Women in Business Interview: Jana Etheridge

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Jana Etheridge is Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff at Capital One. With deep leadership experience in the financial services industry, she has excelled in a variety of roles, from customer experience and personal financial planning to local government relations and philanthropy. Etheridge spoke at the 2018 Women in Business Summit.

Environmental profileThe 21st Annual Women in Business Conference will be held on September 30th at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel in Plano’s Legacy West. Click here for tickets.

What experiences, training, or education have best prepared you?

My mother was a great role model for me. She grew up in a small town with little wealth, married young and never attended college. After I started elementary school, Mom decided to join an insurance company as a temporary employee. They saw something in her. A part-time job turned into a full-time job, then into a permanent job, into a team leadership role, then into middle management, and finally into an executive position, becoming the “First Lady” in many cases. He said. As a leader, she taught me wonderful lessons about being your authentic self, treating everyone equally, and always being humble, no matter how big you are. I have carried those and many other lessons with me on my own career journey.

What advice would you give to others?

I’ve always loved the concept of superpowers (big shout out to my executive producer!). My advice is to think about your superpowers and how the work you’re doing aligns (or doesn’t) with them. Then don’t shy away from those superpowers. Once you embrace them, the opening is limitless!

What is a recurring obstacle for you? (time, money, attitude, space, knowledge, etc.) What strategies are you using to overcome that?

Many of us, myself included, are not good at saying no, which results in packed calendars, busy nights and weekends, and limited time for things that are important to us, both professionally and personally, and ultimately leads to exhaustion and burnout. Learning how to say “not now” or “no, and here’s a different solution” can be powerful. I try to be intentional about the extra things I want to accomplish for myself and try to stay true to that framework.

What do you think the future holds for women in the business world?

The progress in the business world over the past several decades has been incredible, and I don’t think we’re done yet. I think in the future more women will be in leadership positions in companies, and more women in board positions.

What do you wish you knew before?

I wish I had known earlier how qualified I was in my career. I wonder what else I have accomplished.

How has the business world changed since the beginning of your career?

Since I started my career in the 90s, the business world has changed for the better in many ways. I feel that the biggest difference is that there are many differences in the workplace, including race, gender, orientation, diversity of ideas, problem-solving, and overall diversity. While there’s a lot we all want to do to add more diverse voices to the workplace, it’s refreshing to look around and see a much more diverse group of colleagues than when I started.

How have you changed?

As I reflect on my nearly 30-year career, what I’ve found is that focusing on the confidence to be truly who I am is a critical factor in how I approach my work and life. I feel that I am intrinsically the same person; However, I am definitely more comfortable in my own skin and able to embrace my unique superpowers.

What obstacles did you face?

My biggest obstacle was my own self-doubt and internalized negative self-talk. Several years ago, I decided that being mean, and sometimes critical, was unhealthy and a waste of time. Those around me reinforced what I did well and what adjustments I could make to do better. I was the only one who was overly critical. It was really a liberating change for me to rethink why I agree to take on a new challenge or learn something new and why I’m not particularly comfortable doing other things, and being okay with that.

What experiences, training, or education have best prepared you?

My mother was a great role model for me. She grew up in a small town with little wealth, married young and never attended college. After I started elementary school, Mom decided to join an insurance company as a temporary employee. They saw something in her. A part-time job turned into a full-time job, turned into a permanent job, turned into a team leader, then into middle management, and finally into an executive position, becoming the “first lady” in many cases. He said. As a leader, she taught me incredible lessons about being your authentic self, treating everyone equally, and always being humble no matter how big you are. I have carried those and many other lessons with me on my own career journey.

What has helped you the most during your career?

I have always been interested in learning from people with different perspectives, views and experiences. As a result, I have chosen to work with and work with a variety of really talented and talented individuals. I find that this not only leads to better solutions and results, but also helps me to continuously grow as a leader.

What’s the best advice you’ve received?

The best advice I’ve ever received is to take the time to think about a situation from different angles, not just my own.

Which book influenced you and your career?

Seven habits of highly effective people It continues to be a practical staple for me.

descriptive organizations It’s an interesting read recently as we think about change in size. The other is Wes Moore It’s a fascinating read that parallels the real lives of two young people and the decisions they each make that lead to wildly different outcomes. It’s really interesting and I highly recommend it.

What is your personal brand and how do you develop it?

I strive to build and maintain my personal brand as an authentic leader using her position and knowledge to unleash the superpowers of others.

What do you think the future holds for women in the business world?

The progress in the business world over the past several decades has been incredible, and I don’t think we’re done yet. I think in the future more women will be in leadership positions in companies, and more women in board positions.


Environmental profileThe 21st Annual Women in Business Conference will be held on September 30th at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel in Plano’s Legacy West. Click here for tickets.

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