In Her Own Words: Meredith Calhoun on Leadership & Growth
I recently had the opportunity to reflect on a few questions about leadership, career growth and Birmingham. They were simple questions, but they made me think about some of the principles that have shaped my career and the things I’m still working to get right.
Tell us one more time your exact job title.
Founder & CEO, Tessa.
How have you positioned yourself for career growth?
I’ve tried to stay curious rather than complacent.
I’ve spent most of my career in smaller, entrepreneurial organizations where there wasn’t necessarily a predefined next step. That gave me the opportunity, and sometimes forced me, to create my own path.
Rather than focusing on a title or a traditional career ladder, I’ve tried to keep asking: What problem can I solve? Where can I add value? What can I learn that I don’t know yet?
That mindset has opened doors I probably wouldn’t have known to pursue otherwise.
What is the best trait for a leader to have?
Curiosity.
The best leaders don’t assume they have all the answers. They ask good questions, listen carefully and remain willing to change their minds when they learn something new.
Curiosity also keeps you from becoming complacent. It pushes you to understand people, challenge assumptions and keep looking for a better way to solve a problem.
What is Birmingham doing right to support women in the workforce?
Birmingham is an increasingly inclusive and forward-thinking city, and women are leading businesses, organizations and initiatives across our community.
There is real opportunity here for women who want to build something, lead something or create their own path. I think that matters.
What can Birmingham do better to support women in the workforce?
Collaborate.
I don’t think Birmingham’s challenge is a lack of smart people, good ideas or people who care deeply about the city. We have all three.
Our challenge is getting better at working together.
Too often, organizations, industries and institutions operate in their own lanes. If Birmingham wants to accelerate its growth, we have to become much more intentional about connecting people, ideas and resources across those lines.
Growth creates opportunity. If we can unlock more of it, women - and everyone else who wants to participate - will have more opportunities to build businesses, lead organizations, invest, create and contribute.
What is your power anthem or walk-up song?
“My Silver Lining” by First Aid Kit.
There’s something about the combination of optimism, uncertainty and forward motion in that song that feels right to me. You don’t have to know exactly where the road is going to keep moving.
If you could go back and tell your 18-year-old self something, what would it be?
You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going.
There’s a lot of pressure when you’re young to choose the right path, make the right decisions and somehow map out a career and a life before you’ve had enough experience to know what you actually want.
Some of the best opportunities in my life came from paths I couldn’t have planned.
Stay curious. Pay attention to what interests you. Trust yourself enough to change direction when something no longer fits.
You can build the path as you go.
What is your top piece of advice for women in the workforce?
Take ownership.
Don’t wait for someone else to define your opportunity, recognize your potential or tell you what the next step should be.
Look for problems you can solve. Learn things that make you more valuable. Ask questions. Build relationships. Take the meeting. Raise your hand for things before you feel completely ready.
And when the existing path doesn’t take you where you want to go, be willing to create another one.
Careers are rarely as linear as they look in retrospect. The ability to take ownership of yours is one of the most powerful advantages you can give yourself.
- Meredith