ARC kicked off Women’s History Month with a celebration of the women leaders at the company. On March 5, WeARC, a women-focused employee resource group, held a discussion highlighting some of ARC’s leaders for their contributions to our organization’s success.
As we approach International Women’s Day, we asked some of those leaders about their career accomplishments, how organizations can support women, and what advice they would give to the next generation of leading women.
Cecile Burton – Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives
I have a mindset of continually wanting to learn and grow, which has gotten me outside of my comfort zone. There’s always something to be learned from failures or new experiences that don’t work out. I’m proud to have created my own version of success, driven by my experience in different roles and responsibilities. It’s helped me get to where I am today.
As co-chair of the WeARC ERG and a member of ARC’s diversity-focused ERG, ARClusion, I understand the value of creating gender equity, mentorship, sponsorship, learning and development, and networking opportunities for different groups of people. Outside of ARC, I’m also a member of formal and informal groups for women and business leaders that support each other.
As women, it is essential to be curious and ask questions while being confident in your abilities. Use your unique talent and strengths to define your success because it’s not the same for everyone.
Nicole Chowning – Director, Customer Management Operations
Communication is key to growth, especially in stressful or new situations. Striking up a conversation with your peers, vendors, or strangers can expand your network of connections and foster relationships. I tell my kids all the time that I can talk to anyone, at any time, about anything.
I’m proud of my career growth and my intentional path to lead companies like ARC in organizational change management. Delivering new technology is great, but it’s all for nothing without supporting the people who use it. I’m thankful to ARC for helping me achieve my change management certification, which has helped me to continue to grow and target more advanced certifications.
For any woman starting her career, I’d encourage her to listen and observe, build relationships, and ask questions. Regardless of the industry, technology is constantly changing, and you must be eager to learn to keep up and for your professional development. If you are passionate about a specific area, follow that passion! You will meet like-minded people who can help you on the path to success.
Kristen Ebersole – Director, Product Management
Perseverance and learning to adapt have been major keys to my career. When I have a goal in mind, if I’m not seeing progress, results, or learning something new, I try to pivot to find the next opportunity.
I’m proud of the work I’ve contributed to helping ARC’s Discovery Point become part of ARC's vision for our data platform. I’ve been passionate about seeing it at ARC since I started, and I am really excited about what we have done and what the future holds.
It’s so important for organizational leadership to promote a culture where women have equal opportunities and feel empowered. This helps identify whether women are represented at leadership levels across departments, and can put them in positions to succeed long-term.
The advice I’d give to the next generation? Being solutions-oriented can set you up for career success. Don’t simply tell someone there is a problem when you can also provide an idea or recommendation to help solve it or minimize it. I'd also say it's important to learn when you need to give others time to catch up on a topic or concept. Not everyone understands a given subject, so it’s important to learn how to identify those moments for your colleagues and yourself.
Sara Hetland – Director, Brand & Marketing
One habit that has helped me with my career has been to take everything seriously, but not too seriously. I love perfecting details and following through on everything I commit to since it’s an act of service to my colleagues. That said, it’s essential to have flexibility with yourself and others – work is not everything in life, and humor can solve a lot.
I’m proud of how I've learned to adjust my leadership approach over the years. When I started as a manager, I had no idea how to give feedback or protect my team from burning out. I am still learning and grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way.
Organizations need to create a culture that empowers women even in small interactions. Ensure that people of all genders are asked to bring food for meetings, take notes, organize work events, and perform other caretaking and hospitality tasks.
Whether you’re starting in your career or at a new job, my advice is to do your best to get to know everyone in your organization, even if their personality or job doesn’t immediately mesh with yours. You’ll learn so much about the industry and different work approaches.
ARC values a supportive and inclusive workplace where employees can express themselves, learn, and grow in their careers. Learn more about our culture and the opportunities available at ARC.