When Given The Opportunity To Succeed...Virginia Addicott

"People come into your work life and sometimes you just see things in them. It is very clear that the person has the ability, the aptitude to do these things, but they hadn’t been graced with the opportunity.”

--Virginia Addicott

Every other Tuesday, womenatliberty.com provides #LeadershipTuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage and strengthen women leaders. In February 2020, Fedex announced that Ramona Hood, a 28-year company veteran has been appointed President and CEO of its Custom Critical division. The division provides a range of transportation capabilities for expedite ground, air, temperature control shipments, and industry-specific solutions. Custom Critical provides services in the U.S., Canada, and internationally, and is based in Green, Ohio.

Ramona Hood
Photo: Fedex.com

In Hood's new role, she is responsible for the division's performance and strategic direction and will lead the executive leadership team. Incidentally, she started her career at Custom Critical as a receptionist in 1991 when she was a young mother. Now as the first black woman to be named President/CEO at Fedex, Ms. Hood is the embodiment of the colloquial phrase, "started at the bottom and now we are here".

Hood is the successor to Virginia Addicott who retired after 33 years with FedEx and 12 years as CEO of Custom Critical. Addicott's quote above is taken from a February 24, 2020 article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer and it represents Addicott's sentiment toward Hood. Addicott ended the quote above by saying, "Ramona was one of those people." She characterized Hood as a "fantastic leader" and expressed excitement for Hood in her new role.

Virginia Addicott
Photo: Akron Beacon Journal

Ramona Hood is a graduate of Walsh University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and she also has a MBA from Case Western Reserve University. She is the proud mother of two daughters, Mariah and Kayla. For more information on Ramona Hood, see her profile here.  For more information on #LeadershipTuesdays, follow us on Twitter at: @LeadershipTuesdays

or visit womenatliberty.com.

4 Steps To Achievement...William Arthur Ward

"Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently."
 
--William Arthur Ward

You Will Become Like The Company You Keep...W Clement Stone

"Be careful the environment you choose for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose for you will become like them."
 
--W. Clement Stone

Advice For Those Who Want A Mentor...Anna Stevens

“Searching for a mentor is similar to searching for a spouse: you two need to share common values, concerns, experiences, communication style, and, of course, have time to invest into meaningful conversations with one another.” 

--Anna Stevens, Turn Your Dreams And Wants Into Achievable SMART Goals!

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. In part 2 of a 4 four part series, we talk again to Michelle D. Freeman, CEO of the Carl M. Freeman Companies and chair of their two family foundations: Joshua M. Freeman Foundation and Carl M. Freeman Foundation, about lessons she has learned since assuming the top leadership position at her company.  In this Leadership Tuesdays' video, Ms. Freeman says that a John Mayer song, "Say What You Need To Say", has inspired her in her communication approach with both her employees and business partners.  She also shares how the Carl M. Freeman Companies' history has impacted the way the company does business and its involvement in the communities where they do business.  

In addition to leading the family business, Ms. Freeman is also an entrepreneur in her own right, a philanthropist and a minority partner in Monumental Sports and Entertainment which owns the WNBA Mystics, NBA Wizards and NHL Capitals as well as the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. Lastly, Michelle is the proud mother of three children. 

To view today's video click here.  If you missed part one of this series where Michelle talked about finding renewed life and purpose after experiencing a tragic loss, click here.  For more information on Leadership Tuesdays, please visit our website, womenatliberty.com.

Who's On Your Dream Team?...@vnona

Everybody should have a chance to become and be their "best selves"!  For that to happen a team of coaches and supporters who genuinely care are needed.

--Nona

Pay It Forward...Nona

Somewhere in the world someone is making a positive difference in the life of someone you love.  Will you pay it forward and make a positive difference in the life of someone else?

--Nona

Nuture The Geniuses Around You...Ninette de Valois

You cannot create genius. All you can do is nurture it.  

--Ninette de Valois

*Susan L. Taylor, Founder, National Cares Mentoring Movement with group of girls attending the  Black Women's Roundtable Conference, March 22, 2012, Washington, DC.

Overcome Barriers and Exceed Expectations...Vivian W. Pinn

Mentorship is important to me, and my two points to young people are: overcome barriers and exceed expectations of those who may not expect much of you; and have a mentor and be a mentor. 

--Dr. Vivian W. Pinn, Director of the Office Of Research On Women's Health (ORWH) at the National Institutes of Health (1991-2011)

For more information on Dr. Pinn, see Celebrating African American Women Making History in Medicine. 

Leadership Tuesdays: Throw Little Torches Out To Lead...Whoopi Goldberg

“We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.” 

--Whoopi Goldberg

Every Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY provides a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. This week an article by Selena Rezvani on women and engaging sponsors and mentors.  To read the article , click here. For more information on LeadershipTuesdays, see here.

We Got You!...@Sophia Nelson

"Yes, we all know about the Queen Bee syndrome and how many older sisters can be the worst to deal with in the workplace, etc.  But, I want to redefine that paradigm and let the young sisters know that we GOT THEM!  That we know they are facing some very unique and difficult challenges relationally and otherwise, but that we are going to mentor, guide, and love them through it so that they can have the fulfilling lives they want when they get my age or older." 

--Sophia A. Nelson, Author and Attorney