She’s Brilliant!TM
Women in leadership sharing inspiration and guidance.
As a certified Women’s Business Enterprise, we at KMA are champions of women achieving success in business, and we’re always looking for opportunities to mentor the next generation of women leaders. She’s Brilliant!™ is a collection of wisdom, generously shared by women leaders from diverse communities, and is designed to inspire, motivate and guide us all.
In addition to the blog, we have published these contributions in two printed collections: She’s Brilliant! Volume One, and Volume Two. If you would like to receive a copy, please contact us and we’ll pop it in the mail.
She’s Brilliant! Jill McGowan
Jill McGowan, Owner, Jill McGowan What is the most valuable business lesson you have learned? “I have learned through my 25 years in business, and earlier on from my enterprising parents, that it takes healthy doses of hubris and humility to start up a company and...
She’s Brilliant! Julia Brady
Julia Brady, Partner, Valo Ventures What is the most valuable business lesson you have learned? “Believing in the art of serendipity is one of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in my career. Some people define serendipity as luck, but my experiences have taught...
She’s Brilliant! Deqa Dhalac
Deqa Dhalac, Intercultural Program Manager Center for Grieving Children How do you model strong leadership? “As a black, immigrant, Muslim woman, I am blessed to have achieved so many goals in this country that I could never have dreamed of achieving. I have always...
She’s Brilliant! Leslie Poake
Leslie Poake, Partner, LG&H Certified Public Accountants What is the most valuable business lesson you have learned? “There is a time when you start out in business and your focus is on yourself: how to stand out, how to get ahead, how to succeed. Then if you’re...
She’s Brilliant! Vicki Ferentz
Vicki Ferentz, Partner, Acadia Benefits What advice would you offer women entering a traditionally male-dominated industry? 1. Be an attentive listener. 2. Deal with the correct person, not always the right person. Meaning, don’t jump over the correct person to get to...
She’s Brilliant! Deanna Sherman
Deanna Sherman, President and CEO, Dead River Company What do you consider to be a leader’s greatest strength? “I consider a leader’s greatest strength to be the commitment, desire and ability to build a strong team. While the CEO may be considered the 'head coach' of...
She’s Brilliant! Jenna Klein Jonsson
Jenna Klein Jonsson, Partner, Blaze Partners Describe a moment when you stood up for yourself. “A wise woman once told me that people don’t leave jobs, they leave bosses. I’m fortunate to have spent most of my career working for supportive, inspiring leaders who...
She’s Brilliant! Denise Karkos
Denise Karkos, Chief Marketing Officer, TD Ameritrade What is the most valuable business lesson you have learned? “Dwelling on the negative will only slow you down. Whether it’s receiving critical feedback or straight out rejection, the faster you get past it, the...
She’s Brilliant! Mary Allen Lindemann
Mary Allen Lindemann, Community Builder/Co-Founder, Coffee By Design What does it mean to you to stand up for yourself? “The other day someone said, ‘Many invite others to the dance but the difference is whether or not you invite others to dance with you.’ I used to...
She’s Brilliant! Ann Tucker
Ann Tucker, CEO, Greater Portland Health What is the most valuable business lesson you have learned? “The foundation of a successful organization is the team. Throughout my career, I’ve found that the best business decisions are the ones made based on input from staff...
She’s Brilliant! Ivy Frignoca
Ivy Frignoca, Casco Baykeeper, Friends of Casco Bay What advice would you offer women entering a traditionally male-dominated industry? “My advice is to be yourself and use your unique skills. As women, we may bring a different perspective to a situation than a man...
She’s Brilliant! Kay Whitmore
Kay Whitmore, Vice President, Human Resources, Acadia Insurance What do you consider to be a leader’s greatest strength? “A leader can have a significant impact by fostering resilience in her team. In a world that is constantly changing, helping team members prepare...