Leadership Tuesdays: What Women Should Know...Ann Fudge

"Sometimes women feel that they have to exhibit a certain male-like behavior in order to be successful, particularly as they move up to the ranks and find that there are less women. And I think that's the biggest mistake that women make. It's be yourself. And your smarts, your ability to relate with people, don't try to diminish that in any way because it's a combination of that intelligence and that ability, perhaps unique to women, to work with people, that I think gives us the edge over the long term."

--Ann Fudge, Former CEO of Young and Rubicam, Philanthropist

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. Ann Fudge is the former CEO of Young and Rubicam (Y&R) Brands, a marketing and communications company specializing in advertising, and digital and social media, etc. A trailblazer, Ms. Fudge was the first African American to lead a major advertising firm. She led the global company, then worth $3.4 billion, from 2003-2006.

Before coming to Y&R, she was President of the $5 billion Beverages, Desserts and Post Division at Kraft Foods.  She managed many familiar brands including Maxwell House Coffee, Kool Aid, and Crystal Light.  Ms. Fudge also spent several years at General Mills where she started as a Marketing Assistant and rose to Marketing Director.

Currently, Ms. Fudge serves on the Board of several companies and organizations including General Electric, Novartis, Unilever, Morehouse College, Rockfeller Foundation and the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. A philanthropist focused on education, she also serves as chair of the U.S. Programs Advisory Board of the Gates Foundation. She graduated with a B.A. from Simmons College and a M.B.A. from Harvard Graduate School of Business. She and her husband, Rich, are the proud parents of two sons and five grandchildren.

In this brief video, she gives advice to women who are leading in today's business environment. "Be authentic" is one of Ann Fudge's core messages. In fact, she directs her advice to both men and women. To view this video, click here. For more information on Leadership Tuesdays and our recent features please visit our website, womenatliberty.com.