1. Can you share a bit about your journey and how you rose to the position of CEO?

Well, first, I would identify as a founder/CEO as opposed to a CEO. Between those two things I probably identify more as a founder than I do as a CEO, and that’s probably a whole other conversation about the differences. But I was a reluctant entrepreneur – meaning I never set out with a mindset of, “I’m gonna have a business or I’m gonna be a CEO.” It was more about a door closing, I would say.

I worked for a founder/CEO as his first employee. After 7 years of working together, he decided to retire and I was lost. He encouraged me to start my own business to which I said, “I don’t know how to do that.” And he said, “No one does. You’ll figure it out.”

That was fantastic advice because you do figure it out, and you’re probably more ready than you think you are.

2.What initially drew you to pursue a career in this field, and how did you navigate your early years in the industry?

What drew me to this field was necessity. I was not planning on a career in finance, I was planning on being a professor of literature.

But I paid my way through undergrad, and I would have to pay my way through grad school. I had stayed in touch with my high school soccer coach throughout college. He was in finance as a billion-dollar small cap equity manager, and he knew my situation. He was about to launch a new fund. So, he said “I know you need to pay for grad school. I need help launching this fund. Why don’t you come here and work with me? Help me do this thing, save some money, and then you can go off and follow your dreams.” I did and I never left the industry.

I think it’s a great lesson in being open to things, especially early in your career, because I had a vision of what I wanted to do and why I wanted to do it. I loved words and wanted to use them, but I didn’t realize there were other ways to harness that vibe other than being a teacher. That was the only path I knew and I’m glad that necessity led me to a different path – being a storyteller in the finance and investment world.

3. How have you built confidence and/or resiliency over the course of your career?

Trying new things and pivoting. The idea of “not being afraid to fail” is perhaps tired, but it is true. That same soccer coach who hired me? During soccer practice, one of the things he said to us was, “If you’re not falling down, you’re not trying hard enough.”  This is where you try the stuff. This is where you try and you fall and you fail, because then you get better.

4. Were there any pivotal moments or experiences that shaped your career trajectory and leadership style?

When I turned 40, I was almost 10 years into my founder’s journey and…I became a mom. It was empowering. I had less time for nonsense because I wanted to be present for my daughter. I became braver in my authenticity, more confident in my strength, and more focused on what we need to do to move things forward.

5. How did you overcome gender-related barriers or biases that you encountered throughout your career?

I am often the only female in the room and at the proverbial table. I’ve always been aware of that and always been aware of how broken that is. There should be more women but at the same time, being the only woman gave me a mantle. I felt the responsibility to make other women proud. It was empowering.

When I spoke as the only female, it was a different sound than anyone else who was talking. When I had an idea, it was different than any of the other ideas at the table. I felt like a rose amongst thorns. I owned it, and maybe that was my own version of self-preservation, to not feel the pressures that are so easy to feel in that situation. Maybe that was me telling myself, ”Oh, okay, don’t worry. You’re not other. You’re special.” I believed it and I still believe it for all women.

6. Can you discuss a particularly difficult situation you faced professionally and how you managed to navigate through it?

The thing I was most nervous about as a founder, especially in this business, is: here I am running a boutique agency as a woman, and our clients are often these very successful, smart, wealthy founders of hedge funds, with lots of lawyers and all kinds of power. I had this fear that I was going to get chewed up and spit out in every negotiation. It didn’t happen.

The most difficult situations are the ones you spin up in your head that you think are going to happen, or what you think people are thinking. You create these scenarios that you’re worried about. And the reality is not nearly as bad.

7. Have you had any mentors or role models who have inspired or guided you throughout your career journey?

Certainly, I give credit to my soccer coach and another woman that I met right after I started in this industry who took me under her wing. She taught me how to establish my reputation for my skills and my smarts, and what I brought to the table. She told me, “It’s going to be harder for you because you’re a woman, you’re young and they’re going to assume you’re just a pretty face. Show them you’ve got a beautiful brain too.”

8. What strategies or approaches have you found most effective in balancing the demands of leadership with other aspects of your life?

I would say asking for help and having people around you who are talented enough to balance your weaknesses. My assistant has been a game changer for me – not just at work but in life. You can’t do it all, you can’t do it alone. It’s freeing when you stop trying.

I’m a fan of Calendar Zero. Everyone talks about Inbox Zero, but take a day every week, don’t put anything on your calendar and watch what happens. You will get more done in your professional life and your personal life than you’ve ever done in a day that’s filled with meetings.

9. Looking back, is there any advice you wish you had received when you were just starting out in the industry?

As a gal who loves words, I wish someone said “Less is more in email.” If an email is longer than a few sentences or bullet points now, I don’t write it.

I’d add to that, less email, more phone. More in person. I think email is an easy place to hide. A lot of good happens when we pick up the phone or see each other face to face.

10. How do you foster a supportive and inclusive work environment within your company, particularly for women aiming to advance in their careers?

The majority of the Havener team is female. I’m proud of that. Our mantra on teamwork and inclusivity is around unique ability.  Find talented people who share your core values and have unique abilities that complement each other. It’s good for the business, but it’s really good for the people in the business, because the more time they can spend on things that light them up, the happier they’ll be, and the more successful they’ll feel.

The other mantra we have here is to treat each other like adults. Get your work done and manage your time as you need to in the way that works best for you. The people here are supported to live their life and have a job at the same time. We respect each other in all our roles.

11. What do you believe are the key skills or attributes that aspiring female professionals should focus on developing to succeed in this industry?

This is a very technical industry, there are lots of numbers and calculations, and if you don’t understand those things, you will feel intimidated, and when you feel intimidated you won’t talk. Having that knowledge is a baseline for me because then you will have the confidence to talk out loud.

The biggest thing for me is yes, have a seat at the table, but be a voice at the table. I think the precursor to that is you have to have the confidence to use your voice, and if you feel intimidated by what’s being discussed, you won’t.

12. Can you share a bit about your leadership philosophy and how it has evolved over the years?

Evolving from the founder who does all the jobs, to a manager, to a teacher, to a leader has been a learning journey. The whole “what got you here won’t get you there” philosophy has been instrumental in my journey.

This concept is something I have worked on the most and I am part of a coaching program that helps solidify this idea. Delegating to elevate is also really big – giving people things that are in their unique abilities which frees you to work on yours while supporting them in that process.

Authentic leadership has been my favorite leadership journey. Leading by example to show our team that people don’t want your “perfect,” they want your “real.” I love that.

13. Can you share insights on the importance of personal branding and visibility in your career?

I think it’s the most important thing whether you’re the face of a company as the founder or an employee in a very big company. Your personal brand is yours to own, and so many people give it away. That’s a mistake, in my opinion, because you can give it away unintentionally. Whether you choose to own your personal brand with intention or not, you have one. And it enters every room before you.

For example, let’s say you’re applying for a job or a board seat or working to get a new client. Guess what’s going to happen? You’re going to get Googled and they’re going to find your LinkedIn profile. That will be number 1 or 2 in the search results. So, if you’ve never looked at your LinkedIn profile and you’ve got no intention around it, people are still going to see it. Whether or not you choose to own your personal brand, you have one. You might as well own it. Own your story – the previous chapters and the new ones. If you don’t, other people will write it for you.

14. Finally, what advice would you offer to young women who are considering entering the private lending field and aspire to reach leadership positions?

Everyone’s on an adventure, and everyone cares about their adventure the most. If you want to rise into a leadership role, the way you do that is by meeting people where they are, understanding where they’re trying to go, what problems are in the way, and helping them get to their success on the other side. Big or small.

As a leader, there’s nothing better than when someone comes to me and says, “I see that problem. I have these 3 ideas on how to fix it. And I’ve researched them. And my point of view is that this option is the right way to go forward for these reasons.” You do that and you will be invaluable to the people around you. Understand the journey they’re on and help them get where they want to go.