in assignments and roles that have meaningful scope, accountability and impact. We need more women role models in meaningful and high-impact senior roles; taking risks on women and supporting them in their success is the only way that parity begins to occur.
Monique Dumais-Chrisope, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, MCM & Encore
EC: As SVP, Chief Information Officer, what inspires and drives you?
Monique Dumais-Chrisope (MDC): I am inspired by the people on my team. When I see people raising their hand to try a new role or accomplishing something they felt was impossible, I am inspired. When a team wants to walk me through an innovative solution or a unique way they have solved a problem, I am inspired. Also, recently seeing our U.S. and Costa Rica teams coming together to support and lift up our India colleagues during the COVID crisis was really inspiring.
EC: What is your personal philosophy on leadership and how would you describe your leadership style?
MDC: I subscribe to servant leadership, also characterized as Values Based Leadership. I took a class, a long time ago, based on Sir Ernest Shackleton’s leadership style, and I was hooked. I see my role as the person to understand the business strategy and inform our team so that we can translate that into our technology strategy. The team can pursue the solutions that best meet the needs of our business with the best fit for purpose technology. I trust each team member to bring their best game to the table and they trust me to support them through the process. We celebrate our wins and move on to the next challenge together.
EC: As a C-suite female leader, what has been the most significant accomplishment in your career?
MDC: Honestly, it’s the people that I have mentored and coached in their career. Those are my proudest moments. Sure, I’ve had plenty of great resume-building achievements with transformative work that I am incredibly proud of, but when I get a phone call from someone who just got that big promotion, and they want to acknowledge how I helped them in their career, now that is a satisfying accomplishment.
EC: What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a career in tech?
MDC: I am going to steal a quote made by Rosalind Brewer, former CEO of Sam’s Club. She told an audience I was in to “open your aperture.” I truly have done this in my career. I did not set out to be a CIO. Throughout my career I was approached about different opportunities that were completely different than what I was doing. I surrounded myself with people I call “hallway mentors,” and whenever one of these opportunities would present itself, I would reach out, bounce the idea off them, talk it through and decide whether to pass on the opportunity or pursue it. You need people you can trust to give you honest, unfiltered feedback. Don’t hold yourself back because you haven’t taken that type of role before. Take calculated risks and, hey, if after giving it your best shot you don’t love it, learn, grow and move on. These are not failures. They’re opportunities to become a better version of yourself.
EC: What advice would you give women who aspire to the C-suite?
MDC: Go for it! In the past I let myself think I was not enough. I let that get in the way of reaching for larger roles. The individuals sitting at the C-suite table are people just like anyone else. Show them respect and demonstrate your integrity and partnership. By the way, if you don’t aspire to be in the C-suite, that’s awesome as well. Just be you.
EC: What are some ways women can empower other women in the workplace?
MDC: Advocate for them. I want to get to know the women in our organization so that I can advocate for them, and I expect the same of them. You do not need to be in the C-suite to advocate for other women.
Tracy Ting, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Encore
EC: As SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer, what inspires and drives you?
Tracy Ting (TT): People in my work and personal life and the work that I do inspire me. I was asked at a recent fireside chat of how I defined success, and my response was that I needed to answer three questions: (1) “Did I serve my company and my role?” Working for me is about making a positive difference for the company and the stakeholders it serves (e.g., consumers, colleagues, etc.); (2) “Did I serve my family?” It’s important for me to be a role model to my kids and a good partner to my husband; and (3) “Did I serve myself?” For me, work should give you purpose and bring you joy. I may not always get all three spot-on, but being true to these three questions continue to inspire and drive me.
EC: What is your personal philosophy on leadership, and how would you describe your leadership style?
TT: For me, leadership isn’t about the leader. Leadership is about everyone else that the leader can support, advise, guide and mentor. I find meaning and purpose in my work when I am able to lift others up. I love helping people achieve things they never thought they could. For that reason, I like to empower others to lead, think, challenge, and speak up. More ideas, including contrary viewpoints, are welcomed because that’s when we are able to expand our thinking and get outside our own comfort zone.
EC: As a C-Suite female leader, what has been the most significant accomplishment in your career?
TT: I’m proud of my work as a CHRO at several global companies over the past seven or eight years, but one important accomplishment about family comes to mind. After my first CHRO role, and with the support (and nudge) from my loving husband, I made a big decision to take time off from work. I felt like I lost the first 10+ years of my daughters’ lives because I was working so much, traveling for work and missing out on school events. There were days where I felt like I had, at best, half a clue of what subjects they were learning at school, what things were going on with their friends … it was enough to hurt my heart. So, I made a brave decision to take a year-and-a-half off work and be a full-time mom.
I wasn’t sure what would happen to my career when I took a voluntary break like that – as a minority and a woman. Fast forward to today, my career did not take a step backward at all; in fact, I became a better, stronger, more well-rounded and more empathetic leader because of these life experiences that I was able to gain during this break from work. So, I’m very proud that I can be a role model for my daughters and instill in them these principles: that being a minority and female will not hold us back from making a difference for others in this world; that we are each uniquely different because of our voice and because our voice matters; that we continue to grow and learn and find meaning in what we do; and no matter what we do, we remember to lift others up.
EC: What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a career in HR?
TT: I hope this advice will apply to everyone no matter your area of career interest. Be open to navigate new grounds and not be afraid of making mistakes. I started my career in finance before moving into HR 20 years ago. I can’t count how many times I’ve said, “I don’t know what I don’t know.” What I loved was the reaction; a lot of people found it endearing and real, and that level of humility invited wonderful help and support throughout my career. Another tip is to look out “two roles” – be strategic about your own career planning. In other words, make sure what you learn in your next role will set you up for success for the role after that. Third, figure out your “super-power.” A super-power is something that you bring to the table that no one else may bring. Figure that out and make that your differentiator. One final tip is simply to assume positive intent and to carry a learner mindset. It’s a way to give yourself permission to be content, to stay positive and to keep growing and developing. It’s so simple and I promise you that it will change your outlook.
EC: What advice would you give women who aspire to the C-suite?
TT: First, it would be to have the courage to be different and unique, and not be the same. If I could sit down and write a book, it would actually be called “Do Different, Differently.” Second, surround yourself with great people. As a leader, you shouldn’t think that you can be successful by yourself. In fact, you should align — and define — your own success with your team’s success. Third, find a champion or a mentor or that voice of conscience. Find that someone you trust who will not only support you but will “check you” — someone who will say to you what others won’t.
EC: What are some ways women can empower other women in the workplace?
TT: Showing trust in others is a great way to empower them. An example I remember in my own career was with a compensation leader I worked with at a prior company. I was her manager, and I had asked her to lead a global roll-out of a recognition platform across 40+ countries. She had never done that before and didn’t want to disappoint the company or disappoint me. I remember saying to her, “You’ve shown me that you are capable of navigating complex issues. I respect your ideas and the way you can bring different people together on the same page. I. Trust. You. I am behind you 100%. I will not be in front of you. You are leading this global initiative. My job is to clear obstacles and support you along the way.” And you know what, she did great!