7 Lessons I Learned in the First Year of CEOX

One year ago, I launched CEOX. I was compelled to solve the chronic oversight of highly qualified women in leadership roles. I knew it would be hard and put me significantly out of my comfort zone, but sometimes you just have to get uncomfortable to make change happen. I’ve learned a lot during this time and want to share some of them for a few reasons. First, I am publicly patting myself on the back in hopes more women will start doing the same. Second, I hope that sharing will inspire more people to join our mission. And third, I think some of the lessons show how badly we need organizations like CEOX.

7. There is a lot more to people’s careers and lives than you will ever see on their LinkedIn profiles. 

I’ve found that what is shown on LinkedIn makes for a very one-dimensional view. It is only after our conversations do we learn some of the more interesting stories and experience that people have. I’ve told many of our candidates that they should write a book, and I really hope they do. Here are a few examples:

• One doctor, founder and CEO also happens to have her interior design certification, just because she found it interesting. Another works in holistic medicine. Many are certified fitness and yoga trainers, and several are pilots.

• There are a lot of high-level athletes out there. From ballerinas and dancers to college tennis stars and Ironman triathletes. Career women are oftentimes dedicated athletes.

• If people have big blocks of time missing on LinkedIn, it’s because they were working on something Top Secret.

• It may seem that someone worked at the same company for 20 years, but once you dig in, you will see nothing could be further from reality. Due to M&A activity, a person can work for the same company but live in multiple countries and cities and work for what are essentially several different companies during this time. 

• The hardships some women have overcome to achieve will humble you. One of our nominees became the guardian of her younger sister while in college, another was diagnosed with breast cancer a short time after achieving her CEO role and another came out of deep poverty to succeed.

6. Some people aren’t even on LinkedIn

It seems crazy that anyone who is accomplished enough to be nominated to CEOX would not be on LinkedIn, but it is true. Although rare, we have a handful of candidates who you will never find on LinkedIn and they are impressive women. 

5. Even the biggest introvert in the world can survive ten meetings with strangers every day and actually get used to it.

Going into this past year, I knew reaching out and having conversations with strangers would be my biggest challenge. Little did I know that I would regularly have ten meetings each day with people I had never met. The anxiety this provoked in me was immense. I had days where I would wake up and dread my day, despite that I enjoyed nearly every conversation. At the end of the day, I was mentally exhausted. The anxiety got worse and worse. And then one day, like a miracle, it disappeared. It really did. I have no idea why, but I’m grateful. 

4. Mistakes will be made. I decided I can be ok with it.

I have always been a perfectionist and terrified of making mistakes. That in itself is a costly mistake. I know I have spent too much time double and triple-checking myself when I should have just finished and moved on. But in the past year, I’ve missed meetings. I’ve chosen poorly. I’ve called people by the wrong name (the worst!). I’ve had false starts. And yet, the last year has been an overwhelming success. Those mistakes were not so impactful that I was derailed. Mistakes in business are not usually fatal, they are simply mistakes and we can move on.

3. Good things can come out of pandemics

I have had one relative die of COVID and have one friend who continues to suffer serious complications many months after having this dangerous disease, so I don’t say this lightly. I do want to focus on the positive though. We received our first paid search contract right before COVID put us all on lockdown. The company we were helping ended up canceling their search and laying off 50% of their employees. I was disappointed but counted myself lucky that we were healthy and not severely financially impacted. After we all settled into our new pandemic routines, though, everything started looking up. With everyone at home, people had a lot more time to take meetings with me. I am certain that I was able to reach and share the mission of CEOX with significantly more people during the shutdown than I would have otherwise. This provided the positive momentum I needed that has continued to this day. 

2. You can bond with a person who you have only seen on Zoom

That’s the case with my co-CEO, Lori. We had our first conversation right before COVID hit and have spent the last eight months talking over Zoom. My town is still under a “Do Not Visit” order (not that it stops anyone), but I am a rule follower so Lori hasn’t made the 3 hour trip to my hometown to meet in person. We used to joke about how crazy it was that we haven’t met in person, but now I feel like I have known her forever and I don’t even think about it.  

1. You really can make a difference

Do not ever doubt your ability to be a changemaker.

In one year, we have: 

• Formed partnerships with people and organizations that believe in our mission

• Hosted roundtables and seminars that have been impactful for me and many in the CEOX community.

• Placed several women in speaking roles so that they will be seen as experts on the (virtual) stage.

• Helped one of our candidates negotiate her CEO salary to where she thinks she got the best compensation she could have.

• Secured sponsorship. p.s. Asking for money is still really hard.

• Grown our Ambassador program

• Placed a CEO and two board members.