LEADING THE WAY

As lighthouses lead the way for sailors, there are Leaders Among Us who have the innate ability to lead the way for others to succeed. Some leaders are obvious and right in front of us; others are found in unexpected ways and places. Truly successful leaders find potential in others and allow them to shine without feeling threatened, and true leadership has nothing to do with having a certain title or working from the “corner office.”

The Oxford Dictionary defines leadership (noun) as: “the action of leading a group of people or an organization.” Villanova University says leaders embody the following five skills: Communication, Awareness, Honesty/Integrity, Relationship Building, Innovation.

Leaders can be found in our own homes, in small businesses, on city councils, in places of worship, in school systems … everywhere…IF we take the time to look for them. And that is exactly what I intended to do when I created this blog.

Leaders Among Us was created at the close of 2020 as people near and far did their best to lead their teams, communities, and families through an unprecedented time, even while managing their own uncertainty. I think of the teachers who – without notice and on the fly – had to lead their students to success via video classrooms, and the business owners/managers who had to innovate new ways of doing business just to stay afloat as most of the country – even the world – sheltered in place.

These people, and many more, are leaders. They are the people profiled here.

Patty Rovano

Rocking the Direct Sales World

“Top leaders have the best interest of others at heart … not just in their words, but in their actions,” says Patty Rovano, Senior Sales Director with Mary Kay Cosmetics.

This philosophy is how Patty grew her Mary Kay independent sales business from a “gig job” to a full-time career leading a personal unit of 91 “beautiful, kind, fun-loving” women, and an area team of 379 members whom she thinks of as extended family.

Patty learned early on that Mary Kay’s golden rule philosophy was the key to success. She says “The Mary Kay Way” taught her the importance of treating both colleagues and customers with mutual kindness and respect. By doing exactly that, she earned the respect, trust, and often the friendship of her customers, many of whom have joined her team of independent Mary Kay consultants, “The Chicas.”

She also learned that leaders should always have their own coach. “It’s important in developing your own leadership style to find a leader to follow who is passionate and who feels like family,” she says. This, and knowing not only her own and the company’s core values, but also the personal values of each consultant, continues to help her team succeed. “The key for me as a direct sales leader is to find each woman’s why – the reason she’s interested in the business – and lead to that. The door is always open for more, but I don’t push.”

Patty likes to have what she calls “front porch conversations” with each team member to get to know them one-on-one. She asks questions and listens without an agenda, allowing her to establish trust with each individual. “Knowing these ladies’ personal circumstances allows me to coach to encourage (rather than force) them in their businesses.” It also means she is able to help them pivot when needed. “Occasionally, I have to ask ‘Do you need to change your goal, or set a new deadline to meet it?’”

The Drive to MK Car #1

With a degree in economics from National University in Paraguay and a full-time corporate job with Chico’s, Patty started her Mary Kay career in February 2005 not thinking it would actually be a career. “In the beginning, I was still working full time and Mary Kay was more like a ‘side gig,’ she says. However, Patty’s hard work and magnetic personality helped her earn her first Mary Kay career car (a Pontiac Vibe) in just nine short months. She has earned a car at every opportunity since, picking up her first pink Cadillac in 2013.

At the one-year mark, Patty quit her 80-hour-a-week day job to pursue her goal of becoming a director with Mary Kay, which she accomplished just three months later. She discovered that direct sales can be very rewarding because of the way one’s time is valued. “The income you can make is based on the time you want to invest,” she says. Patty also finds it rewarding to work with a team of women that range in age, background and values. “It’s fun to play together, too,” she says. Her team is looking forward to when they can safely get together socially again.

Great Leadership = Team Success

Thanks in part to her leadership, several of Patty’s team members have become directors themselves. “It is their growth and success that I’m most proud of,” she says. While Patty has personally earned the use of eight Mary Kay Career Cars, she says, “I am most proud of the 42 cars that my directors and their teams have earned!” All of that came from Patty saying “Yes!” to Mary Kay sixteen years ago.

“What I love the most,” she says “is the domino effect that comes from having great leaders.” With support from her own coach, Patty has led her unit and area team leaders in their guidance of individual consultants from doubting their decision to join Mary Kay to achieving rank advancements, earning diamond rings and career cars, paying off debts they thought they'd never get rid of, and even just having fun. “You’d be surprised at how many people are just looking for a fun tribe,” she says.

Patty often shares her favorite quote, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire” with her personal and extended teams, and says of her leaders, “Our power is in igniting in our team members the fire they already have inside and showing them what our tribe is all about – that together we rock!” 

When she’s not rocking the block…or the world…Patty and her husband of 10 years, Tony, enjoys spending time with their precious 16-month-old little girl, Mila, and their two Goldendoodles.

Mary Kay, the Company

Mary Kay Ash founded “Beauty by Mary Kay” in 1963, and According to Forbes (Nov. 2020), “… Mary Kay is now one of the largest direct sellers of skin care and cosmetics. … Mary Kay’s products are sold in more than 40 markets around the world, and its global independent sales force exceeds 3.5 million.” As of 2018, Mary Kay was the sixth largest network marketing company in the world, with a wholesale volume of $3.25 billion.*

Contacting Patty

Website: https://www.marykay.com/pattyrovano/en-us/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pattyrovanoMK

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrspattyrovano/?hl=en

* https://www.directsellingnews.com/dsn-announces-the-2018-global-100/

Amber Wagner

Leading Through Positivity

The word ‘leader’ - a label many strive for and only a few achieve, used to be thrown around like confetti, landing on anyone who, in the literal sense of the term, was leading a person or group of people, no matter how qualified they were or how many leadership qualities they actually had. If you had people working for or beneath you, you were a leader, because those people could technically look up to you.

Nowadays, though, it’s not as easy to earn the title of ‘leader.’ People are starting to realize it takes a whole lot more to be a leader than just bossing others around. In my eyes, anyone is capable of being a leader, but it’s how we choose to direct our energy and be of service to others that determines who is who … determines the real leaders from the people who like to be in charge.

Sometimes, a real leader isn’t in charge of anyone at all, but rather, they make a point in their everyday lives to positively impact the lives of others, or they encourage those around them to be the best version of themselves with no expectation of something in return. A perfect example of this is an Instagram influencer by the handle @jstlbby, or Amber Wagner.

She first went viral for her immense positivity and the strong messages she sent into the social media world. That virality stayed with her and she soon gained over two million followers. When the first video hit the internet, which was just her voice and three-inch nails making a point about loving yourself, Amber made it clear that she is black, beautiful and proud of who she is.

Nothing about Amber says ‘insecure’ or ‘shy’. She says what she means and she definitely means what she says, and it’s always something uplifting and inspiring. One video in particular that really stuck out to me, and made me realize that even though she inspires via Instagram, via social media, she is a true leader, is one where she, very vulnerably, lets her followers take a peek into her work out regime. Running toward the camera, slightly out of breath but clearly enjoying every minute, she says “It’s never too late to start! It’s never too late. I just did a block, I have one more to go. It’s little baby steps, it’s a mind over matter thing!”

These words stuck with me, made me think about all the things I’ve been wanting to accomplish and get checked off of my list. It may be hard, daunting, even scary at times, to start a task or a goal that at the beginning seems too far off to fathom. All of that seems smaller and easier to handle, though, when taking into account Amber’s message: “It’s never too late to start… It’s mind over matter…”

I chose to write about Amber as my first story because I want it to be known that you don’t have to be in charge of people, telling people what to do, in order to be a leader. You can simply be encouraging and kind — with a strong, positive message — and people will look up to you just the same.

I also want it to be known that you don’t have to look or talk down to people in order for others to look up to you. In a lot of ways, treating people as equals, no matter their socially constructed ‘status’, gets you further than anything else. Respect is earned by giving it; leadership is achieved by accepting it. Treating others with kindness is not a weakness, but rather a sign of strength, especially when shown in a leadership position.

Amber has never talked down to anyone on her platform or made anyone feel like they weren’t worthy of unconditional love and acceptance. She respects everyone and makes sure you know that when you hear what she has to say. Scrolling through Amber’s Instagram feed, you can see she is a confident woman, just trying to share some light and warmth and positivity with a small section of the internet. And her corner of the internet is one of my favorites, making me want to better myself every time I come across one of her posts.

Amber Wagner is a leader, not because she’s in charge of anyone or because she tells anyone what to do. She is a leader because she inspires, motivates and uplifts as many people as she can … really, anyone who finds her Instagram page. She promotes self-love and self-acceptance, no matter your age, race, religion, sexuality or anything in between. She’s a leader because she spreads a message that others want — and maybe even need — to hear, especially in a time like this.

Leadership doesn’t always look the same on everyone, and it looks better on some people than on others. For Amber Wagner, it makes her shine. She makes people feel optimistic and confident, which is hopefully how readers feel after learning about the Instagram influencer, icon and all-around positivity booster that is @jstlbby.

Meghan Jarrell

The Enneagram Institute describes a “Type Eight” - also known as The Challenger - as self-confident, strong, assertive, protective, resourceful, straight-talking, and decisive; one who uses their strength to improve others' lives. Meghan Jarrell is a Type Eight. 

I first worked with Meghan in 2016 on a fundraiser for the Austin Humane Society. She was the event coordinator and I represented the major sponsor and host of the annual event. I knew right away that Meghan was a force to be reckoned with; it was clear that she was in charge! 

In charge, yes, but never “bossy.” Meghan says this is because she has had “too many bosses and not enough leaders,” and believes that a leader should delegate with kindness. One such leader in Meghan’s life was one of the front office managers, Jeremy Baldwin, of the Omni Hotel in Austin. “When I worked for the Omni, my manager was a people person and a friend, but he was still the boss,” she says.

Meghan also considers her mom, Cynthia, and step-dad, Norm, role models. “Through their marriage, personal lives, and businesses, they have been great examples of kindness, compassion and generosity,” she says, “all of which are qualities of good leaders.” 

Growing up in Friendswood, Texas (a suburb of Houston), Meghan was a leader in her church youth group before heading off to Texas State University, where she was co-coordinator of the University’s “Paws Preview” (student orientation) program. “That was great leadership training,” says Meghan. After graduation and a mission year in South Africa, Meghan found herself working and volunteering in Austin, where she was the Event Coordinator for the Austin Children’s Shelter annual gala. “This is where I got my first taste of event planning and fundraising.” She went on to coordinate and lead 40 student tour guides for St. Edward’s University as their Visit Experience Coordinator, and from there, landed at the Austin Humane Society. 

 All of these experiences and more led Meghan to believe that good leaders are known for their perseverance. And Meghan knows all too well how to persevere. In 2016, she took a leap of faith and moved 200 miles North to Fort Worth to start her own event management and consulting company, Moxxie Concepts. Although she has more often been a team of one through these startup years, Meghan likes to bring people on board* to “teach and empower them to show love to others through the events we plan.” Meghan’s goal as a leader, she says, is to “stay gracious and kind, and give others a voice at the table.”

One of the voices at the Moxxie table is Marie Adams, Meghan’s long-time friend and frequent event “co-captain.” Meghan and Marie met years ago when Marie was running an event for a high-performance driving company at Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Meghan was also at COTA that day, selling car raffle tickets as part of the Humane Society’s fundraising efforts. The two hit it off and have been helping each other with events ever since.

Marie, now National Project Manager for the National Auto Sport Association, credits Meghan for much of her own success. “You think of Meghan as a leader the moment you meet her,” she says. “She is outgoing, full of energy, creative and always looking for a way to help someone else be successful.” As a go-getter, Meghan is not one to sit around and wait for life to happen. Marie says, “If Meghan wants a job or thinks she can help with an event, she speaks up. Letting things just ‘fall into her lap’ is not her style. She actively networks and is always looking for the next thing to challenge her as an event planner and business owner.”

Best of Fort Worth

Being an entrepreneur is not easy and everything Meghan has done to successfully fulfill her dreams has been inspiring to Marie. She explains, “Meghan started her business from ground zero in a place where she knew no one and where there are more event planners than you can imagine. To win Best of Fort Worth 2020 as a one-woman show is a huge deal.” However, Marie believes that the most inspiring thing about Meghan is that “even though she is already great at what she does, she doesn’t let a day go by that she isn't trying to improve herself as a business owner and a leader.” That said, Meghan took advantage of the slower year (due to COVID-19) to study and test for her CSEP certification. She is excited that for the next five years, she will be known as Meghan Jarrell, Certified Special Event Professional.

In just a few short years, Meghan has grown Moxxie Concepts into a successful company, managing many events in both the Fort Worth and Austin areas. She still hires Marie for about 5-10 events a year. However, when COVID-19 hit, Meghan had to transition her approach to events. In her typical “Type Eight” style, she took the bull by the horns - she does live and work in Fort Worth, Texas, after all - and has successfully managed a number of virtual events in recent months. She says, “I have loved the challenge of transitioning in-person events to completely virtual or hybrid events, while meeting the clients’ original goals, and providing added value.”

*One of the people Meghan brought on board and taught about event management is my co-blogger, Katie, who went on to work in events for Omni Hotels.

Claire Coder

Although I’ve never met her in person, I feel like I’ve known Claire Coder for years. In 2013, I read an article in my hometown newspaper, the Toledo Blade, about a local high school student who had started her own company. That young woman was Claire. 

A self-described lifelong entrepreneur, Claire says she started her first business - a lemonade stand - at seven years old. It was a few years later, as a teenager, that Claire launched her first official company - the one I read about in the newspaper. “There’s A Badge For That” created custom buttons and badges for any group or occasion. I admit, I ordered quite a few fun buttons, badges, and purse-size mirrors as gifts!

Then, Claire went on to launch “Aunt Flow,” a social enterprise based in Columbus, Ohio, whose mission is to ensure that everyone has access to menstrual products. She explains “I got my period at an event (and didn’t have) the supplies I needed. I thought to myself, ‘toilet paper is offered for free, why aren’t tampons and pads?’. At that moment, bloody underwear and all, I knew that I wanted to be on a mission to ensure everyone has access to quality menstrual products.” Claire dropped out of college the next day and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Today, as the Founder and CEO of Aunt Flow, Claire’s goal is “to be able to inspire others to take their own action in order to enact positive change.” Leading by example, Aunt Flow “took the action to remove (the words) ‘feminine hygiene’ from all its branding and replaced them with ‘menstrual products’ in order to be more inclusive ... The only way to make real radical change is to include everyone in the conversation,” Claire says. In addition, Aunt Flow has taken action to source 100% organic cotton and create biodegradable packaging.

On Aunt Flow

Claire says Aunt Flow is a leader in the menstrual product industry because, “We are known not only for our dedication to providing quality products to menstruators in need, but also for consistently striving to start the conversation around menstruation.” She explains that “The more awareness and access that society has to quality menstrual products and education, the less shame (about getting one’s period in public) there will be. Education ... is crucial, (so) we strive to educate everyone on periods and the importance of having products readily available.” 

Aunt Flow again took action in March of this year when - in response to the COVID-19 pandemic - the company shifted its resources to include the manufacture and supply of FDA-approved face masks and other PPE (personal protective equipment), as well as hand sanitizer and cleaning products; thus launching the Work Flow arm of the business.

On Leadership

Claire looks to one of Aunt Flow’s first clients as a model leader. “Charles Hudson of Precursor Ventures has been an incredible example of leadership (with his) unique way of encouraging CEOs to solve problems. He asks questions before giving feedback and he really leans into the problem before giving advice. This is a profound form of leadership because he empowers people (like me) to come up with their own solutions.”

As to her own leadership philosophy, Claire quotes writer Josh Braun: “Don't take the shot, coach the player.” More specifically, she believes that “In the business world, leadership is the ability to motivate, teach, and support members of your team in a way that allows you - as the CEO - to be able to take a step back.” And Claire walks the talk, according to her Executive Assistant, Josie. “Claire has been phenomenal about giving me the space to lean into my role. Instead of micromanaging, she demonstrates trust and patience when it comes to assigning tasks, and in the event of a mistake, offers encouragement and guidance instead of blowing a gasket or taking the task on herself. She really takes the time to nurture and teach.”

In order to inspire others, Claire believes that “You have to have a lot of faith in the people you surround yourself with, and building that level of trust requires taking a step back from time to time.” She says one of the hardest things for her has been “identifying the skills that I am lacking and feeling comfortable hiring (someone to fill) that role.” One of her biggest successes, she says, is having built a team that allowed her to take a seven-day vacation just three years into the business. “I am thankful to be able to walk away for a week and know that the business will flow forward.”

On a Personal Note

Claire has been featured in TeenVogue and Forbes magazines, and starred in TLC’s Girl Starter Season 1. Her resume also includes a long list of awards, including: Forbes 30Under30, Thiel Fellow, Tory Burch Fellow, Top 40 TECH.Co StartUps to watch at SXSW, and more. She has designed a bag for Vera Bradley that sold out in 24 hours and has her own line of GIFs. When not working, Claire says she spends time “jamming out to Macklemore and pretending I know how to run Google ads.”

Photos by Nick Fancher.

Eric “Broadway” Jones

A LEADER ON AND OFF THE COURT

“Leadership is about understanding your voice.”

— Eric Jones

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What makes a good leader? According to professional basketball player, coach, and entrepreneur Eric Jones, it is simply being a human – a flawed human – willing to talk with people about the genuine intentions of why you do what you do. “First and foremost, leadership is about understanding your voice,” he says. “But it’s not just what you say, it’s how you live and what you do when no one is watching that matters. It’s about being a living example to others.”

As a coach, mentor, and entrepreneur, Eric sets a good example for many. One of five siblings, Eric credits his parents, Samuel and Marilyn Jones, as his best examples of good leaders. “My dad was a coach and community leader. He mentored many less fortunate kids and shared experiences with them – like going to basketball games – that they might not have been able to do otherwise. He was a living example of treating others how you’d want to be treated,” says Eric. “My mom was a teacher, artist, and entrepreneur; I learned from her to reason and think through things.”

An insecure kid who struggled with reading comprehension, Eric took classes and practiced until he felt more confident in his abilities, and was inspired by public figures like basketball Hall-of-Famer Julius Erving, and Muhammad Ali. Eric says, “Dr. J is the complete package; he represents innovation, class, creativity, talent, grace, dignity and daring to be different.” As for Ali, Eric has long-admired his confidence, gregarious personality, and unwillingness to conform, but most of all his fearlessness. “Being fearless means going for it – taking the leap – even when you’re uncertain. If your fear outweighs your conviction, you’ll always be in a Double-Dutch position*,” he says.

A native of the Bronx, New York, Eric has been around the game of basketball since the age of five. Through his love for the game, he learned the discipline, dedication, and focus it would take to be successful on and off the court. His professional career began in 1997 with the world-famous Harlem Wizards, followed by a two-year run with the Harlem Globetrotters where - as the only player at the time from New York City - he got the nickname “Broadway.” A born leader, Eric then re-joined the Wizards as a player-coach and director of player development. For 20+ years he has traveled the world, entertaining and impacting communities in 30 different countries and every state in the union.

Currently living in Manhattan with his wife, Layla “Fashion” Jones, Eric remains a player-coach and minority owner of the Wizards, as well as host of the BIG3 (pro-retired basketball league) youth initiative Young3, Executive Director of the NY Dragons AAU basketball league, President of the Sports Education Arts Foundation, and Founder of EJ5 fitness & basketball training.

Coaching young, aspiring athletes in the EJ5 training program, Eric teaches confidence first, then trains each student based on their skill level, aptitude, athletic ability, and talent. “We start them off with a solid fundamental base of good technique, then we build based on their strengths and weaknesses,” he says.

A self-described servant-leader, Eric’s attitude is reflected in all that he does. “A sign of good leadership is someone who has a great mental approach, and is disciplined and organized,” he says. This is what he strives for as a community leader, coach, and entrepreneur. “Some people say, ‘find something you’re good at and stick to it,’ but that’s the worst advice,” he says. “My goal is to be an authentic example so people feel a real connection to what I’m trying to do. I encourage people – kids especially – to aspire to do better than me, and to not put limitations on their goals.”

Eric’s next goal as a leader is to open a facility that services kids athletically, academically, and socially. Meanwhile, he’ll keep reminding people that every day is a new day, and encouraging them to refuse to limit themselves.

Learn more about Eric and his ventures at https://www.iamericjones.com/.

*Double-Dutch position: rocking back and forth, waiting for the perfect moment to jump in

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“Eric and I met in 2008; I lived in Southern California and he was in Los Angeles with the Harlem Wizards. We have maintained a friendship ever since, and he was the first person who came to mind when thinking of Leaders Among Us. ”

— Kristina Wagner Moore