Continuing the Conversation. What I learned from Martha Bejar.

I had the privilege to host the remarkable Martha Bejar last week as part of the inaugural Women & Wisdom @ Work event at MitelNext. For those who don’t know her, Martha is the first women to serve on the Mitel Board of Directors, which for her is only the latest in a long list of chart-busting career accomplishments that have spanned more than three decades and tackled every opportunity and obstacle in sight. For me, however, her appointment to our Board became a personal career milestone of my time at Mitel, one that made me prouder of my company, and more optimistic and ambitious about my own opportunities.

Martha – all 5’3” of her – is a force of nature, and one to be reckoned with. Her wit, wisdom and shoot-from-the-hip honesty about her hard-won battles and hard knocks from her incredible career and life captivated and changed me – profoundly. Feedback from others who were there tell me it changed them too. That’s an impressive impact from a 40-minute wander-among-the-audience conversation, so I thought it would be good to share my key takeaways and lessons I will live and lead by. 

To those who were in Phoenix, keep the conversation going by adding your takeaways.

1.      Listen to your instincts. It is a form of advice from you to you, and nobody is better qualified to provide you with that.

2.      If something is not right for you in your career, change it – big brands, big titles, big names notwithstanding.

3.      Never, ever hand over decision-making power to anyone in your career. Call your own shots.

4.      Be who you are. It got you this far.

5.      And a life long lesson but the first she learned, always listen to your mother.

Simple but powerful truths that have shaped a remarkable business leader. 

Thank you Martha.