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Thank you to the 1,400 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 questions!
I hope reading
7 Questions with Susan Newman
helps you in your leadership.
Cheers,
Jonno White
7 Questions with Susan Newman
Name: Susan Newman
Current title: Chief Education Officer
Current organisation: school2life
Susan Newman is a career marketing professional and instructor in the Business & Entrepreneur Dept at Columbia College Chicago. Since 2001, she has taught the college’s popular Marketing Yourself course showing students how to effectively apply sales tactics and marketing strategies for their career launch and future success. The course has prepared hundreds to enter the workforce with confidence and career-enhancing tools. Today Newman is Chief Education Officer for school2life, an educational agency which provides relevant and actionable programming for students of all ages to put their BEST WORK FORWARD in order to gain growth opportunities in education and industry. Newman attributes school2life's success to her 20 years of networking and marketing experience with large and small organizations, including Leo Burnett, Playboy, and Make-A-Wish Foundation and her 20 years as a college instructor.
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1. What have you found most challenging as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise?
One of the most challenging tasks is probably the most simple AND important...keeping brand integrity and the user experience at the forefront of every channel or collaboration we pursue.
2. How did you become a CEO or executive of a large enterprise? Can you please briefly tell the story?
I saw a need and started a company to fill that need! In making a career change after 15 years in Client Service with marketing firms, I realized the career "pivot process" was seldomly taught early enough or at all in school to assure a successful pivot in one's professional trajectory. I saw a relentless need and filled it with actionable programming.
3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?
I'm a morning person so before noon I schedule my "high performance" tasks if possible. Starting with exercise, private clients and sales. I try to schedule the things I most enjoy like teaching and strategic collaboration for the later hours in the day.
4. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?
Whether it is parenting or running an education agency, the same advice holds true...teach by example and empower people to recognize their growth and potential.
5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?
I address school2life like every other part of my life...ALL IN! My latest read is Total Mediation by Deepak Chopra. The notion that everything we do is mediative not just when we cross our legs for "scheduled" mediation BUT how we approach work, play, family, fun but addressing everything we do in an AWAKE mode. I've found the greatest outcomes professionally AND personally with this approach.
6. How do you build leadership capacity in a large enterprise?
We empower everyone from students to internal teams and collaborators the same way. We listen, give ownership and help fill in the gaps to ensure everyone enjoys the process.
7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise so far?
From working with students and professionals from a wide range of socioeconomic circumstances for the past 20 years, I'm reminded daily that just because you're a certain age or have a great title or socialize with high profile people...there is still a great deal to learn and growth to be had for everyone.