Leadership Lessons from 5 Outstanding Women in Business
What’s the recipe for success in business and life? Members of the Virginia Council of CEOs recognize that the ingredients vary from company to company and chief executive to chief executive. But we can learn much from one another.
To that end, we asked five CEOs to share their leadership lessons for the current environment. Here’s what these outstanding businesswomen had to say.
Change Is In The Air
One theme that came through in these discussions is the immense transformation that is underway in nearly all facets of business. Arlene Lee, CEO and Principal of Lee Construction Group, Inc., in Charlottesville explained, “The greatest challenge is the pace of change, the breadth of areas in which the change is occurring, and the size of the challenges that require attention.”
With so much going on, a CEOs’ focus is zooming out and in, or as Arlene puts it, “I have to be able to see the big picture but also dive into the details with targeted precision…I have to be able to see the horizon and know where we are going but also to see the boulders in the way.”
Out-of-Box Solutions, New Normal
While CEOs have always had to combine strategic vision and tactical implementation, doing so can be especially difficult now because the old answers don’t always apply. Arlene elaborates that she must “be able to not just to define ‘The Box’ but to also throw it out the window.”
The Cultural Arts Center
One critical place to apply such out-of-box thinking is personal interactions. K Alferio, President/CEO of The Cultural Arts Center, highlights how “In-person engagement among staff, clients and target audiences has changed dramatically.” Her advice? “We must use our creative leadership skills—and tap into those of our employees—to create innovative communication tools.”
President/CEO of Yebo
Robyn Zacharias, President/CEO of Yebo adds to that theme, “The traditional 9-5 model is, as they say, history. The hybrid model is here to stay; the question is now how we make it conducive to the business as much to the employees.” Yebo moved to a full-time hybrid model in July. To prepare for that change she communicated early with her employees to give them time to acclimate to their new reality. She also gave them a voice and asked for their feedback and acceptance. Robyn said, “Together, we figured it out.” She added making it work “comes down to trust, collaboration and communication.”
Talent Competition
Courtney Gregory rose from CFO to President of Carrol Plumbing & Heating, Inc., before taking ownership of the company. Ask her what she needs most right now and her answer is emphatic. “Talent, talent, talent,” she says. “Specifically for my industry, experienced tradespeople have been difficult to acquire over the years but even more so after the pandemic.”
In an industry apart, The Cultural Arts Center is having similar problems finding employees to assist with its social advocacy mission. “Hiring and retaining talent is the most immediate and critical challenge,” says K.
Both CEOs are exploring solutions. According to K, “It is about more than monetary compensation which demands that we create a positive culture that people want to experience. We must consider flexibility in offering options for working from home and flexible hours when possible.”
“My lesson for a post-pandemic world,” Courtney adds, “is find good people, train them, invest in them.”
Lifelong Learning, You’re Worth It
A Better Place Consulting
How can a CEO keep up? Bunny Young, Founder of A Better Place Consulting, recommends tapping resources outside yourself. “Hire a coach. Find a mentor. Surround yourself with people who will challenge you to be the best version of yourself and take care of yourself.”
Courtney agrees. “Invest in yourself! Besides joining VACEOs, the best decision I made was hiring an executive coach! Taking the time to invest in myself and my company has been an amazing leadership lesson.”
Even if you can’t make a significant financial commitment to leadership development at the present moment, there are options. “Find a trusted confidante to bounce off ideas and frustrations as well as share successes,” K advises.
According to Bunny, the important thing is that leaders take to heart “that you are the greatest return on investment.” The leadership lesson she is drawing on “is to remember that what is best for me is best for the company and not the other way around.”
These women leaders are turning to supportive ecosystems to help them through and they issue a critical reminder, that it is up to us all to create these environments. “Never accept an invite to the table unless you can bring someone else with you for the opportunity. This is how we grow and support one another. This is how we know that we are not alone.”
Courtney summarizes, “Never stop listening and learning. Get involved!”
All Stages of Development
Many Virginia CEOs are still looking for their community. Our panel suggests VACEOs for nearly chief executives in nearly any stage of personal and company development.
Arlene was a new CEO when she joined the Council, for example. “Being part of a roundtable forum helped me see I was asking the right questions and going in the right direction. It helped me build the confidence and skills needed to fully step into my role,” she says.
Courtney’s business, by comparison, was more mature, but the VACEOs impacts were just as powerful. “We had years of success under our belt, but I knew I wanted to grow more. I came to my roundtable, presented about my issues and by the end heard ten different ways others had tried, their successes and failures to grow their business. That is something you can’t put a price tag on.”
“Being part of a roundtable forum helped me see I was asking the right questions and going in the right direction. It helped me build the confidence and skills needed to fully step into my role.”
Arlene Lee, CEO and Principal of Lee Construction Group, Inc.
A Place for Authenticity
Although these top executives mention the VACEOs programming lineup, including speakers and conferences to help expand leadership skills, they are most impressed by the attitude members bring to each session. “In our world there are few places where we can go to explore the hard questions, the vulnerable truths, as our authentic selves, where the people around us get ‘it.’” Arlene says, “The Virginia Council of CEOs is one of those rare places.”
“As leaders, one of the toughest challenges is feeling isolated,” adds K. “We all need a place to share our victories without seeming smug and a place to air our vulnerabilities without seeming weak.”
“You don’t know what you don’t know,” contributed Robyn. “Although it’s not always an easy thing for a CEO to admit.”
Going so deep might be scary at first but it’s worth it, according to Bunny. “The more you show up as your whole self and bring that vulnerability and authenticity to those you trust in VACEOs, the more you will get out of the experience. Listen a lot, as the knowledge and failures shared from all of the business owners around you will save you years and millions if you really receive it.”
Freedom to Move Forward
If other CEOs are wanted to home in on a single action or transformation to pursue, where should they focus? At first, Arlene finds it difficult to pick just one lesson from her experience but then she gets inspired. “There will be ‘leap now’ moments with no way to know how things will land. Embrace them. That is what gives wings lift to soar.”
“The great thing about those moments is they rarely include the metaphorical box,” she goes on. “There is incredible freedom in throwing away that box. The freedom to ask better questions, the freedom to see things from a new direction, the freedom to create, and the freedom to fail. Failure is the currency of success and failing forward defines the pathway.
“There is more than one right answer to every question or situation. Our job as leaders is to help teams and identify the best right answer. We must all feel that an idea that does not work is not failure, it can be a great learning and growth opportunity.”
K Alferio, President/CEO of The Cultural Arts Center
K agrees, “There is more than one right answer to every question or situation. Our job as leaders is to help teams and identify the best right answer. We must all feel that an idea that does not work is not failure, it can be a great learning and growth opportunity.”
And when failure eventually leads to success, there will be no one happier for you than your VACEOs peers. “I wish I knew I’d end up with ten cheerleaders,” Courtney says about her roundtable group. The members, she says, are “just as passionate about my success as they are their own.”
These conversations with five exceptional women CEOs revealed a wealth of leadership lessons. Now imagine what you might glean from a regular monthly roundtable. Actually, you don’t have to imagine! Get a taste for the VACEOs experience at one of our upcoming Meet & Greet events. Learn more and sign up at www.vaceos.org.
About Virginia Council of CEOs (VACEOs)
Virginia Council of CEOs (VACEOs) is a nonprofit organization connecting CEOs for learning and growth. Formed more than 20 years ago, member benefits include placement in a peer roundtable group and access to a thought leader network, and a robust program of events for learning and growth. This is not a networking group, but rather a group of CEO peers who are invested in the success of each member. To qualify for membership CEOs must run a business with $1M+ revenue and 5+FTEs. Learn more at www.vaceos.org.
VA Business Magazine Names Scot McRoberts of VA Council of CEOs a “Top 100 Persons to Meet in 2022”
Richmond, Virginia: The Virginia Council of CEOs (VACEOs), a nonprofit association serving more than 240 small and mid-sized business owners, announced today that its Executive Director, Scot McRoberts, has been named a “Top 100 Person to Meet in 2022” by VA Business Magazine.
This annual list is an introduction to a variety of innovative, impactful businesspeople and trendsetters whom the magazine feels are worth getting to know.
McRoberts was awarded the “Top 100” distinction because he is a “go-getter” — setting his sights for statewide expansion beyond Central Virginia, with hopes of doubling the organization’s size in five years.
We know McRoberts as a true connector, bringing CEOs of small and mid-sized businesses together to form peer roundtables.
“We started in Richmond more than 20 years ago and are finally living into our name and serving more of Virginia,” says McRoberts. “We have CEO Roundtables in Richmond and Charlottesville, and have recently launched our first Roanoke group. We have significant interest from Bristol and in northern Virginia. Tidewater is on our horizon within a year or so,” he adds.
CEO Peer Roundtables Help Business Owners Improve Leadership Skills and More
A VACEOs peer roundtable follows a structured protocol where advice is not given, rather, experiences are shared in a no-judgement setting. The peer roundtables ultimately help business owners to be more confident decision makers and to better manage their business and personal issues, challenges, and opportunities. In short, the Roundtable experience results in improved CEO performance and leadership.
McRoberts knows first-hand how powerful a peer group can be. “I am actually in two peer roundtables. I find the same value that our small business CEOs do – peers to turn to for perspective, experience and peace of mind.”
Congratulations to all of this year’s “People to Meet” winners! For a complete list, read VA Business Magazine “Top 100 Persons to Meet in 2022” issue.
(Video) 2021 November Report: The State of VACEOs
Listen in a Scot McRoberts, Executive Director of VA Council of CEOs, shares exciting news about the organization’s plans for 2022.
Says McRoberts, “2021 has been a fantastic year for our community. We’ve grown in remarkable ways. The roundtables and forums are all back to meeting in person. We had a joyful return to in-person events with our inaugural Fall Leaders Conference in Virginia Beach.
We’ve got fantastic speakers planned for our Spring Retreat in ’22 in Virginia Beach, and then our Fall Leaders Conference in Roanoke next fall. Really excited about those events and a number of smaller events where we’ll bring in the experts that you need both in-person and virtually.
We also launched a new roundtable in Roanoke, our first one, got another
one coming close behind that. So our network is expanding.
There’s really never been a better time to be a member of the Virginia Council of CEOs Community. Let’s go forward together!”
VA Council of CEOs Expands into Roanoke Market
Nonprofit establishes first CEO peer roundtable in the Roanoke Valley; anticipates a second to be formed in the region in the very near future.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2021
Richmond, Virginia: The Virginia Council of CEOs (VACEOs), a nonprofit association serving more than 240 small and mid-sized business owners, announced today that the organization has launched its first CEO peer roundtable in the Roanoke, Virginia market. The organization expects to form a second peer group in the Roanoke area shortly.
Formed in Richmond in 2000, the organization was once primarily Richmond and Charlottesville focused. This news comes just short of one year since the VA Council of CEOs announced its plan to expand statewide. It is welcome news for many CEOs who run a small and mid-sized business in the area and who seek the benefits and value of membership in a peer group.
“We are beginning to make great strides towards our mission to connect CEOs for learning and growth across Virginia”, said Scot McRoberts, Executive Director, VA Council of CEOs. Adding, “This is an important milestone and I hope a watershed moment for future expansion in Southwest Virginia.”
VACEOs Roundtables Help Business Owners Improve Leadership Skills and More
The most powerful way CEOs connect within the Council is through a confidential peer roundtable group, made up of CEOs or business owners of non-competing companies. The minimum threshold for membership is $1M in annual revenue and five or more full-time equivalent employees. There is no cap in either category.
A VACEOs roundtable follows a structured protocol where advice is not given, rather, experiences are shared in a no-judgement setting. The peer roundtables ultimately help business owners to be more confident decision makers and to better manage their business and personal issues, challenges, and opportunities. In short, the Roundtable experience results in improved CEO performance and leadership.
“The peer-to-peer roundtable experience gives you a place to share personal and professional challenges with other business owners who understand your pressures. It’s a safe haven. And, it’s a pretty powerful thing.”
Arlene Lee, CEO, Lee Construction Group and member of the Council (Charlottesville).
“We are excited to be able to bring the VA Council of CEOs peer Roundtable experience to the Roanoke and New River Valleys”, says Keith Hartman, Regional Executive for the Virginia Council of CEOs. “Participation in a peer Roundtable can positively impact the entire spectrum of a CEO’s realm of influence. The insight gained from the variety of different perspectives represented in a peer Roundtable can be game-changing”.
Hartman joined the Council in January of 2021. His main responsibility is to assist with the nonprofit’s membership growth within the southwest region of the Commonwealth. Small and mid-sized business owners interested in learning more about the benefits of a peer group or in additional information about the Council can reach him directly at keith@vaceos.org.
VACEOs Member Tops RVA 25 Fastest-Companies List for 2021
(Pictured Left to Right: Glenn Diersen Jr of Summit Human Capital and Scot McRoberts of VACEOs at RVA 25 event)
The VA Council of CEOs (VACEOs) community is made up of leaders from some of the fastest-growing businesses in Richmond, Virginia. In fact, 36% of “The RVA 25: Richmond’s fastest-growing companies for 2021” are members of VACEOs.
Topping the list? VACEOs Member Glenn Diersen Jr of Summit Human Capital with an astonishing growth rate of 2,489%.
To these ALL these leaders, we say congratulations, and well done!
VACEOs Members Making RVA 25 (2021)
| Rank | Member | Company | Growth | Industry |
| 1 | Glenn Diersen Jr | Summit Human Capital | 2,489% | Information Technology Services & Solutions |
| 3 | Jock Wheeler | Old Dominion Mechanical | 144% | HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical |
| 7 | Chuck McBride | Forsyte IT Solutions | 66% | Technology Consulting |
| 11 | Justin Etheredge | Simple Thread | 39% | Software Consulting |
| 13 | Tracee Mathes | Swig Life | 33% | Premium Insulated Drinkware and Coolers |
| 14 | Eric Ellington | Glen Allen Grounds Management | 31% | Landscapes, Hardscape, Grounds Maintenance |
| 15 | Sonny Gupta | Daybreak IT Solutions | 31% | IT Recruitment, Consulting, & Training |
| 16 | Eddie O’Leary | Colab Multimedia | 30% | Website Development |
| 24 | David Fratkin | Dominion Payroll Services | 14% | Payroll Services and Product Solutions |
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