Read up on this inspiring advice, which comes straight from the mouths of the county’s most successful businesswomen.
We asked all of this year’s Women In Business nominees to tell us about the best piece of advice they’ve ever received—and how they’ve used that advice in their careers. Here’s what they had to say:
“Never take no for an answer. With patience and persistence you can always turn a ‘no’ to a ‘yes.’” –Merin Joseph, EVP and Chief Information Officer, WESTMED Medical Group and WESTMED Practice Partners
“Trends come and go but if you stay true to what you believe and what you know best, your business will survive and thrive.” –Jodi Rosenwasser Levine, Founder/Owner, Jodi’s Gym
“Love what you do and you’ll never ‘work’ another day in your life.” –Anne Papaelias, Vice President of Human Resources, Curtis Instruments
“Be enthusiastic about any project, big or small…leave no stone unturned in order to get the job done.” –Natasha Caputo, Director, Westchester County Tourism
“Don’t be afraid to take risks. If you don’t take risks, you will never know what doors of opportunities and possibilities will be opened to you.” —Kecia Palmer-Cousins, Owner, G&K Sweet Foods
“Lead by example. If you want your staff to take on challenging assignments, then do it first and ask them to join in the action. It is especially important for women to lead by example, proving we have the power and vision to be strong and inspirational leaders.” –Liz Bracken-Thompson, Partner, Thompson & Bender
“Always have integrity when doing business. Integrity, your name, and your reputation are key traits that will follow you. I used this advice every day of my life and have passed this invaluable wisdom to my daughter” –Gay Wheeler-Smith, Owner, G&K Sweet Foods
“Beware the tyranny of the straight line. Be careful that you don’t miss glorious side trips and alternate paths in your career because you are so focused on climbing a single ladder.” –Janis Archer, Director of Strategy Management, New York Power Authority
“Slow and Steady wins the race. You have to put your time in, you need to have experience, get exposure, make mistakes and learn. The world is complex, leadership isn’t easy, you need to rely on your past experiences to inform your future success.” –Susan Fox, President, White Plains Hospital
“Don’t worry about climbing the ladder. Talent will be noticed by good employers.” –Patricia Vitelli, Vice President of Finance, Westhab
“Surround yourself with really good people. The focus should be on the solution you are providing, the reason you started your business. That’s what you should focus on and don’t get distracted.” –Nuala Ronan, Managing Partner, Databean
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Noone is going to think less of you if you ask for help. I’ve practice that advice over and over through the years, both professionally and personally.” –Ruth Mahoney, President, KeyBank, Hudson Valley/Metro NY District
“No one ever put, ‘I wish I spent more time at the office’ on their tombstone. To me, the proper work/life balance has been important at every age and with every kind of lifestyle.” –Wilson Kimball, Commisioner of Planning and Development, City of Yonkers
“Stay true to your mission, always.” – Elizabeth Chabner Thompson, President, CEO and Founder, BFFL Co.
“Always be sure to listen. You have to always keep open mind; without that we can’t improve and we can’t excel.” –Erica Breining, Owner, Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center
“Early on in my career at the Foundation, I was told I needed to be the face of the Foundation. I bridled against this, I thought the Foundation was more important, but I realized people really need to relate to a person not just to a thing.” –Catherine Marsh, Executive Director, Westchester Community Foundation
