Rate this article:
Average rating:
Total votes: 0
What does it take for a woman to get to the top? We asked Celia Swanson when she was executive vice president of membership, marketing and administration for SAM'S CLUB (part of the Wal-Mart family of stores) in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Monster: What does your job entail?
I set strategy, the direction for membership-based growth for marketing and branding direction, and find ways to continue leveraging our logistics and strengths as a competitive advantage.
I started my career in operations in the department store industry. After spending several years in operations, I went into merchandising for a couple years, where I learned the buying function and retailing. Then, after about eight years in HR, I was given this opportunity.
M: What makes you a good executive?
CS: I learned a lot through my HR experience. First of all, I surround myself with great people. Second, I trust them to do what's right. Third, I hold them accountable. I do all of that while constantly retaining respect for the individual and an open environment of listening and learning. I also possess overall leadership skills.
M: Did you aspire to be in this position?
CS: I aspired to grow my career and use my talents to the fullest potential.
I've been given so much opportunity to move among various disciplines. Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB are great at picking talent and providing executives with cross-functional experiences to excel as leaders. Many companies don't do that. But at Wal-Mart and SAM'S CLUB, they'll say, "Here's a person we need to continue to expose to new areas of the business."
M: Who inspired you?
CS: My mother is an awesome lady who said I could do anything I put my mind to if I set goals and was aggressive. Another is Helen Walton, Sam Walton's wife, who supported Sam while building this business, provided family support and made tradeoffs. Another is Suzanne Allford, my predecessor in my current position. She introduced me to the Wal-Mart culture.
But it's not just women who have inspired me; you must also be sure you get male mentors as well. I've been blessed with several male mentors throughout my career, people who really pushed me. One of those men is my boss today, Tom Grimm, the CEO of SAM'S CLUB. He has been a great supporter.
M: Have you encountered challenges being a woman in the corporate world?
CS: I don't like to genderize it; I don't think I've had any more challenges than my male counterparts. I've been fortunate to have men and women who believed in me. Thankfully, the Wal-Mart culture believes in developing great talent and not pigeonholing people.
I don't think being a woman has helped or hindered me. My interests and specialty in HR helped me be a people-focused, risk-taking leader. This has helped, more than anything gender-related.
M: Did you learn any lessons while climbing the ladder?
CS: One of the first lessons I learned was to always say yes. You'll be presented with opportunities you might not think you can handle. I've always said yes to new business opportunities, even if they included relocating. In a long-term career, growth could provide me with more experiences to make me more marketable.
M: Do you plan to keep moving up?
CS: I have capacities and skills and want to see how far I can pursue my potential. I've always believed I can become a CEO.
M: Any advice for women aspiring to the executive level?
CS: First, get a foundation in the basic fundamentals of your business early in your career. Second, don't be afraid to take on new challenges -- trust yourself and your abilities. Third, set goals and work that plan; stay focused to achieve those goals.
Additional Marketing Advice:
