Mentorship, confidence keys to establishing women leaders

AKRON—Terry DeLapa is a woman of firsts.

Throughout her career she found herself breaking glass ceilings by being hired as the first woman salesperson for several companies and becoming the first woman to chair the ACS Rubber Division more than 100 years after the organization's founding.

But even with these accomplishments behind her, DeLapa would be among the first to tell you that she never set out to set the bar or break through any glass ceilings. She simply was doing what she'd always done: Followed her heart.

"When I look back in my history I am wondering to myself, how did I do this?" DeLapa said during the final day of the International Tire Exhibition & Conference, where she served as the keynote speaker for the Women's Breakfast event. "Well, it started way back in my family, when I was born. Fortunately, I was born into a family of women. My dad, he had three sisters, and all of them were professionals. And if you think about this, I am talking about in the 1950s and '60s. These women were a pilot and a superintendent of schools. So, it was normal for me, this was how women did things."

In following her heart—just as her aunts had done—DeLapa found herself not only paving the way for more women to follow in her footsteps, she found herself learning some incredibly valuable lessons along the way. And it was these insights and bits of wisdom that she shared with the women attending the ITEC event.

Because while there has been some incredible progress for women over the years, there still is plenty of ground to gain.

"There are problems society-wise, expectations and beliefs about our abilities as women," said DeLapa who currently serves as director of bylaws for the Rubber Division. "Can we really be there at the top? Can we really challenge the guys? Can we? Yes, we can. But that is always something that is going to be there, but it is improving. And I have seen this over the years where we are welcomed much more."

To help ensure that women are empowered to find their place in the industry and thrive in the roles that give them the most fulfillment, it's important, DeLapa said, to foster growth and turn challenges into opportunities.

After all, growth—both personal and professional—is rooted in the things we learn and the strengths we foster along the way. When we understand what our challenges are, we can find the right people—with the right wisdom, ideas and strengths—to help us turn our weaknesses into strengths of our own.

During her talk, she encouraged the women in attendance to find those people—those mentors—that can guide them on their career journeys.

"Find one that really fits for you," DeLapa said. "Not just the person that is closest to you in the office. Look for someone that really knows their stuff and can guide you along."

Sometimes, that's easier said than done. Especially when many women are uncomfortable asking for help. Finding a mentor means being a little bit vulnerable. It means asking for guidance and admitting to yourself—and someone else—what your weakness may be.

But finding the courage to take that first step and connect with a mentor will change that.

"Women have more trouble mentoring and allowing themselves to be mentored than men do," DeLapa said. "So that is something that we need to go overcome. It is OK to go to someone and say, I don't understand how this is working, will you help me? Can you guide me?"

At the same time, women need to be looking for opportunities to mentor. There are many young women coming into the industry, she said, and veterans are in a great position to help foster them and give them opportunities to thrive.

"Sometimes, that can be hard to do," DeLapa said. "But it is a good opportunity for those of us who have been in the industry for a long time. When we're at shows, (we need to make) sure we're talking to the younger people and trying to help them with any questions they have of helping them with how they can approach things."

Leveraging strengths and transforming weaknesses into opportunities is only part of the equation, DeLapa said. But it's a very important part. Because in doing those things, you are better equipping yourself to lead.

When you know what you do well and then build a network of professional and personal mentors to help you grow further, you can better identify your voice and build the confidence you need let that voice—and ideas and opinions—be heard.

It can be hard, sometimes, to recognize that the ideas and opinions we have are worth voicing, but they should be voiced with confidence, authority and assertiveness.

"Assertive is a big word, a lot of people think you are just showing off or that you are just trying to push your way through, but it is important," DeLapa said. "It is important that you understand what you are saying and that you want your right message to go there."

DeLapa also noted that speaking up and speaking confidently means knowing what you're talking about. It means, she said, "know(ing) your stuff." Doing the right research and ensuring you have the right understanding of a given situation before speaking up will help you garner respect from your colleagues and let your leadership qualities shine.

And when it comes to speaking up, you don't always have to use words. Leadership is something that is modeled as much—if not more so—as spoken words.

"You don't need a leadership title to be considered a leader, there are all kinds of leaders out there," DeLapa said. "They don't necessarily have to be a vice president, right? Somebody that answers the phones can still be a leader. They can come up with answers, they can offer new ideas on how things can be better for that company, whatever it might be."

Leadership, also, is modeled in the willingness to do, try or learn something new. And that means leaning into the strengths you have and confidently seeking out new opportunities for growth.

"Don't be afraid to ask for a raise or promotion," DeLapa said. "How many people are shy about that? I can tell you it works, I have done it a few times where I have said, 'I want that role. I want to move up there.' It really works, and if you have been showing your leadership along the way, it is much easier to be able to do that."