Lessons Learned From My First Year as JSPG CEO

Written by Adriana Bankston

A Personal Perspective

This time last year, I was embarking on what would be my greatest adventure yet as the third CEO of JSPG. This has been a great opportunity to make a difference in something that I’m really passionate about, and I couldn’t ask for anything more than that. On the flip side, being a first time CEO, nothing could have prepared me for all the aspects of this role. In some ways, you have to be doing the job itself in order to understand what it takes to do it, while you are also learning on your feet as a new leader. 

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I have to admit that, a year ago, while I craved the challenge, deep down I was unsure if I could do it well. But I believe that if something is a bit scary but you know it’s good for you, you should say yes and figure out how to do it later. I knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Most immediately after taking on the role, I felt a sense of responsibility to do a good job and continue the path placed before me by those I looked up to. But I realized that this was my opportunity to make a mark, and that I should reflect on what I wanted my legacy to be.

Leadership in itself is a privilege, and provides the opportunity to significantly impact the lives of those you work with, mentor, train and interact with. Realizing that everyone looks to you for direction is both incredibly exciting and daunting at the same time. During this time, I reflected on how I could build a positive environment for those in my supervision at the journal. There is a balance of driving towards a common vision, while understanding why others would choose to follow you and their motivations to stay. 

Looking back, I gained some really valuable insights about myself as a leader through this experience. I still spend a lot of time thinking about what it means to be a good leader and how that aligns with my own values and with those of the organization. By way of wrapping up this introduction, personally I have felt that being a female CEO comes with its own challenges to overcome as women are still underrepresented in leadership roles. I hope to inspire young women who may be thinking about these roles to put their name forward.

Lessons Learned

This past year in many ways has felt like climbing a mountain, leaving the unknown behind and looking over new horizons for opportunities. But also, this has been very much going between peaks and valleys with ups and downs. I wanted to impart a few lessons learned:

• Challenge yourself and dream big. Facing some of your (or in my case, many) fears - fear of the unknown, fear of change, fear of not being liked - is probably the number one skill that you need to succeed as CEO. Challenging yourself to be better today than you were yesterday goes a long way, and don’t try to compare yourself to others. Dreaming big, and finding people who can support those dreams, is key to success. Have trusted advisers who can provide input on your ideas. Surround yourself with people you trust who will champion your cause but also steer you away from making the wrong decision. 

• Be focused, but flexible. As a CEO, you will make many mistakes (I certainly have), and you should be prepared to be knocked down potentially multiple times a day. Reflect on it, but then keep going. Perseverance goes a long way in achieving your goals, as does having an unwavering focus on the mission of the organization. At the same time, knowing when to pivot into a new direction, and being flexible while looking for other opportunities is equally important. Learning to be thick-skinned in the face of criticism, and realizing that not everyone will agree with your decisions, is also part of the job. 

• Build a trusted team and positive environment. Establishing a strong reputation as a leader in the field, but also building that sense of mutual loyalty with your team are both important aspects of being successful as a CEO. I have enjoyed learning how to lead and supervise others in ways that fulfill our mission while creating an atmosphere of growth and learning as a team. I was also lucky enough to be able to hire people smarter than me, whose ideas can drive the overall success of our initiatives.

• Know yourself and do your thing. As a new leader, it is normal to feel pressure stepping into someone else’s shoes. But it is also useful to think about how to use this opportunity for the greater good. Get to know yourself and your leadership style, and ask yourself what kind of leader you want to be. Try to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and bring on people who can help move things in particular directions. And importantly, no matter what has taken place before you, this is your time to shine, so do your thing! Be genuine and let your passions drive things forward as a leader.

• Be organized and prepare for the unexpected. The skill of being organized and having effective time management skills cannot be overstated, as is realizing that sometimes less is more. Focus on significant opportunities that provide sufficient ROI when deciding what to invest your time and resources in. Embarking on small projects can sometimes be important as a stepping stone into larger opportunities, and being ready to pivot in another direction is also important to be able to do.

• Take time to think and reflect. As a leader, you will have to make many decisions on any given day, sometimes very quickly. But there is also value in pausing and reflecting before you respond, especially when it comes to big decisions that will significantly shift the organization’s direction. I learned that waiting for 24 hours to respond to an email that needs more reflection is really valuable in the long run. 

One thing I wish I had done as a leader is to seek out additional mentors early on, or join a leadership peer group to learn more about how to drive change. Overtime, I have sought to educate myself on leadership through articles, books and other programs, while also recognizing that working on your leadership skills is a life-long learning process.

Today, I couldn’t be more proud of what JSPG has accomplished as an organization, and I thank all those who have believed in my abilities to lead when I didn’t believe in myself. I’ve certainly gained more confidence in myself through this role and I am a much stronger leader than I was a year ago. I hope that I’ve made our boards and advisors proud this year, and I’m looking forward to the future. Read the second post for more!