Advice, inspiration for women as leaders

Every March, Women’s History Month recognizes both the imprint that women have had on our society and the impact on its ongoing trajectory, day after day.

This year’s theme—established by the National Women’s History Alliance—is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” This theme certainly resonates with The Martin Group, an integrated communications firm with women in leadership positions across all departments and locations, who guide a younger generation of team members to serve our clients and contribute to our host communities.

Together, we see the impact that women have had on the work of our clients, throughout industries like finance, food and beverage, healthcare, and many more. From evolving sports trends on and off the field to expanding the impact of nonprofit programs on our daily lives, women are leading businesses, organizations, and society in exciting new directions—but how was this need to lead first inspired, and what beliefs continue to guide these leaders forward?

This month, we asked a cadre of our clients’ leaders to share one piece of advice that’s helped each become the type of leader who can inspire future generations of strong female leadership; and why this advice continues to be so significant in moving both women and our collective society forward.

Here’s what they said: 

Allison Conte – Vice President, Corporate Communications
Rich Products

“I’ve long admired and championed this sentiment: ‘Strong women: May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.’ 

“I truly believe the most powerful thing you can do as a woman leader is to champion other women — especially when they’re not in the room. Lifting each other up is how we build stronger teams, stronger businesses, stronger communities and ultimately, a stronger future.

“Most importantly, our daughters and sons are watching. I cannot imagine a greater responsibility.”

Rebecca Farbo – Chief Business Development & Marketing Officer
Phillips Lytle

“There are actually two pieces of advice that I would like to share: ‘Never be afraid to ask questions’ and ‘Don’t try to be a perfectionist.’

“Asking questions is a crucial aspect of your professional growth and is a characteristic of highly successful women.  It demonstrates your critical thinking and your ability to problem solve.  The more information you have, the more equipped you are to provide creative solutions and strategies for your business.  It also is an important tool in gaining various points of view that ultimately lead to informed decisions.

“As women, many of us tend to be perfectionists.  However, I believe that to be successful, one must have an innate ability to professionally multi-task.  My lifelong mentor, Al Offen, handed me a sheet of paper with two phrases on it: 87% right or 100% wrong.  This lesson has been my guiding principle since that day!  Always focus on doing a great job, but not to the detriment of the big picture.”

Jen Holzapfel – Senior Director, Marketing & Communications
Student Transportation of America

“One piece of advice I’ve always tried to follow both personally and professionally is to, ‘Lead with kindness.’

“It’s simple, but leading with kindness and empathy creates a positive and supportive environment where people feel trusted, respected, and empowered to share their ideas.  It’s especially important for the next generation of female leaders to be understanding and open-minded because it shows colleagues, clients, and customers that we can be strong and achieve exceptional results without sacrificing the sort of compassion that people value and expect from their leaders.

“I always strive to inspire my team to embrace their own unique strengths and take risks, while demonstrating that kindness helps achieve a positive and productive team environment.”

Susan Lintner – Executive Vice President of Equitable Access and Advocacy
Regional Food Bank

“Sometimes, the best piece of advice is the one not taken.  For me, it was, ‘You’ll never be the executive leader and mother you want to be.’

“It took me a while, but I realized it was not only entirely possible, but that the personal and professional skillsets are actually complementary.

“That means leading at home and at work from your heart, but based on facts at hand. It means setting clear expectations, for yourself and others, and holding everyone accountable. It means being flexible, understanding, and providing an opportunity for your team to experiment, learn, grow, succeed, and yes—sometimes fail. It means working at an organization that shares these values, which is happening each day at the Regional Food Bank.

“Most importantly, it means reminding your team that there is room for both their personal and professional life, and both require balance to thrive.”

Thea Pecht, Senior VP, Corporate Communications
M&T Bank

“Remove the words “sorry” and “just” from your vocabulary. Women in the workplace—especially those early on in their career journey—tend to negate any legitimate thoughts by using these words right before a valid statement. Stop apologizing! Your opinions are needed in the workplace. Communicate them confidently and succinctly.

“Don’t take things personally. If someone acts negatively toward you, more often than not, it has nothing to do with you. Protect your energy and your peace, as these are your most valuable resources.

“Finally, additional advice from my younger sister, who is chief strategy officer at Arrive Logistics—and one of the few female executive leaders in the male-dominated supply chain and transportation industry: Never present a problem to your boss without offering a proactive solution to move things forward. Be brief, and be gone.”

Grazia Yaeger – Senior Director of Marketing & Communications
Caring Gene Healthcare Career Pathways, Inc.

“A mentor once said, ‘You can’t solve everyone’s problem for them.’ This advice made me reflect on my leadership approach and how I encourage others to step into their own leadership potential. As the oldest of three children, a first-generation American born to Italian parents, and the first in my family to attend college, problem-solving is second nature to me. I believed that being a leader meant having all the answers and fixing every challenge that arose.

“It took time for me to fully process this advice and recognize that leadership isn’t about carrying everything alone, but about fostering collaboration and empowering others to contribute. It was a gradual process of learning to step back, listen more, and create an environment where others could develop their problem-solving skills.

“Many of us feel an unspoken expectation to be the “fixers,” to prove our worth through relentless problem-solving. However, real leadership is about lifting others up, empowering them to trust in themselves and their abilities, and creating a culture where mistakes are not punitive, but an opportunity to learn and grow. 

“That’s how we become stronger leaders ourselves while also building a generation of confident, capable women who know their voices and contributions matter.”

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