CEO - Mueller Communications, LLC

Q: What unique qualities do you believe sets you apart as a leader and woman of influence?
A: (Preface: this is so tough to answer and I had to go back to notes from my team that I've saved to help answer, but here we go!) As simple as it may seem, I think the answer is kindness. One of my treasured mentors told me that when she was breaking into the corporate world decades ago, a female in her company told her ""I figured it out by myself and you'll have to figure it out by yourself."" I believe women have assumed that if we're kind, we won't be seen as tough enough to compete with ""the boys"" and succeed in corporate America. Make no mistake: I have high expectations and desire excellence from my teams, but I believe kindness can be the most impactful source of motivation to give it our best for a leader or a company. When leaders start with kindness, we sow the seeds for confidence, trust, collaboration and long-term success.

Q: Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that shaped your path?
A: Early in my career, several senior leaders exited my firm at the same time, leaving me in a position of working directly with the Founder and CEO with only a few years of experience under my belt. Though I was probably unprepared for many of the situations I was in, I mustered up some courage and leaned into the opportunity even though I was uncertain. Yes, it lead to some moments of crying in the ladies room, but it also prepared me to understand that much of professional growth is our ability to have confidence in ourselves, learn in the moment, build on those learnings and apply it to the next situation. We often hear that women don't apply for promotions until they feel they've mastered 100% of the skills required for the job, and I believe it's true. This experience taught me the value of having faith in yourself and your ability to take on a big role, committing to getting better at it every single day and seeing the hard experiences as growth opportunities, rather than quitting because it got tough.

Q: How do you define leadership, and how do you embody those qualities in your own life?
A: Leadership is doing the next right thing in any situation. Sometimes that means setting a strategic vision or making a big growth move. Sometimes that means taking out the trash because it needs to be done. I believe leading with humility and vulnerability are far more effective (and healthy!) than leading with ego or intimidation.

Q: How do you pay it forward and support the next generation of leaders?
A: My time with TEMPO has helped me see that my heart for service lies in supporting women and girls in becoming leaders. I support through organizations like TEMPO and PEARLS, but also through individual mentorship. I'm so lucky to be surrounded by friends and colleagues that are on their own individual leadership journeys and I do my best to cheer them on in little ways too. An example of this is the concierge program that we've started at Mueller Communications to support our employees, and especially our working mamas, so they don't feel they have to sacrifice being a great parent to be a great professional, or vice versa.

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