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.
STEPHANIE MEDFORD
President & CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkoma
Being a woman in a leadership position is important because leaders are role models. My passion is children and how they will impact the future by what we do today. By demonstrating strength, compassion and leadership, we are teaching younger generations that no matter their background, they can feel empowered to achieve whatever they wish to achieve. It’s important to me to demonstrate that with hard work and diligence, we can create the life we want and no obstacle is too big to tackle!
I think the biggest obstacle I’ve had to face being a woman in the workplace is finding a way to organize and live my life in a way that allows me to be a high achiever while also making sure my family gets the best of me. I think all hardworking people experience this. When you’re a working mother, you have more than one full-time job and sometimes that is a very hard thing to juggle. As employers, we need to embrace the concept of flexible work environments where we can attract and retain strong employees and keep up with the faster paced, always connected world we live in. We have to allow people to live their lives and their passions whether that be their family, the hobbies that make their heart sing or whatever else brings their life meaning and gratitude. People want to bring value and they appreciate when they feel valued. Empowering women to be high achievers while also allowing them to see their passions through will only strengthen the entire workforce.
I would tell younger women to figure out their priorities and stick to them at all costs. I would encourage them to find moments for themselves and self-care. I would tell them to have the courage to go for whatever it is they hope to achieve and learn from their inevitable failures in order to appreciate and create their victories!
You can view Stephanie’s segment in the Females in Leadership section of the 2022 3W Magazine here.