Camp CEO

Top Women Share Success Secrets with Girl Scouts at Camp CEO

Earlier this year, the Girl Scouts of New York partnered with PINK by helping out during our Spring into Ownership event. Below, Chicago-based Girl Scout Ashley Talesky interviews three high-powered businesswomen on behalf of PINK during her stint at Camp CEO.

By Ashley Talesky, 15, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana

Camp CEO is the name, and business is the game. This five-day camp matches teen Girl Scouts with top business leaders from companies including Motorola, Sara Lee and Aon. Girls were partnered with a top woman to hear her stories and success secrets. While learning about networking and the proper handshake, they also participated in fun activities, like a camp version of “The Amazing Race.” While only one group won that race, everyone realized they were at the starting line of one far more important – their adult lives.

They’re waiting for the day they enter into the real job world, and this camp gave these girls the edge they’ll need to go faster and farther than their peers. I got the chance to interview several top women about the secrets they shared with the teens they spoke to. These women include Maria Green, deputy associate general counsel at Illinois Tool Works; Marilyn Lissner, executive director of Cushman & Wakefield of Illinois; and Margaret Stender, chairman & minority owner of Chicago Sky.

Ashley Talesky: How do you define success?

Maria Green: Being excited about coming to work every day, having the trust and respect of my colleagues and staff, and knowing that I always strive to do what is right and ethical.

Margaret Stender: Setting a goal and accomplishing it with integrity.

AT: What’s the secret to your professional success?

Marilyn Lissner: Although money and security play a role in professional success, they’re far from the top of the list. It is really about attitude towards yourself and others. To be successful, you must be passionate about whatever you do, make a difference in other people’s lives, provide the best products and services to your clients, be a good listener so you can respond with solid solutions and set the standard for excellence.

MS: I don’t know if there is a secret. What I try to do is couple hard work with value-based leadership qualities. This includes the Golden Rule: kindness matters. Then, accountability to do the right thing, passion, the courage to change, grow, learn and take risks, perseverance and determination.

AT: What’s the biggest issue for professional women to be successful?

MG: Women need to master the skill of “artful boasting.” Women often think that if you keep your head down and work hard you’ll be recognized. It takes more than that – it’s important to remind your superiors of your skill and your accomplishments so that when the next big project comes along, they will think of you.

ML: The ranks are thinning. Although there has been an increase of women in the workplace, there is still not gender equality. More women are retiring and not enough women are filling those positions. Women will require more perseverance than ever and should look for support networks among women and men who will mentor and train them.

AT: What is the best business advice you’ve ever received?

MG: “Sometimes good enough is good enough.” As professional women we think we need to be the best in everything. I would try to be the smartest lawyer, who had the answer first and who billed the most hours. I would also try to be a perfect mother who made cookies, homemade costumes for Halloween. One day I was commiserating with another professional woman and she said, “No one can do it all.” Sometimes you’re a great lawyer, but are just getting by as a wife and mother, and sometimes you’re a great wife and mother, but your professional life is suffering. You can only excel at one thing at a time, and for that period of time the other areas will have to settle for good enough.

ML: Be prepared and do your homework.

MS: You can be anything you wish to be but you must go for it. And help other people along the way.

For more information about the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana and Camp CEO, please visit www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org