As International Women’s Month comes to a close, we want to celebrate and champion our very own all-women leadership team at The Exchange. The Exchange is run by The Domain Companies and is comprised of Avia and Mya apartments, The Shop Workspace, and The Local. We sat down with Anne, Susan, and Fathom to learn more about what female leadership means to them, what they have learned as they’ve entered leadership roles, and what advice they would give to their younger selves.
Anne Olsen; Community Manager, The Shop Workspace
Can you describe your role within The Exchange?
I am the Community Manager of The Shop Workspace within The Exchange. My day to day involves events, member management, and overall support to broader company partnerships.
What inspired you to be a leader and why? Is there anyone in our Exchange community that has inspired you?
I have been extremely fortunate to be surrounded by smart, capable, women in leadership roles throughout my career that made making the jump easy for me. The ability to be a unique voice and perspective while having a seat at the table has always appealed to me. Within The Exchange I am inspired and impressed daily by the incredible leadership that surrounds me from top to bottom, it is hard putting just one name here!
What do you think is a significant barrier to female leadership?
One of the biggest barriers I personally had to overcome was through my communication. Women are often given feedback that they are not being direct enough or are not pulling their emotions out of their responses. It certainly does not happen overnight, but over time it gets easier to balance these opposing forces on your own terms.
How do you push for systemic change around ideas that are new or not that popular?
I often joke that I like to take the Ruth Bader Ginsburg approach. When I was younger, I wanted to believe that if I could just light that one last match that the world could change. However, as time and experience came, I realized that slow, incremental, and intentional change not only tends to be longer lasting but is also easier to get people on board to support.
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Listen more! Wow I thought I had it down when I was twenty. Ha! So much of what I’ve learned through my career was learned by listening and observing others. There is a wealth of knowledge in every room you step into when you’re stepping into the right places!
What advice would you give to young women entering this profession/organization?
Coworking Management is a monolith of different skills both hard and soft. The best advice I’d give is to find the ways that your strengths can push the needle and build a team that can support you with doing the rest of it.
How do you feel you have facilitated a positive impact within your space (Work, hobbies, personal life, etc.)
For work, like everyone, I’ve had my fair share of tough bosses. When I made the jump to management, I really wanted to emphasize transparency into my life and how I’m feeling. It is not realistic to fire on all cylinders every single day, but creating a space where that is okay helps you understand your team better. Beyond work in my personal life, I like to emphasize emotional intelligence and effective communication. I’m teased both at work and home for my use of the term “overcommunicate” but it is honestly a game changer!
Susan Horne; Property Manager; Mya & Avia Apartments
Can you describe your role within The Exchange?
At The Exchange, I am the Property Manager of Avia & Mya Apartment Homes
What inspired you to be a leader and why? Is there anyone in our Exchange community that has inspired you?
My main inspiration are my children. I have always taught my children that if there is something you want, fight for it. Don’t expect things to be handed to you but work for it. I have raised my children to be independent and strong. My inspiration with The Exchange is my team. We have not had an easy start, but I work hard to ensure they are happy and have all of the tools they need to be successful. I also want to ensure that they are aware that they have my support, and I will always be here for them.
What do you think is a significant barrier to female leadership?
In my opinion there are many barriers that females have in leadership roles, but a few examples are unequal pay and limited career advancement.
How do you push for systemic change around ideas that are new or not that popular?
The way that I push through systemic change around ideas would be adjust our mindsets and behaviors.
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Fight! Fight for what you want and never give up. Continue to learn and be open to feedback. There will always be obstacles but be confident in yourself and never give up.
What advice would you give to young women entering this profession/organization?
Be open to change and feedback. I would also say if there is something you want, go get it until you accomplish what you are wanting. Often, we just do the bare minimum and expect for things to happen. You must show what you want and why you want it. Go above and beyond!
How do you feel you have facilitated a positive impact within your space (Work, hobbies, personal life, etc.)
I will say that in my earlier days, I felt as though I had something to prove. I had to fight for things and show that I was the best fit for a role or just things in general. I then started a course for a leadership program that showed me that I was worthy of good things and as long as I give my heart things will happen. I also love saying to myself “if it meant to be it’s up to me”. I must also remember that you have to balance your work life and home.
Fathom Croteau: Manager of Operations; The Local
Can you describe your role within The Exchange?
I am the Manager of Operations for the full-service foodhall on the ground level of Avia. I work for the operator of the hall, HHQ and am responsible for day-today operations, business development and community partnerships.
What inspired you to be a leader and why? Is there anyone in our Exchange community that has inspired you?
Growing up, I always ended up in a leadership role and that didn’t stop in adulthood. I have found that certain types of people gravitate towards this role because we’re able to identify patterns and take action accordingly. I struggled for a long time with the pushback that I would get as I ascended through leadership roles and have found that the core of the issue is that there is not a solid enough presence of women in leadership, especially in places like rural New Mexcio where I come from.
I didn’t initially intend to be in this role, but I pride myself on knowing that I have stewarded young men and women alike through a variety of markets before ending up here.
Each of the Exchange leaders is wildly inspiring to me. Anne recommended me for this role and I receive an unprecedented amount of support from the residential leasing staff, as well as Anne and Jen in The Shop. This community is captained exclusively by a leadership team that identifies as female and it is so gratifying to me to know that I am a part of that system.
What do you think is a significant barrier to female leadership?
The perception of capability and emotional interference. There is a much larger, deeper conversation now about mental health and personal wellness, but in general there is still a stigma that women act with emotions instead of logic, but are simultaneously regarded as being intuitive and powerful because of that emotional acumen. In my own experience, the biggest barrier can often be the people who support you the most, because their concern becomes a blockade instead of a bridge. My intuition does not make me weak, it is a reflection of my experience and ability.
How do you push for systemic change around ideas that are new or not that popular?
By incorporating the feedback of my staff in every capacity possible. I can only yell so loud and I only have two hands, but by supporting the people who support me I am able to facilitate conversations that may otherwise not be an option.
What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
Dont. Take. It. Personally.
People will ALWAYS have something to say about you or your work, but the turning point for me was realizing that the only thing I could control was myself and the way I responded to feedback and criticism. Not everyone in this world is out to get you, but on that some token- very few people are out to help you.
Knowing that I hold more power in my self control than my loudest voice was the toughest lesson to learn. I would tell her to keep fighting and NEVER cut those bangs.
What advice would you give to young women entering this profession/organization?
“You are more than enough”.. it can feel so barren and bleak but you are not the only one fighting this fight, and there are so many women who have WON these battles.
The path you’re forging has foot steps to follow and an entire legacy of spirit to support you. Do not give up, you’ve only just begun.
How do you feel you have facilitated a positive impact within your space (Work, hobbies, personal life, etc.)
By maintaining a space for all of my staff to feel heard and respected. Not every conversation will be an easy one, but all of the difficult ones will yield positive changes. I encourage my staff to remember that perfection is just a word and we have the power to make people feel magical.
What matters to me is that that light inside of them is never extinguished because of the conditions that they are in for our work.
Simply put, I make people feel like people because that was the crux of the people who led me.