The Final Word / Conversations with Extraordinary People

I joined Jabian in August 2024, based on three key factors. First, the people. During my conversations with the founders and the leader of the Charlotte team, I felt a strong connection and knew I could contribute meaningfully to the foundation they’ve established. Second, the values and culture. I appreciate how my role enables me to make a significant impact in the Charlotte community, both through business and philanthropy. Lastly, I was excited to leverage my 28 years of experience working with large, global clients in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

That is one of the most exciting parts of my new role. I get to be more active in the community in the areas that are close to my heart, including suicide prevention, aiding the homeless, and supporting underserved children and communities.

Giving back is a core part of our Firm’s mission. With our Jabian Cares commitment, we actively support community initiatives, and we’re encouraged to volunteer our time with the Firm's backing. In my role, I look forward to engaging more deeply with organizations across Charlotte, amplifying our impact on the local community.

The sky's the limit! As a new leader at Jabian, my goal is to shape and implement our strategy for business growth, community impact, and client success. I’m excited to bring fresh perspectives and ideas as a member of Jabian's Senior Leadership Team.

In my previous companies, there was often a "We can be everything to everyone" mindset—"If you need it, we’ve got it!" What I appreciate about Jabian is our intentional focus on the areas where we excel, maximizing our value to clients. We deliberately cultivate high-performing teams to ensure we deliver measurable impact on their businesses.

Over the years, I’ve had many cherished experiences related to deep client relationships, but two stand out as pivotal in shaping my leadership style and defining my passion for my work.

My first client out of college was Avon Products, where I served as a new Client Executive for IBM. I couldn’t have asked for a better client to build my foundation with—especially one whose tagline was "The Company for Women." To this day, I remain connected with the CIO from that time, now a retired IT leader. I was also instrumental in helping them transition from carbon copy forms to their first e-commerce and retail strategies.

A close second is my experience as a Global Account Executive at Wipro. Joining a new company to serve a client that had just signed a seven-year outsourcing agreement amid a global pandemic was a unique challenge. I took this role because a former IBM colleague, who has become like family, trusted in my ability to drive results. Leading a large global team in that context allowed me to inspire others and navigate the complexities of a historical crisis while creating something truly special, despite the challenges.

These experiences have been perfect bookends to what has been a rewarding career so far.

Early in my career, I scheduled a meeting with the CFO of a high-end global retail client, accompanied by the General Manager, who was four levels above me. I came prepared with an agenda and specific questions, and the meeting went well. Afterward, in the elevator, I asked my GM what I could have done differently. At just 22 years old, he was impressed that I had the confidence to seek feedback. He said something like this: “You had the right questions, but you were so focused on them that you didn’t fully listen to what he was saying. In meetings, always remember—WAIT (Why Am I Talking). In client discussions, aim to listen more than you speak.” I’ve carried that lesson with me ever since and have shared it while coaching and mentoring my teams throughout the years.