Northwest Arkansas is home to some of the smartest and most inspiring entrepreneurs. We’re proud to feature a few of our female clients who are leading the way in business. We asked them to talk about the importance of being a woman in leadership in today’s climate. They each tell their stories of overcoming obstacles, hopes for the future and give advice for younger women coming up in the ranks.
AMANDA WHITTAKER
Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Paradox
For me, it’s hopefully showing other women (and men for that matter) it doesn’t matter what limiting beliefs have stopped you before or frankly what others think and say or could say. All that matters is that if you have an idea, a platform or a better way of doing something, then you also have an obligation to live fully into it. More than ever, I believe leadership requires a level of empathy even I didn’t know was possible and feel women are just more comfortable to lead into the hard emotions and problem solving required in business. Having tried for years to be the “guy’s girl” or the “tough one who was all business” — and failed miserably — then maybe I can be an example for others that you don’t ever have to be anyone but yourself to be a great business leader.
The way I see it, there will never be a better return on the resource investment made than when you bet it all on yourself. This company was founded by two women with strong careers and experiences, stories of victory and defeat, and relationships we care deeply about. We definitely can’t do it all, but we believe we can figure it all out. Step by step we took what we had a passion for with our unrelenting determination, and I’ll bet on that combination any day. There’s something empowering, and hopefully inspiring, to see us showing up day in and day out, messing up along the way, learning a ton and coming back for more.
You can view Amanda’s segment in the Females in Leadership section of the 2022 3W Magazine here.