Jen Linke; WISE Chair, Executive Committee
My time as the Chair of WISE is coming to an end. On Jan. 1, there will be a new leader in place. Many have asked me what my feelings are about stepping down from the WISE Board. There are so many words I can use, proud, excited, nostalgic, grateful, a bit sad. This organization has grown and evolved so much in a relatively short period of time. In turn, I’ve grown and evolved with it. As I think about what I’ve learned while being part of this organization, I’d love to share with you the things that stand out to me. These lessons have helped guide me in leading WISE and will continue to serve me well into the future.
- A strong, safe network is priceless - Having friends is important in life, but having friends that understand the pressures of a stressful career, while also having a personal life is comforting. Having people I can make mistakes with and ask “dumb” questions is priceless. I have learned so much from my ‘WISE’ colleagues. (The acronym is so perfect for this organization!)
- Don’t judge - You never know what is going on in another person’s life. At points when I felt sorry for myself, I was reminded that others have struggles too and sometimes my own challenges are mine for a reason.
- Have patience - Being patient with myself is still a constant struggle. In a world where we want instant answers, I’ve learned that relaxing and giving a problem some time to ruminate might yield answers I never expected. Often this would come in a random conversation with someone from WISE.
- Believe in the best of others - People come to work wanting to do a good job. Sometimes they simply make bad decisions, but when you approach people assuming they thought they were doing something positive, it leads to better understanding of their actions.
- Value people’s strengths - Don’t waste time trying to drastically improve someone’s weaknesses, including your own. Use your network, or other team members, to play to their strengths where you are weak.
- Be grateful - There is always something to be grateful for every day…no matter what. If you can find at least one thing to be thankful for daily, you will be happier.
- Communication is key - The times I saw WISE succeed was when everyone communicated well and strategies were aligned.
- Be accountable - Follow-up. Do what you say you will do. Your actions generate respect and builds your reputation as someone who commits to others.
- Know when to say no - Having boundaries is important to stay focused and keep yourself from being spread too thin.
- Don’t burn bridges - It’s a small world and you never know when your past will circle into your future.
- Don’t be afraid to fail - Try new things and recognize when they don’t work, then move on. I developed a few programs for WISE that didn’t work. The important thing was we learned from them and this organization gave me that chance.
As I step down from the Board of Directors of WISE, I will remain active as a volunteer to grow the organization because I strongly believe the work being done is important for so many individuals and the companies in this industry. I will be forever grateful for the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had. The store brand industry is a great place to learn, grow and prosper. WISE has added even more value for me, both personally & professionally.