Week 8: Theories in Action

We had the opportunity to meet with the President of MacKay Shields (a NYLIM boutique), Janelle Woodward. I enjoyed the conversation so much and found that it related back to so much of what we have learned in Jepson classes. She started off by talking about her career path and talked about the importance of taking risks and challenging oneself. She decided to switch from one side of the business to another and was able to realize her passions extended further than she previously knew.

In terms of leadership theory, she spoke about the importance of being a relational leader. “Everyone is human” and everyone is unique. It is important to note differences and to treat everyone as an individual. She discussed the pitfalls of playing into stereotypes and passing judgement against others. As a leader, she strives to get to know the person and their passions before familiarizing herself with their work. People are more important than product. Prioritizing the person equally as much as their product will boost productivity and positivity. The pandemic allowed Janelle an opportunity to further understand her team and what motivates them. COVID allowed one to see their coworkers as whole people which includes their kids, pets and surrounding home environments. You were able to peek inside someone’s life in a way you were not able to before. She thinks that it is important going forward to continue treating each other with kindness and compassion in the way we have during the pandemic.

She started as the President of MacKay Shields during the pandemic. When asked about how she approached this she had some great insights. She started with a 90 day review of the business with the goals of listening, digesting and reflecting on the business as a whole. This allowed her to be a fly on the wall and learn from the team before stepping in to voice her opinions and give input.

Core values was another topic of great importance to her. Treating everyone how you would like to be treated is top of mind within the overall culture at MacKay. Working together as a team will always win over the individualistic mindset. Janelle has proven to be a strong and well liked leader in her short time at MacKay Shields. I think this is in large part because of her leadership style and approach to managing.