Women in Business: Leading with Purpose

"Whatever you choose, live it with passion." - Dr. Jen Traxler

On September 20th, just two days before American Business Women's Day, the Ohio University Women’s Center and The Walter Center, hosted an event highlighting women in business and career experiences.

The Walter Center’s Dr. Jen Traxler served as the Keynote Speaker for this event. She was joined by Dianne Kujis, Liesbeth Koot, and Dr. Ana Rosado-Feger, Chair of the Management Department. Dr. Mel Kulp, the Assistant Dean for the Business Academic Advising and Career Services, emceed the event with Letitia Price, Assistant Director of the Ohio University Women’s Center. The stage was also shared with Dr. Ashley Metcalf, Director of Executive Education, who facilitated the panel.

Dr. Jen Traxler opened the seminar with bits of advice that she labeled as: “Jen’s 10”. These steps are to be used in a professional setting and everyday life to help people grow and learn as professionals. The most memorable take away from her speech was the advice: “Whatever you choose, live it with passion.”

Following Traxler’s presentation, each panelist shared personal and professional leadership experiences and how they impacted their careers.

Dr. Ana Rosado-Feger discussed the importance of building strong relationships with clients and students by understanding their unique personalities and work styles. “The challenges that mainly connect me to others is to see what drives them, their work style, and what is holding them back,” Rosado-Feger noted. 

She acknowledges that as someone in a leadership position, leaders will face many challenges both as individuals and with the various teams that someone might find themselves leading.

To overcome these hurdles, leaders must connect with their employees and team members personally and find the core values they hold close to them and even their beliefs that may make them feel stuck in the same place. But there is always a way to turn that situation around and make them feel empowered.

Dianne Kuijs and Liesbeth Koot both serve as Career Managers for Sogeti Netherlands, a longtime College of Business Executive Education partner. They are experienced professionals in leading teams and guiding young professionals as they enter the work force. It was fitting to have both Kuijs and Koot serve on the panel as they were on campus for the 136th program between Ohio University and Sogeti.

“The Executive Education team is excited to highlight the campus collaboration, the international insights, and the 23 year relationship with Sogeti,” says Dr. Ashley Metcalf, the Director of Executive Education for the College of Business. “The program has hosted over 3,400 young professionals over the years and continues to provide professional development opportunities to our partners at Sogeti.”

Kujis shared some insights from her early career and how she overcame the challenges and learning curves. She mentioned that her technical background led her to seek a job in that field.

Fortunately, she felt comfortable in her new position. However, things took an unexpected turn when she was suddenly tasked with responsibilities outside her comfort zone. Specifically, she was asked to handle sales, which was entirely new. This change was difficult initially, but it allowed her to shift her mindset and approach challenging tasks more positively. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, she learned to tackle new challenges with a growth mindset.

Much like Kujis, Koot also works within the HR department at Sogeti, but her background varies from that of her colleague. Obtaining a degree in social work, Koot worked as a probation officer in the Netherlands, where she was in and out of police stations, jails, and other similar places. But, with the expansion of larger companies in the country, she decided to make a career change, which led her to become a project manager at an IT company.

Koot worked her way to a leadership position in HR, which would change her job title to "Career Manager."

As the women's event came to a close, there was a palpable sense of inspiration and motivation in the air. Attendees left feeling empowered to lead with purpose and make a positive impact in their respective fields. Some even made new connections and formed valuable professional relationships. It was a truly unforgettable experience that left everyone looking forward to the next Women in Business event.