October 27, 2014
2014 Outstanding Women in Business: Victoria Waterman, CEO, Girls Incorporated of Worcester
Waterman, CEO of Girls Inc. in Worcester since 2012, was previously president of Leading Women Massachusetts. In the private sector, she served as marketing director at Allied Home Mortgage Corp. and FEC Mortgage Corp.
Who is your most influential role model, and why?
I have been influenced by different role models at different stages in my life, yet the one person who taught me early in life about the kind of person I wanted to be was my grandfather, Arthur Kasparian. He was a survivor of the Armenian Genocide and never took a single day for granted. He was kind, hard-working, devoted to his family and had a great sense of humor. Although he was forward-thinking and progressive in his world views, he instilled a deep value in his family to never forget our history, traditions and from where we came. He and I always had a special connection starting when I was a baby that I believe influenced my soul, and continues today. I bestowed what I consider to be the greatest honor nearly 23 years ago by naming my son after him.
What has helped you achieve success in your career?
My entrepreneurial spirit and drive started early in life as a “tween” by routinely reading the local birth announcements with the hopes of finding neighborhood baby-sitting jobs! I describe my success in one word – serendipity – where all the experiences in my life and career have unknowingly brought me to the place I am today. ... In the current position I hold, I am grateful to my talented staff and board of directors who hold the key and make it possible to be successful in my role. However, the capstone moment when my leadership skills deepened was the day I met Susan Colantuono, founder of Leading Women and author of this quote: “Leadership is using the greatness in you, to achieve and sustain extraordinary outcomes, by engaging the greatness in others.”
What's your primary motivator; or if there is one thing that makes you tick or ignites a passion within you, what is it?
Empowering women and girls has been a constant thread woven into my career, volunteer and mentoring roles. This passion began in my banking career by creating a new line of services that assisted women and continued when I served as president of Leading Women Massachusetts and provided leadership training and networking programs to professional women. While in this role, I also served as board president for Girls Inc. of Worcester in a volunteer capacity before stepping up to my current role.
What roles have you played in your organization's efforts to give back to the community? Also, how do you give back to the community?
The Girls Inc. experience consists of people, an environment, and programming that, together, empower girls to succeed. We equip girls in our community to navigate gender, economic and social barriers and grow up healthy, educated, and independent. ...
When the stress level gets too high, how do you ease the pressure?
When the stress level gets too high, I take advantage of being surrounded by lots of terrific girls. There's nothing more rejuvenating than walking into a program room and participating with the girls in their activities. When a stressful situation extends to my staff, I try to find humor and ways to laugh.
How have you tried to balance your career and personal life? Please give an example or two?
The best way for me to balance my life is to be a good role model to my staff so they can follow my lead. When I am encouraging my staff to keep things in perspective, I am quietly reminding myself to do the same. I recognize and enjoy three activities that keep me balanced, refreshed, and happy: taking walks every weekend with my husband, shopping with my daughter, and reading every night before I go to bed. The other key to success is being self-aware of when things are going off balance and how to get back on track.
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2014 Outstanding Women in Business: Victoria Waterman
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