Special Resource Guide

Climbing the Corporate Ladder

Success doesn’t happen overnight – nearly every executive’s story starts with a tale of small pay and big dreams. Read on as six of the Valley’s leading business women give insight into their struggles and triumphs in the corporate world and the professional secrets that helped them on their way to the top.

Kathy Hanrahan
TASER International
President, Chief Operating Officer

What was your first job, at what age and what was your salary?
I began babysitting at age 11 making $1.00 per hour, as that was the only real money-making venture available then. My first “real job” was working for Taco Bell at age 16. I started at $3.10 per hour and received my first raise after three weeks to $3.30 per hour. I will never forget the smell of onions, and I can still wrap a pretty mean burrito.

How did you get where you are today? Has your climb always been with the same company?
I believe the keys to my professional development were: my personal integrity, hard work, understanding my areas for improvement and focusing on them, the visionary leadership of others, fortunate timing, and a tremendous support system at home.

When I started my professional journey more than 20 years ago, I began as a receptionist for Allstate Energy an Arizona based Electrical Contractor. I remained there until January 1989, when I joined a growing non-destructive testing facility called Kachina Testing as Business Manager and Controller.

In December 1995, two life changing events transpired. My daughter Katelyn was born, and I was introduced to TASER International, then AIR TASER, Inc. I had been with Kachina during its growth years, and was ready for a change in professional direction. At the urging of my network contacts, I met with two young brothers who had a Scottsdale-based startup company and were looking for a Controller. Although it was a step backward in terms of resume growth and compensation, it was everything I was looking for in my career. They were so incredibly passionate about the future, their products, and their vision to change the world. I knew when I left my interview I had found my next adventure. The last 11 years with TASER have been the best of my professional career.

Who was your most influential mentor?
I have been blessed with many. Professionally, the one person who has made the biggest difference in my professional career is Phillips Smith, the former and founding Chairman of TASER International. He is the person who stood by me when the Company’s investment bank felt a more seasoned Wall Street CFO should take my place during the IPO. He saw potential in me that I did not see myself. I will never forget the support he gave me, nor will I ever let his faith in me down, or allow him to look back and say he wasn’t right.

Personally, I have two inspirations in my life. From my childhood, my mother has led the way for me. She taught me the meaning of independence and demonstrated that a woman can be a wife, mother, friend and also a successful leader in the business community. She also demonstrated that women can be strong when facing challenges, but human in our interaction with the world around us.

The second is my husband Tom. He is my rock, by best friend, and the type of person I hope to become as I mature through life. He has seen me through every difficult challenge in the last 20 years, both professionally and personally. And, he constantly reminds me I can achieve whatever I set my mind to. Among a thousand other reasons, I love him for that.

What is your biggest fear in business?
Not being available when I am needed to help. My management philosophy is a little different than most. As a manager, regardless of the level, my job is to serve those I lead. It is to clear their obstacles and help steady their course. It is also to be a good listener, a problem solver, and a safe haven to share their concerns. I am blessed to work with a great group of people who all share a common mission: to protect life. I want to be sure that they always have the resources and support to achieve their objectives and professional goals.

What is your greatest strength as a leader?
My human factor. Many leaders command their teams through sheer presence and charisma. Our CEO and Chairman are like that. When they enter the room, it is filled by their personality and passion for what they believe. My leadership is more subtle, and more of a one-on-one level with those I manage. When I am interacting with people, I monitor not only the words spoken, but the body language that accompanies the conversation. For that reason, I can get to the human issues that reside below the behavioral and professional situations.

If you could hire your successor, who would it be?
My potential successor has already identified herself. In 2002, when TASER was developing the X26 for market, we hired a young woman named Sanja. She spoke little English but had a heart of gold and the tenacity to learn like no other I have ever met. In the five years she has been with us, she has mastered the English language, worked her way to the Supervisor for all weapon assembly, and recently accepted yet another promotion to a Quality management position. Last year, when she and I were talking about her career track, I asked her what she wanted for her future. Her reply was candid and from the heart. She wanted my job, at the time, the Chief Operations Officer. I was thrilled, and we began our planning. She is a natural leader, and her people love and respect her. I would enjoy nothing more that to see her thrive at TASER, and join the ranks of executive management.

Favorite movie?
American President. I love a good love story, and when it is coupled with the perceived challenges of our government’s leadership and the white house, even better. I love American history.

Explain your thoughts on the younger generations entering the workforce and what they can do to be better prepared? (Education, dress, manners, etc.)
For my son, this will sound like the lecture he receives. A college education is a gift in life that not all people have the opportunity to experience. If you do, give it 100%, as it will not only make a difference in your future earning capacity, but also teach you how to learn as you move forward in life. I actually believe this is the real key most people miss. During our careers, if we are growing, we are placed in stretch roles where we have to step outside a comfort zone into new challenges. To succeed, you have to know what you don’t know and where to go to learn it. I think college is a great proving ground for these skills.

But, that said, my most important advice to young people is to find the things in life that spark their attention and drive, and then focus. Work is not work when you love what you do; and when you love what you do, you do it well.

Are you creative in the kitchen?
I think so, but my husband is the better critic. Actually, I love to cook and to bake. My husband still tells our children he married me for my meatloaf and chili. But my real love in the kitchen is baking – this came from my mother. During the holidays, you will always find fresh-baked caramel rolls and cookies in our home.

What advice do you have for young women seeking positions in Corporate America?
Follow your dreams and dare to venture out beyond your comfort zone. In life, we are only limited by what we fail to try. Hard work, perseverance and loyalty are attributes I look for in new employees.

Do you have children? How many? Ages?
My husband and I have two beautiful children: Jeffrey, 16; and Katelyn, 11. They are the most amazing young people I know, and I love every moment of watching them grow and realize their potentials in life.

Pam Overton
Greenberg Traurig
Shareholder and Litigation Practice Group Manager, Phoenix

What was your first job, at what age, and what was your salary?
My first job was as a waitress at Country Kitchen in Iowa City, Iowa. I think I was 14, making about $2 per hour, plus tips. I made enough money to ultimately pay for my first car with cash.

How did you get where you are today? Has your climb always been with the same company?
After completing law school in two years, rather than the standard three, I started my legal career here in Phoenix with O’Connor Cavanagh and practiced there for 16 years, until the firm dissolved. I then went with 30 of the lawyers from that company and founded the Phoenix office of Greenberg Traurig, serving as the Chairman of the Litigation practice.

<small>What is your greatest strength as a leader?</small>
I try to “lead by example.” When I talk to my team about being cohesive, respectful, hard working, trustworthy, etc., I would like to believe that I am setting that example for them.

What is your biggest fear in business?
Definitely technology! I can keep up with the ever-changing law, but there weren’t even computers when I started practicing. The young attorneys are so savvy with technology, it’s scary. I try my hardest to keep up with it all, but it certainly is a daunting task.

Who was your most influential mentor?
There were very few senior women in law when I started, so my mentors were primarily men. In the first 10 years of my career, my most influential mentor was John Westover. We tried many cases together, and he taught me so much about the practice of law. The greatest thing about John is that he never had to “teach” in the formal sense of the word; just watching him practice and try cases was the best training I could have asked for.

What are your thoughts on philanthropy?
Giving back to the community has always been a high priority for me. I grew up one of six children in a small Iowa town. I thank God everyday for all of the incredible opportunities that have come to me. By being involved with numerous charitable committees and organizations, I was able to instill in my children, from a very early age, that giving back is not an option – it is a necessity.

Tell PW readers about your last vacation.
This past summer, my family and I had the very fortunate opportunity to go to India, living and working in an orphanage of 60 incredible children. It was in the middle of the summer – over 110° with no air conditioning – but it was the most amazing and rewarding experience I’ve ever had. I know that it is something my children will remember for the rest of their lives.

How do you maintain work/life balance?
I guess “maintain” is the keyword. I would be the first to say that maintaining work/life balance is not easy – it’s something that I have to work on everyday. First and foremost, I have surrounded myself with people whom I trust and who trust me. If I tell someone that I’m committed to doing something or being somewhere, I do it. If I simply cannot do it, I’ve learned to say so.

Are you creative in the kitchen?
You’ve got to be kidding! Unless you call peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches and Mickey Mouse waffles creative, I would definitely say that cooking is not my fort&eacute;.

What advice do you have for young women seeking positions in Corporate America?
First of all, they need to be sure it is what they want to do. I also advise that they spend the first two to three years building a reputation as a hard worker – someone who is reliable, dedicated, and known for excellent work. The impressions that are made in the first years of any career are the ones that will remain with a person for the rest of her corporate life.

Do you have any children? How many? Ages?
I have three children: 16-year-old twin boys, Teddy and Christian; and an 11-year-old daughter, Elizabeth.

Stacey Bonn
Delta Dental of Arizona
VP of Operations

What was your first job, at what age and what was your salary?
I began bagging groceries as a Courtesy Clerk at Safeway for $3.25 an hour when I was about 17.

How did you get where you are today? Has your climb always been with the same company?
No, I joined Delta Dental of Arizona in June 2000 as a Vice President. I believe that I have grown, personally and professionally, from job experiences ranging from retail grocery to the United States Army, from healthcare delivery to insurance operations. Each of these roles further expanded my experience and enabled my continued climb.

How do you maintain work/life balance?
I work at it. I make time to exercise six days a week. I eat right (most of the time). I read fiction (both prose and poetry) and non-fiction works from across a broad spectrum of writers. I attend cultural activities that push me beyond the safe and familiar. In addition, I have a very supportive boss who believes in real vacations as the reward for hard work and the daily dedication to getting the job done right.

What is your biggest fear in business?
Not having anything to learn today.

What was the hardest obstacle you had to overcome on your upward climb?
The hardest obstacle was learning to believe in myself, and the second hardest was going back to school for an MBA with an emphasis in accounting.

If you could hire your successor, who would it be?
I would seek a visionary leader who can anticipate changes in the health care marketplace, in workplace dynamics and culture, in health information technology, and see how each would impact our business. An executive who complements the skill sets and management styles of the leadership team; someone who can drive change through the organization by motivating and encouraging associates to achieve personal, operational and strategic objectives.

Tell PW readers about your last vacation.
I drove 3,500 miles in 15 days; a whirlwind tour of California and Oregon. Highlights included four plays in two days at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and two days tasting our way through an ocean of wine at the International Pinot Noir Celebration in McMinnville.

Are you creative in the kitchen?
No. On the rare occasion I do cook, I tend to choose recipes that are complicated.

If you could start your own company, what would it be?
Perhaps a wine shop that also conducts tours to wine-growing regions.

What is your greatest strength as a leader?
I am fair and I listen. I am also very focused.

Do you have children? How many? Ages?
Two canine kids: ages 5-and-a-half and 1-and-a-half.

Carleen Shilling
Eide Bailly
CPA

What was your first job, at what age and what was your salary?
This one makes me feel really old. If you go all the way back to my first job, it was probably 50 cents an hour plus tips at the local drive-in. By the time I graduated from high school, I was working with the owner to manage most of the operations for the summer. That probably earned me $2.50 an hour.

How did you get where you are today? Has your climb always been with the same company?
Because the two firms for which I worked merged seven years ago, I can claim to have been with the same company for my entire career. That is very unusual in the accounting profession. I consider myself fortunate in that during those years, I have been able to take advantage of training, challenges, and opportunities that fit very well with my need for knowledge and independence. Moving to Phoenix provided an excellent opportunity to work in a growing community with many opportunities.

Who was your most influential mentor?
I have had many, but it was my mother who taught me that I could do anything I set out to do as long as I did the “right things” along the way. With that confidence as a base, I have accomplished more than even she thought I would. The other mentors helped me sort out the definition of what was right.

What was the hardest obstacle you had to overcome on your upward climb?
My career was developing during the time when women believed they could be, and had to be, perfect at everything. I had those expectations of myself even before I began my career. So, I had to learn to adjust my expectations of myself – others would be more accepting as a result.

Tell PW readers about your last vacation.
My last vacation was a visit to Iceland, Norway and Sweden. I am of Scandinavian heritage, so I got to visit places where my grandmother lived – places she used to describe to me as a young girl. I look forward to making the trip again with our children.

If you could start your own company, what would it be?
It would be a non-profit organization that teaches children and young adults about financial responsibility.

How do you maintain work/life balance?
My family has been the biggest influence in doing that. I have two children who are now adults, and they were involved in various activities that helped me to prioritize my life. I also have several interests besides work that provide an important outlet for my creative skills. My husband also reminds me that he still needs some of my time!

Are you creative in the kitchen?
I used to be; I prefer to set the table and arrange the flowers and let someone else do the cooking.

What is your greatest strength as a leader?
My vision. I have been told by others that I see things before others see them. From this, I had to learn patience and good communication skills that would enable me to transfer that vision and work to develop plans that would bring the best results.

What advice do you have for young women seeking positions in Corporate America?
Understand your values and be true to them.

Do you have children? How many? Ages?
Two children: a daughter, currently age 32; and a son, now age 26.

Fran Mallace
Cox Media
General Manager

What was your first job, at what age and what was your salary?
Working for “the family business” in New York City going on sales calls with my dad. I was 10 years old making $2.00 an hour. Now that I am thinking about it, it was my parents’ ploy to pay me instead of giving me an allowance&hellip; learning the value of a dollar.

How did you get where you are today? Has your climb always been with the same company?
I got to where I am today by learning what to do and what not to do from the best leaders I have worked with. My last 15 years have been with Cox Communications

What was the hardest obstacle you had to overcome on your upward climb?
Me. I have had to learn to trust my instincts and to be confident in my decisions. I have also had to learn patience on many levels.

Explain your thoughts on the younger generations entering the workforce and what they can do to be better prepared?
They should manage their expectations, be focused, and figure out a way to set themselves apart from everyone else. Because we live in a global society, they need to make sure that they have a keen understanding of what is happening in the world around them.

What are your thoughts on Networking?
The key is who you network with. Building the right relationships is extremely crucial and long lasting. It is important to develop a large sphere of influence.

If you could hire your successor, who would it be?
Gumby – lots of flexibility. If I could not hire Gumby, then it would have to be my dad.

What is your biggest fear in business?
Becoming complacent.

Are you creative in the kitchen?
No; however, I am great at takeout – just ask my family

Tell PW readers about your last vacation.
My family and I went to China as part of the Thunderbird EMBA program that I am just finishing. It was an incredible experience for all of us. There are stark cultural differences which presented an opportunity for our kids to see and experience a different part of the world at a young age.

What advice do you have for young women seeking positions in Corporate America?
My advice would be for young people and not just women. Follow your passion, be true, and believe in yourself. Have fun. Find something you truly enjoy and figure out how to make it a career. And always use spell check!

Do you have children? How many? Ages?
Yes. Two daughters, 9 and 12 years old.

Janet Johnson
Rio Salado College
Faculty Chair of Education

How did you get to where you are today? Has your climb always been within the same company?
I began as an elementary school teacher. I then stayed home to have my children, at which time I started a private school for preschool and kindergarteners so that I could have my children with me. After my three children were in school, I went back and earned a Ph.D. Upon completion of my Ph.D., I began working at Grand Canyon University teaching undergraduate and Master’s level courses in education.

In 1999, Rio Salado College called and asked me to start an Education Department. I designed and implemented both an online Post Baccalaureate teacher preparation program and online professional development coursework for certified teachers. Rio Salado College currently has more than 6,000 students in both of these programs combined.

What was the hardest obstacle you had to overcome on your upward climb?
One of my biggest hurdles has been my own lack of self confidence. Some people look at me and say, “You’re kidding?” I obviously hide this well, but I have always been concerned that someone will find out I don’t know what I’m doing. This actually has a name. It is called the Imposter Syndrome.

What is your greatest strength as a leader?
My greatest strength as a leader is the multifaceted background I bring to the job. This background includes five years as a first grade teacher, the starting and running of a Montessori private school for children ages 3 through kindergarten for seven years, obtaining a research based Ph.D. in Learning from ASU, being a member of a research team, doing research on how the brain processes information, the starting of a non-profit organization on infant brain development and the dissemination of this information to the community, raising two special-needs sons and learning how to maximize their educational experiences, and collaborating with colleagues through the National Consortium of Cognition and Instruction (NCIC) to understand the best practices in education across the U.S.

Who was your most influential mentor?
My former mentor was Dr. Ray Kulhavy, the Chair of my doctoral program. I went back to school because I wanted something to do when my children were in school. Dr. Kulhavy suggested that I get a Ph.D. I busted up laughing and said I wasn’t capable of doing that. He met with me once a week for four years, encouraging me along this path until I was successful, which surprised me more than any one else.

What is your biggest fear in business?
My greatest fear in business is failing. What if I fail and let my team and my college down?

How do you maintain work/life balance?
Maintaining work/life balance is a constant struggle. Fortunately, I have a husband who is very involved with our children and is very supportive of my career. He is actually my biggest cheerleader and encourages me to pursue non-work activities including tennis, vacations, reading, family activities and quiet time for me. I have actually started planting flowers, which helps pull me away from working nonstop.

Tell PW readers about your last vacation.
My last vacation was to Newport, Rhode Island, where we visited and played tennis at the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Are you creative in the kitchen?
I am creative in a lot of areas, but in the kitchen is not one of them. I am an average cook and follow a recipe quite effectively; however, I am not one of those cooks who can just add to or change a recipe. I just follow it to the letter.

Explain your thoughts on the younger generations entering the workforce and what they can do to be better prepared.
One area that young people can prepare themselves for in the work force is public speaking. They will have to sell themselves over and over again throughout their careers. Secondly, they need to make sure that their grammar is appropriate. You can be a brilliant human being, but if you can not express yourself effectively, it will be more challenging to move up the corporate ladder.

What advice do you have for young women seeking positions in Corporate America?
I recommend that any young women seeking positions in Corporate America spend time identifying what they are truly passionate about and explore how they can turn that into a career. Then, they should be brave and intentional in the pursuit of their dreams.

Do you have children? How many? Ages?
I have 3 children: Brandon, 28 years old; Holly, 26 years old, who is in her fourth year of a doctoral program in Clinical Psychology; and TJ, 19 years old.