Jana Etheridge is senior vice president and chief of staff at Capital One. With extensive leadership experience in the financial services industry, she has excelled in a variety of roles from client experience and personal financial planning to local government relations and philanthropy. Etheridge spoke at the 2018 Women in Business Summit.
What experiences, training or education did you best prepare for?
My mother was a wonderful example for me. Growing up in a small town with few resources, she married young and never went to college. When I started elementary school, Mom decided to get a job as a temp at an insurance company. They saw something in her. Part-time became full-time, then a permanent position, then team management, then middle management and finally the way to the management level, often as the “first woman”. .” As a leader, she has taught me incredible lessons on how to be authentic, treat everyone equally, and always remain humble no matter how old you get. I have taken these lessons and many more with me on my own career journey.
What advice would you give to others?
I’ve always loved the concept of having superpowers (big thanks to my Executive Coach!). My advice would be to think about your superpowers and how the work you do aligns (or doesn’t) with them. Then lean into those superpowers, not away from them. Once you hug her, unlocking is limitless!
What is a recurring hurdle for you? (Time, money, attitude, location, knowledge, etc.) What strategies are you using to overcome this?
Many of us, myself included, are not good at saying no, which leads to busy calendars, busy evenings and weekends, and limited time for the things that really matter to us professionally or personally, ultimately leading to fatigue and burnout. Learning how to say “not now” or “no, and here’s another solution” can be very powerful. I try to be conscious of extras that I want to commit to and then stay within that framework.
What do you think the future holds for women in business?
The progress that has been made in the business world over the last few decades is incredible and I don’t feel like we’re done yet. I think in the future there will be more women at the top of companies and more women in board positions.
What would you like to have known earlier?
I wish I had known earlier in my career how capable I was. I wonder what else I could have achieved.
How has the business world changed since the beginning of your career?
The business world has changed for the better in many ways since I started my career in the 90’s. I think the biggest difference is that there is significantly more diversity in the workplace, including race, gender, orientation, diversity of thinking, problem solving, and generally different perspectives. While we all want to do more to increase the number of diverse voices in the workplace, it’s refreshing to look around and see a much more diverse group of colleagues than in my day.
how have you changed
As I reflect on my nearly 30-year career, I’ve found that focusing on the confidence to be who I am has been key to how I approach my work and life. I feel like I’m basically the same person; However, I was definitely able to feel comfortable in my own skin and embrace my unique superpowers.
What obstacles did you encounter?
Undoubtedly, my biggest obstacle was my own self-doubt and internal negative chatter. A few years ago I decided that being my worst and sometimes mean critic was unhealthy and a waste of time. The people around me validated what I did well and what tweaks I could make to get even better. I was the only one who was overly critical of me. Restating my thoughts on why I’m uniquely suited to take on a new challenge or to learn something new and not uniquely suited to do other things and being okay with that has really been a liberating shift for me.
What experiences, training or education did you best prepare for?
My mother was a wonderful example for me. Growing up in a small town with few resources, she married young and never went to college. When I started elementary school, Mom decided to get a job as a temp at an insurance company. They saw something in her. Part-time became full-time, then tenured, then team leader, then middle management, and eventually senior management, often as a “first woman.” As a manager, she taught me incredible lessons on how to be authentic, treat everyone equally and always stay humble no matter how old you get. I have taken these lessons and many more with me on my own career journey.
What has helped you the most during your career?
I have always been interested in learning from people with different perspectives, views and experiences. That’s why I decided to build and work with diverse teams of really smart and talented people. I have found that this not only leads to better solutions and results, but also helps me to continuously grow as a leader.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
The best advice I’ve received is to take your time and think through a situation from multiple perspectives, not just mine.
Which book had the biggest impact on you and your career?
The seven habits of highly effective people is still a practical companion for me.
Exponential Organizations has been interesting reading lately when we think about large-scale transformation. The other Wes Moore is an engaging read that parallels the real lives of two young men and the choices each made that led to markedly different outcomes. It’s really thought-provoking and I recommend it.
What is your personal brand and how do you maintain it?
I strive to build and maintain a personal brand as an authentic leader who uses her position and expertise to unleash the superpowers of others by creating a safe and open environment for their success.
What do you think the future holds for women in business?
The progress that has been made in the business world over the last few decades is incredible and I don’t feel like we’re done yet. I think in the future there will be more women at the top of companies and more women in board positions.
local profileThe 21st Annual Women in Business Summit will be held on September 30th at the Renaissance Dallas at the Plano Legacy West Hotel. Click here for tickets.
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