Greater Raleigh Chamber Blog

For so many of us, taking that professional leap is intimidating. Sure, a promotion sounds wonderful. But what about all the extra responsibilities that come along with the job? Many of us have and will ask ourselves the question, “Am I going to be a good fit?”

Leaders often view these challenges as opportunities.

“You need to be looking for those opportunities where you are nervous that you’re going to do well,” said Deverre Lierman, associate vice president and delivery head with Infosys. “If you’re too confident, then you’re not challenging yourself.”

Lierman was one of three speakers at our Chamber Professional Women’s Luncheon in February. More than 400 people registered to attend the lunch at the Marriott Raleigh Crabtree Valley, hearing from women who are executives in the Triangle.

Along with Lierman, we heard from Stephanie Jensen, director of Professional and Specialty Solutions at BASF, and Marshae Mansfield, the vice president and chief operating officer of Lenovo (United States) Inc. Our moderator was Ashley Cagle, assistant executive director with Wake County Economic Development, a program of the Raleigh Chamber.

Each talked about the importance of finding a work-life balance.

“To me, it’s about doing the thing that needs to get done when it needs to get done,” said Jensen. “It’s always about priorities. Sometimes, it’s making sure my kids are at hockey practice. Sometimes, it’s working until 11.”
Mansfield reminded everyone to take the time to rejuvenate themselves.

“I give Lenovo everything I have when I’m in the office and I give my family everything I have when I’m at home,” she said. “Everyone respects that.”

Lierman said we all have the same 24 hours in a day and it’s difficult to get everything accomplished in that time period. But, she said, things are different when you take a broader approach to time.

“Rather than 24 hours, I try to look at it with what I’m able to accomplish over the course of a week, or a month, or a year,” said Lierman.

Each also shared their thoughts on how women can chart their leadership journeys.

Mansfield said it is important to have a manager who believes in you and a strong personal brand.

“What is your brand,” she asked. “What do you want to be known for in your organization? When you walk through the hall, what do you want people to say about you?”

Jensen said one person’s journey should not look the same as another.

“Own your own journey and make it what you want it to be,” she said. “Come up with your plan for success.”
Lierman reminded the audience to take that leap.

“Take the opportunity,” she said. “Be uncomfortable. There’s never going to be a perfect moment. Set aside that self-doubt and go for it. You never know where it might take you.”

We want to thank all of our speakers for their great insight and stories that they shared. We also want to thank our CPW sponsors. Your support and partnership ensured this event was a great success.

Discussion of this CPW event reached beyond the luncheon as our official Twitter hashtag, #RaleighCPW, was among the top trending topics throughout the day in the Raleigh area.

Please also join us on May 29 for our Women’s Leadership Conference. This conference has grown so much that it is now our most attended Chamber event. More than 800 professionals will attend. The half-day conference features a keynote speaker, breakout sessions, and panel discussions with local successful executives. It also is a great way for women in business to connect and network.
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We hope to see you there! 

​Our area continues to grow and shows no signs of slowing down. A major reason for that growth is our incredibly strong talent pipeline. But, as our area grows and the world changes, the needs of that talent pipeline are changing.

With that in mind, we must start thinking about how we will adapt to the needs of our future workforce. At our forum, Triangle Talent: The Workforce of Tomorrow, we took a closer look into what that future will look like.

Rob Humphrey, a key account executive with LinkedIn, showed us how Raleigh is both gaining and losing talent. We are gaining talent from Northeast cities including New York City and Boston, along with people moving from Fayetteville, N.C. Humphrey said the people from Fayetteville could be because of the strong focus locally on helping veterans find employment. But, he said, despite our growth, we also are seeing some people leave the Triangle to cities including San Francisco, Seattle, and Charlotte.

“This should help you inform your hiring and retention strategies,” Humphrey told us.

He also said that there are certain skills that, over time, have become more marketable.

“Fifty-seven percent of leaders say soft skills are more important than hard skills,” said Humphrey. “Creativity and adaptability are what employers are trying to discover.”

As a way stand out, he advised both employers and employees, “Don’t just market your company, your school, or yourself, but get involved in your community.”

Gary Greene, the owner of Greene Resources, moderated a discussion about the latest talent trends, based upon the impact of technology.

“Talent remains one of our area’s competitive advantages today,” opened Greene.

The panelists included Kimarie Ankenbrand, managing director at JLL in Raleigh, Briana Landis, Meredith College, Class of 2019, Jannaeé Sick, front end developer at MedThink Communications, and Lindsay Tarabocchia, assistant vice president of channel management at Credit Suisse.

“The worker of the future is going to work very differently,” said Ankenbrand. “There’s so much more to companies than just having a big brand. Big brands don’t guarantee that people will come work for you.”

She added that, by 2025, 75 percent of the workforce will be the millennial generation or below.

Landis spoke from the perspective of someone about to enter the workforce.

“My priorities are finding somewhere where I could gain long-term employment and could stay in Raleigh,” she said. “As a woman, I also need to look at a company’s maternity policy.”

Sick left the workforce to raise a child. She then found it difficult at first to restart her career with a gap in her resume. She talked about the importance of networking.

“It was absolutely important to go make those human-to-human contacts,” said Sick. “It helped me show that I am hungry for this opportunity and it put me out there.”

Tarabocchia said it is not just job seekers who should be the ones doing things out of their comfort zone.

“Employers also need to get uncomfortable and do something different,” she said. “What we did 20 years ago isn’t working today.”

Sick also advised employers, “When you are putting applicants through the same traditional screening process, then you’re getting the same traditional employees.”

No matter what your skillset is and what your resume looks like, Ankenbrand said applicants need to make sure they have a story.

“At the end of the day, you need to be memorable,” she said. “You have to be known for something. You need to have a story.”

We want to thank all of our speakers for their great stories, perspectives, and insight.

This was our second annual Triangle Talent forum and the discussion generated a lot of interest outside of the event, as well. Our official Twitter hashtag, #TriangleTalent, was the top trending topic for the Raleigh area that morning, in spite of the fact that the Carolina-Duke game was that night!

We also want to thank our sponsors whose support and partnership made this event possible. Paragon Bank was our platinum sponsor and Credit Suisse was our bronze sponsor.

Please also join us on May 15 at our Economic Development Forum. We will analyze what our community will look like in 20 years with strong, sustained growth, including how our economy will evolve.
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We hope to see you there!

As Campaign 2019 is about to kick off, we are excited to welcome Matt Douglas to the Chamber team. Matt will be our campaign manager, connecting volunteers and answering their questions. He also will ensure that every member who wants to be a part of our campaign will have what they need to succeed! Matt will be a part of our Membership Engagement team, so you’ll see him at many of the Chamber events.

Previously, Matt spent eight years with the YMCA of the Triangle Area, Inc., most recently serving as a director. He graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in communication.
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Matt originally is from just down the road in Sanford, N.C. He tells us that he loves calling Raleigh home because there is always something to do and there are easy ways to connect with others. 

By Chase Wellford
Commercial Banking Relationship Manager, BB&T

The Leadership Raleigh Class 37 launched into 2019 with a series of local leadership panels and small business tours featured for Local Economy Day. The day kicked off at the Raleigh Chamber with coffee and donuts where the first panel leaders awaited LR37 to discuss their thoughts on the overall state of Raleigh’s local economy and what they thought was vital to continued economic success of the region in the future.

Our first panel consisted of Derrick Minor (K4 Connect), Thomas White (NC State University), and Bridget Harrington (Innovate Raleigh). The three local leaders discussed what drew them to the area and why they think Raleigh has such a promising future. While each of the three had very different backgrounds and stories that led them to Raleigh, they all cited reasons for being here such as the nearby top quality universities, a high caliber local workforce, an affordable cost of living, and an overall high quality of life. Additionally, the panel unanimously agreed that while Raleigh does is not identified nationally by a particular landmark or structure, its most recognizable asset is its people. That fact is something to be excited about as the current and future leaders of the community can have a profound effect on molding Raleigh’s identity.

During our second interactive panel, we heard from Maggie Kane (A Place at The Table), Joe Milazzo (Regional Transportation Alliance), Billie Redmond (Trademark Properties), and Jimmy Connell (Hodge & Kittrell Sotheby’s International Realty).  They shared their thoughts on the current state of the Triangle’s real estate market and transit conditions. Milazzo provided updates on the current transportation initiatives in the area that are aimed at improving all aspects of transit across the area. He also gave insight on future initiatives that will seek to improve mobility across the region as the area continues to grow. The panel expressed their views on what they believe is needed to ensure the region can continue to sustainably grow while meeting the needs of a diverse population of different socioeconomic backgrounds. During this panel, our group was encouraged to be active in Raleigh’s local government so that we may have a voice in the planning decisions that will shape our community’s identity in the future.

After our second panel, we traveled a few blocks north to Martin Street to the HQ Raleigh Capital Club where we had a delicious catered lunch.

For the second half of the day, we kicked off the afternoon with a small business panel that consisted of Kris Larson (Downtown Raleigh Alliance), Danya Perry (Wake County Economic Development), Pete Phipps (Arrow Barbering Co.), and Christie Williams (HQ Raleigh).  We heard some of their thoughts on what has enabled small business growth in the downtown area to flourish over the last several years. We also gained a better understanding of how organizations like the Downtown Raleigh Alliance and HQ Raleigh support start-ups and small businesses both inside and outside downtown Raleigh through a plethora of resources centered around collaboration to fuel small business growth.

Following our last panel, we walked a few blocks until we reached the City of Raleigh (COR) Museum located in the historic Briggs Building on Fayetteville Street.  Here, we learned how this city-operated museum carries out the mission of “preserving Raleigh’s past for the future” through collecting and preserving artifacts, curating exhibits, and providing educational programing to highlight the city’s unique history. Admission to the museum is free, but donations are well received as the organization relies on contributions to continue its offerings.

To wrap up the day, we toured two small businesses in downtown to gain a firsthand understanding of how they operate and contribute to the success of the local economy.  First, we visited Father & Son Antiques on West Street in the Warehouse District. We toured the warehouse with all of its unique items for sale. Father & Son started in 1997 and offers a wide range of specialty items for sale from mid-century modern furniture and antique décor to vintage clothing and record albums. The specialized and rare inventory has enabled Father & Son to serve customers all around the country who are in search of a unique find.

The second small business we toured was Raleigh Denim Workshop, which also is located in the Warehouse District on Martin Street. Raleigh Denim has been in business for nearly 10 years and is well known nationally for its hand-crafted custom fitting jeans. The company prides itself on the quality of each of the nearly 300 pairs they hand make each year such that each pair is signed by its artisan. LR37 was able to witness every aspect of the jean manufacturing process, which is all handled at the company’s office in Raleigh. In addition to being able to purchase Raleigh Denim’s jeans and other hand-crafted clothing in store, the company’s inventory is carried around the country in a number of high-end retailers such as Bloomingdale’s and Saks Fifth Avenue.

Reflecting on the day as a whole, we were very fortunate to hear from so many local business leaders and entrepreneurs that are actively shaping our city and greater community in a positive way.  One major takeaway was the importance of supporting small businesses through our patronage and collaboration to help them thrive in our area. Small businesses make up the backbone of not only our local economy, but also our state and country. Additionally, we need to continue to foster diversity in our community so that we may remain a dynamic region that continues to attract the best of the best in the future. We are so thankful for all the time committed by our speakers and for all the planning that went into our tours. We all look forward to what is in store for our Education Day in February.   ​

For anyone who has taken the leap and opened their own small business, it can be an exciting time, but also a stressful time. Learning from other small business owners who have successfully grown their businesses will provide new owners with invaluable insight that they can use.

At the Chamber, we were excited to welcome four successful women to share stories about what they have learned as founders or CEOs. They joined us for our latest Coffee with Leaders series event: Coffee with Female Small Business Leaders.

“Put your vision on paper and make sure you have enough funding,” advised Harriet Mills, founder and CEO of the Wine & Design franchise, based in Raleigh.

Mills was joined by Nicole Oxendine, the owner and director of Empower Dance Studio, and Kristine Sloan, the CEO of Starting Bloc. Wendy Gates Corbett, the president of Refresher Training, LLC, moderated the discussion.
Each discussed a typical day in the life of a business owner.

“In the mornings, I’m very strict about using my time to do administrative work,” said Oxendine. “I’m at a place now where I have an amazing staff. It’s so important to find those moments of freedom in your schedule. They will make you a better, more productive person.”

The panelists talked about the importance of finding balance between life and life as a business owner.
“I always make time to go work out for an hour,” said Mills. “Working out for me is an outlet. Finding balance, especially as a woman, has been the most difficult thing.”

For Sloan, she said the time to think is critical for a successful leader.

“Before I started, I didn’t realize I would need the space and time to just think,” she said. “Sometimes, you just need to go for a walk and think.”

Gates Corbett echoed that sentiment.

“When I started my business, I scheduled meetings and networking events back to back to back. I would think in between,” she said. “Now, I schedule a get-stuff-done day where I will not have meetings.”

Gates Corbett also mentioned how she had no idea how much time would be spent networking and the importance of it.

“The Raleigh Chamber has a been a great resource of the kinds of people that I want to meet and do business with,” she said.

We are very grateful to all of our speakers for sharing their great insight with our audience. We also want to thank our sponsors, Duck Donuts and Duke Energy, for their support and partnership.
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Our next Coffee with Leaders event will be on March 26 for Coffee with Gregg Lowe. Register today to enjoy a conversation with the president and CEO of Cree, Inc.

​PRESS RELEASE

Feb. 1, 2019

Contact:
Vernessa Roberts
[email protected]
919.995.0264

​RALEIGH – The Raleigh Chamber is proud to announce its support of the  Master Plan for Dorothea Dix Park. Our Executive Committee unanimously encourages the Raleigh City Council to adopt the Master Plan and direct staff to develop an implementation plan for Phase A. 
 
The city of Raleigh, in partnership with Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy, has embarked on a generational effort to create America’s next great public park. For the past 18 months, city leaders and staff have sought and received diverse input from the community. That input has shaped the vision of what is in this Master Plan. We are excited to see this plan become a reality.
 
“The core principles that are outlined in the Dorothea Dix Master Plan will guide the park’s transformation, creating a place of reflection, a place of interaction, and a place of community,” said Adrienne Cole, president and CEO of the Raleigh Chamber. “This truly will be a place for everyone. It will honor the legacy of Dorothea Dix. It will emphasize best practices in design, planning, and sustainability. Dorothea Dix Park will be an integral part of the fabric of our city for generations to come.”
 
There will be a final community meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 6 at the Raleigh Convention Center for anyone interested in learning more about the Master Plan.
 
For any media inquiries regarding the Chamber’s support of the Master Plan, please contact Vernessa Roberts.
 
About the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce is the Triangle’s largest nonprofit business membership organization made up of more than 2,000 member firms, representing two-thirds of the private sector employment in Wake County. The Chamber builds a thriving regional economy, enhances the community’s quality of life, and strengthens member businesses.

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