Courage and the C-Suite

“Building a career in the C-suite is hard work,” says Sharon Napier, CEO, Partners + Napier. “And the world isn’t going to make it easy on you.”

In an industry of Mad Men, where women only make up 3 percent of creative directors and a handful of executives, Napier is leading with courage and conviction.

Read our exclusive interview!

“We tell women to be assertive, and to negotiate and network religiously,” she says. “But we don’t always tell them to cultivate a strong voice very early in their careers.”

A mother of two, this bit of wisdom Napier has learned throughout her career is something she hopes to instill in her daughters.

“I’ve chosen to be me: a hard, straight-shooting CEO,” she says. “I don’t change the way I communicate or who I am to try to please someone or fit in.”

It’s that confidence that, nearly a decade ago, gave her the courage to borrow from her 401k, cash in insurance policies and buy out the former CEO to prevent the agency from closing its doors.

“Risking everything to prevent the agency from going belly up was one of the scariest decisions I’ve ever made,” Napier tells PINK.

She and 40 loyal employees admirably referred to as the “Brave 40,” rebranded and have since grown into one of America’s fastest growing agencies – now 135 people strong, with offices in Rochester, New York City, Atlanta and San Francisco.

Bonus PINK Link: How did Lockheed Martin’s Shan Cooper go from HR expert to senior aeronautics executive? Find out here.

What’s the biggest risk you took for your career?

By L. Nicole Williams

Nicole is the Editor at Little PINK Book. Follow her on Twitter @iamnicwill.

“Nobody knows what you’re capable of but you.” Sharon Napier