In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are highlighting the women of Core who have left their mark on our past and continue to shape our future.

As an organization that is largely comprised of women, we are excited to explore which women helped to play a pivotal role in their lives and what Women’s History Month means to them.

Today, we highlight our incredibly hard-working and driven Director of First Impressions, Patricia Williams.

WHAT DOES WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH MEAN TO YOU?

To me, so many women before us have put themselves in harm’s way to achieve rights as simple as working and voting. It is only right to celebrate these pioneers who have risked so much to get us where we are today.

WHAT DOES THE PHRASE “EMPOWERED WOMEN, EMPOWER WOMEN” MEAN TO YOU AND HOW DO YOU LIVE THIS IN YOUR DAILY LIFE?

To me this phrase means having the authority or power to do something.  I like to think that I try to honor those who have gone before me by making decisions for myself that will impact me both in the present and the future.  I do my best and try to uplift the women around me reminding them that they too have the power to make their own decisions and apply for positions that were once only available to men.  To ask for the salary that they are worth and to not let society dictate where their place is in the world.

WHAT QUALITIES MAKE A GREAT FEMALE LEADER?

First and foremost, to believe in themselves.  Have the ability to nurture people, not baby them, but help them to grow and recognize their strengths.

Focus on building others up and don’t ask them to do anything that you wouldn’t do yourself. Be willing to question when something doesn’t seem right or fair. Challenge the way business has been done in the past and forge new paths and opportunities for the team.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. I think female leaders feel guilty or skeptical about asking for help or guidance, fearing that they may be viewed as “less than”. A good leader understands their limitations and doesn’t try to do everything themselves, but sees the value in asking others on the team to step up and give them more responsibility to shine as an individual and a group.

WHAT FEMALE PUBLIC FIGURE, PAST OR PRESENT, INSPIRES YOU AND WHY?

There are so many amazing women, past and present, that inspire me.  I think women like Oprah and Ellen DeGeneres, who use their celebrity to help so many people in need. They aren’t afraid to raise other women up and help them realize their potential.  I think my all time favorite is Jackie Kennedy. She was the woman behind the man.  Her grace and beauty, as well as her courage, persistence and perseverance are just a few qualities that I truly admire. She was a wife, mother and public figure, but you never saw her falter when everything around her was spinning out of control. Her grace and beauty are only surpassed by her ability to overcome whatever situation was placed in front of her.

GROWING UP, WAS THERE SOMEONE IN YOUR LIFE THAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME WHO YOU ARE TODAY? WHO WAS IT AND WHY?

Hands down, my mother.  When I look back on her life, I see someone who was so strong and brave.  She ran a tight ship when we were growing up, and the older I get, the more I understand why. She had a husband with a heart condition at the young age of 38. She resumed her career and went back to work at a time when women didn’t go to work. She left us with my dad, while she became the bread winner. Even when others would criticize her for leaving her children to work, she didn’t let that stand in the way of providing for her family, and to make sure that we didn’t lose our home.

She was always there for me for all the ups and downs in my life. She had an explanation or anecdote for every situation. She stood tall and brave when my brother died at 31, and made sure that his home wasn’t lost, and his wife and children always had their home, food and clothes. No one ever stood in her way, and no was not in her vocabulary.

My mother was so amazing, and I wish now that she was here so that I could tell her that she made me the woman that I am today.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WISH YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN EARLY IN YOUR CAREER?

Don’t hesitate to speak up, but also know when to keep quiet.

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU’D LIKE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHILDREN TO KNOW?

Always be kind to yourself and don’t beat yourself up about failures or mistakes, but take the time to learn from them.

Being popular doesn’t matter.  Yes, it is great to be the popular guy or girl in school or in the office, but even popular people aren’t perfect. They have their failures, problems and hurts.

Figure out what makes you happy and then do whatever it takes to achieve your goals.

You don’t need a significant other to be happy. You are enough!

Always be good to your parents. Believe it or not, they actually know what they are doing. Children don’t come with a handbook, so give them a break. You will find out as you get older and understand this more and more every day. They love you unconditionally and put your wants and needs ahead of their own. It might not always seem like it, but they do have your best interest at heart.