Latest / Executive Alliance Podcast / E1: Introducing the Executive Alliance Podcast with Christine Walsh of Alpha Graphics
Transcript
- Rebecca Snyder: Welcome. I am so excited. This is our first episode of our new Executive Alliance podcast. I'm Rebecca Snyder, the Executive Director of Executive Alliance, and in the studio today we have Christine Walsh who is I feel like a triple threat because you're here as the CEO of Alpha Graphics, Red Start Creative, amazing biker. We'll get to your Portugal trip from last year. Christine Walsh: Mm-hmm. Ha ha Rebecca Snyder: and the chair of the marketing committee for executive alliance. So we're here to kick off our podcast. So welcome Christine. Thank you. Christine Walsh: Thank you. It's exciting to be here. I I think it it this is going to be a wonderful podcast, so I'm really, really looking forward to it. Rebecca Snyder: Well, and I so it's it's your brainchild in some ways when we were talking over ⁓ about what Executive Alliance needs to bring our mission to the world. And our mission, I mean, kind of stated baldly, is we want women to take their rightful places of leadership at the highest levels of power. ⁓ no ifs, ands or buts. We focus in in Maryland and primarily the greater Baltimore area. ⁓ and one of the things that you thought ⁓ would be really effective and I totally agree is having a podcast really take our message out. So c tell me a little bit more about what was going on in your head when you when you first suggested that. Christine Walsh: Right. I've been listening to podcasts for probably eight to ten years now and I take so much away from that. I mean I I sometimes I get from point A to point B and don't realize I was driving because I'm so into the podcast. But I have learned so much from so many other people and it's an influenced me in so many different ways in my business. ⁓ that I really thought that this needs to happen in ⁓ executive alliance. Rebecca Snyder: I really thought that this needs to happen in ⁓ in executive alliance. Well and you know, I think hearing people's stories and finding out the ⁓ sort of the the how things came about, the story behind the story, is so powerful. And I'm you know at Executive Alliance we're all about women's self-determination. Christine Walsh: Right. Mm-hmm. Rebecca Snyder: and making sure that they have the tools to kind of chart the course that they want. And I wanted to hear about a some times or or when when someone's story personally affected you. You have built businesses from the ground up. You've been doing alpha graphics for for a long time. You've added businesses in, you know, and and I think it's it can be lonely as a woman, ⁓ in creating that community and building that business. And so I wanna better understand like how how those stories help you and create the business that you want and the life that you want. Christine Walsh: i I I think it was more the they influenced me either to do something or not to do something. And i be being able to step back and think, ⁓ well I never thought to do that. Why haven't I thought to do those things? it sorry, my earphone was in and out. it it just it it helped me ⁓ figure out Rebecca Snyder: ⁓ the influence. Christine Walsh: you know, the the right way to do something or a different way to do something or a different perspective and I and I didn't think about I hadn't thought about things like that. ⁓ and then when I started listening to more ⁓ w women in business podcasts, ⁓ and I listen to Shelley Warren all the time. She's a one of my favorites and she talks about leadership, women in leadership, and you know, ⁓ how to handle employees, how to d deal with someone quitting or with the hiring process And things like that. It's changed how I do my business. So I I'm I'm a better person for it. And so that's why I thought, why aren't we showing these wonderful women in showing off these wonderful women in Executive Alliance? They're they're leaders, they're they're thought leaders, they're founders, they're board members, and and they we need to hear their story so they can influence someone else. Rebecca Snyder: They're they're leaders, they're they're thought leaders, they're founders, they're board members, and and they you need to hear their story so they can influence someone else. Right. You and so I w let's ⁓ that's a great segue into kind of talking about the mechanics of how we're gonna operate because let's face it, when you have the brainchild idea, you also are all in. So Christine and I are gonna co host Christine Walsh: Mm-hmm. Yep. Uh-huh. Rebecca Snyder: And what that means is that sometimes I'll be ⁓ I'll be in the interviewing hot seat and sometimes Christine will do that. ⁓ and our hope is to drop an episode every week so that we can talk about not only the amazing women that make up leadership in in our area today, but also some of the topics that are important to us. So for instance, one of the the real key initiatives that we have at Executive Alliance is giving back to that next generation. And we were Christine Walsh: It's not. Rebecca Snyder: earlier this week we were at our mentee graduation, which was such an amazing feel good experience. So I know I've ⁓ I'm excited to have some of our mentoring cohort in this year and we'll talk about things like the importance of mentoring and giving back. That's one of the pillars of executive alliance and another one is education where we really want people to develop their professional skills to understand what's going on in in the world. So So really leaning into understanding some of the the topics, especially around maybe how how people get to sit on boards and how they have reached the ⁓ the the level that they're at. And then also ⁓ advocacy is such a big piece of what we do. And th so I think we can bring in some of those different topics ⁓ to to really give a fuller picture. But Christine, what are you what are you hoping to bring out when you're when you're hosting? Christine Walsh: Well, I was thinking, ⁓ especially I was a mentor ⁓ at one point and I really, really enjoyed it. Stacy Spragan's was my mentee. And she is really an amazing businesswoman. And ⁓ she and I had talked about so many different topics. And some of them were like, ⁓ I didn't even know you could do that, or I didn't know that existed. And so, you know, she's kind of built a presence that I mean I totally respect she's all out there on online and social media and she's okay with it. A lot of people are not good behind the camera, but she's very comfortable. And the only way to tell about your business is to shout out about your business, and that's what she's doing. ⁓ but I I think what I wanted to do was have a ⁓ a rising leaders pipeline. ⁓ so maybe we could yes, and so we can have some of these women that have graduated from the mentee program and ⁓ you know how how will they get to the C-suite, how will they get beyond the C suite? or have they done it already? Maybe we can have a discussion with them on how they did it and what obstacles they ⁓ came came against or or you know how it made ⁓ you know it turned their life around or something like that. So that's what I was kind of hoping. so it can it can be a bridge between between you know young professionals, y ⁓ mentees and emerging leaders too. So Rebecca Snyder: get to the C suite? How will they get beyond the C-suite? or have they done it already? Maybe we can have a discussion with them on how they did it and what obstacles they ⁓ came came against or or you know how it made ⁓ you know it turned their life around or something like that. So that's what I was kind of hoping. ⁓ so it could be a bridge between know young professionals, mentees and emerging leaders too. So You know, I think it's I think that's such a good idea because when people like when I look at women who who I admire and who are really working at at some of the highest levels of leadership, I think, ⁓ my gosh, how did you how did you get there? Like I'm such a mess right here, right now, and I don't know what I'm doing in in this way or I don't always see the progression because it's not a linear progression. And, you know, I think it is Christine Walsh: Mm-hmm. Rebecca Snyder: look ⁓ helping us all to understand what that journey can look like in a space where we're supportive and we know and that's something that we really lean into in our mentoring program that you know you have everything you need to get to that next level. You might not always know the way and it can be scary to feel out that way. ⁓ so I think that'll be a really interesting space to work in Christine Walsh: Right. Well and it's also preserving that institutional knowledge that These women come to Executive Alliance with. I mean, ⁓ Executive Alliance ⁓ has decades of leadership experience ⁓ from women who built companies, led nonprofits, served on boards, and navigated some of those challenges that some of these young professionals maybe not have gotten to yet or haven't encountered. And I think ⁓ preserving that on a podcast and shouting it out ⁓ is is gonna capture those lessons and and maybe turn them into a long term aspect. Rebecca Snyder: is gonna capture maybe turn them into a a long term asset. Yeah. ⁓ I agree. I love that. Now when you think about the women that you admire professionally, what jumps out for you? Like what where where are you feeling like, ⁓ my gosh, that's that's the pinnacle. Is there anyone that that is your kind of professional girl crush, Shiro? Christine Walsh: asset. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Shiro. I never heard that one. I like that. Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Christine Walsh: to be honest, I am I'm a I'm a humble person and I follow and ⁓ maybe Girl Crush on those that are also humble. They've gotten to a a place where they are ⁓ in life because they've my whole thing is you get what you give. So you you I think it's important that you give back. And ⁓ so so my knowledge ⁓ you know, has been my my husband My attorney, so I get a lot of information, and so with that information I pay it forward to other business owners. But I would say women that are strong ⁓ and humble and have good character, integrity, but give back. Rebecca Snyder: So I get a lot of information and so with that information I pay it forward to other business owners. But I would say ⁓ women that are strong and humble and have good character, integrity, but give back. Yeah. And I the giving back is always, when a lot of our Executive Alliance programs, as you know, rely on this like concept of spiral learning. And I I always characterize it as, you know, first you look within to find out well what you really want and discern why you want it. Then you look at your in a very realistic, clear eyed perspective Christine Walsh: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Uh-huh. Rebecca Snyder: You look at your gap and you say, Okay, if I want to be here and I'm here, what do I need to do to close that gap? And then you actually close that gap. Go after and achieve what you want, rock it, give back, and then you start that process all over again. And I think that's ⁓ Christine Walsh: Right, right. Good. Rebecca Snyder: that idea of spiral learning that definitely is is how we approach our mentoring program, but also our quick start program, which is slated for women who are looking for their first corporate board seat. ⁓ because, you know, there's that's a whole different set of skills. And whenever, you know, we we're thinking about, okay, how are we going to learn this this new space, I think that idea of giving back needs to be baked in. Because no one gets to like when you think about women in in the workplace as an ecosystem, you don't just jump out like Athena from the head of Zeus at the end and be like, ⁓ I'm a senior level executive leader. Great Like it's a pr it's a process and it's an iterative process. And if you don't have people giving back, then it kind of sets us all behind. And so I I wanted to Christine Walsh: Mm-hmm. Rebecca Snyder: kind of dig a little deeper into like that's my perspective on on the why you give back. But I'm but what do you think? What what is it about giving back for you? Christine Walsh: These ⁓ up and coming young leaders are gonna be our future. So we're gonna be stepping back and they're gonna be moving on. They're gonna be in these positions, we'll be retired, we'll you know, I think if we don't do our best to help educate and help align these women that ⁓ th we're gonna kinda be stuck because I I was Mentored ⁓ by I had I had a lot of mentors, I should say. ⁓ But and that that is what helped me choose some of the paths I have I've had in my career, whether it's to take on a job, not take on a job, hire employees, not hire employees. ⁓ So it's it's kind of it's helped me along the way. And that's why one of the biggest things was for Executive Alliance for me was in the room mentoring. Because that's very important to me. ⁓ And Rebecca, ⁓ tell everybody a little bit about what goes on in the mentoring program so people have an idea of what they can expect. I think that would be really good to shout out. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah, so our mentoring program is is for we have about ten to fourteen women at the mid level of their career. So it's specifically geared towards that time in your life where you feel like, okay, I've worked really hard, I'm at the middle, I don't know how to get to the next step because a lot of times ⁓ going from mid to senior level is not about the tactical skills that you bring. but it's the strategic skills and I find that it's such a that it is a leap because like when you're in the weeds doing the work and you've like worked really hard and you're good at what you do so you get promoted and get promoted again And you're kind of at the upper limit of maybe where that skill set has brought you, and you have to develop a whole new skill set. Usually at the time in your life where maybe if you've chosen to have kids, they're they're kind of younger, or maybe you have a partner, or maybe your life is just going in all different directions. And what we at Executive Alliance have always felt, and and it's backed up by research, is that's sort of the donut hole of careers. where it could be easy to step away, it could be, you know, like you've you've you've achieved, but there's other pressures there. And so we really want to support women in that journey to get to the next Christine Walsh: Mm. Rebecca Snyder: to get to that next step. And so on a tactical level, what we do is take that cohort of women. We have eight half day professional development sessions ⁓ where we're in this sort of iterative model where every month we're coming back in and and talking about, okay, have you discerned what you want? How are we closing that gap? What skills do we need to teach you? How can we kind of keep you moving on? And then that ⁓ throughout that process And it's a nine-month program. So like you can birth a baby in the time that you and you are metaphorically birthing ⁓ because it's the new you or the the ⁓ the more you. We team each of our mentees with Christine Walsh: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I was gonna say that. Rebecca Snyder: a member of Executive Alliance. And so we were so grateful and happy to have your mentoring relationship with with Stacy, gosh, last year, or maybe the year before. And that one on one relationship really kind of is the backbone and the secret sauce of the program because we choose those relationships really Christine Walsh: Mm-hmm. Rebecca Snyder: we take that very seriously in that we look at the mentee and what she is trying to achieve in that year and then we think who in our membership can really help? So when we when we teamed you with Stacy, ⁓ Stacy Sprague and she was just starting out ⁓ sort of creating her own consulting business, doing had a lot of great skills but needed kind of was just I think worried about how to launch this this big thing. And I thought, Christine has been there. She's done that. You're so comforting and personable that ⁓ that you were the right person for her in that space and time. And I mean I think we chose really well. You guys had a a great relationship. so that's that's kind of what we do, but it runs September or excuse me, August through June. ⁓ and ⁓ is is just a really strong experience. Now what did you get out of that mentoring? Christine Walsh: We did, we did. Okay, good. Because I I Rebecca Snyder: ⁓ I mean I wanted to hear from your perspective. So that's behind the scenes what w how we approach it, but how did it feel from your angle? Christine Walsh: I think it was more of a mother-daughter relationship. I was s I'm so proud of her for stepping away from a you know, a a company that she had worked for and it was a steady income and pe the women that do do that and and take that leap, ⁓ leap of faith, I say, they have guts and Stacy had guts. She she built this business from the ground up with her with the processes and the things that she had done to get more clients and I I was just every every time we met she had done something that we had asked we talked about, like maybe it was certification, certifying as a woman owned bus business. Or, you know, getting getting a website or or whatever that was. But she was slowly building this business and I'm watching this this woman be build success. And ⁓ and she did. And now she is very successful. And her she's bright, she's intelligent, ⁓ you know, she can she can do anything. But what I think what I got out of it was ⁓ the most was helping her succeed. ⁓ just like you you know, a mom with her kids, you want you want your kids to succeed. I I was very, very ⁓ honored to be a part of that process with her. So Rebecca Snyder: she can she can do anything. But what I think what I got of it was ⁓ the most was helping her succeed. ⁓ just like you you know, a mom with her kids, you want you want your kids to succeed. I I was very, very ⁓ honored part of that process with her. So And I love most of our our mentors and mentee relationships last far beyond that that time. ⁓ I think one of our our most prolific mentors is Lynn Durbin in our membership. She's had a mentee, I think literally for the past fifteen years. And so like when we have our Women of Excellence event in ⁓ in the fall where we have, you know, a fireside chat with an amazing speaker and four hundred of our our closest friends there, Lynn always has a table for her mentees. And it really has come out and I know like Candace Osan Sade who's who is a mentee a mentor in the program this year, she's mentored ⁓ for a lot of years and their they kind of have their own little mentoring pods where, you know, their their mentees are meeting each other year over year and kind of coming into that fold. And I love that kind of iterative process of how those relationships develop over time. And so you know, from from a leadership perspective or a a relationship perspective Christine Walsh: Hmm. Mm-hmm. Rebecca Snyder: How does how do you think that affects women's career journeys? Like to have the idea of that kitchen table because it's different than than what men experience in the workplace. Christine Walsh: Yeah, are are you your question is w about leadership? What I'm sorry. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah, so you're ⁓ in terms of of w women's relationships and how that affects their leadership journeys, 'cause it's different than what men experience. Christine Walsh: so very different. you know, on the days that we're or ⁓ maybe it it it it is that we're just, you know, blunt or you know, straightforward with our words, we're considered something else. A not very nice word. ⁓ you know, ⁓ it and it's and it's like I feel that we have to work ten times harder to get that position than a man does because we're the we the of course the weaker gender, but it's it's all these thoughts that ⁓ have been ⁓ you know, generation to generation going through and just not allowing us to to go to the next level until we have r you know, reached a certain and maybe that not that's not the way to say it, but I I think there have been too many obstacles in our way. ⁓ maybe some of the failures that we had come up against ⁓ were not against us. but I think failures are what what makes us ⁓ smarter. But I think if ⁓ these larger institutional organizations would would put more women in ⁓ leadership positions, ⁓ I can guarantee you it would be ⁓ we work hard, we work very, very hard to stay where we are and to to to help the I guess even the ⁓ the people within our departments. Do you know what I'm saying? And maybe I went all the way around that without saying what I probably should have, but yeah, we're still looked we're still looked down upon as a gender. And that's gonna until that changes, you know, I don't know what's gonna happen. Rebecca Snyder: And which is so depressing. I mean, when you think and and you know you know that Executive Lions runs as part of our advocacy pillar, ⁓ our honor roll ⁓ event and we do the annual report of census report of women board directors in Maryland. It's amazing. Which is amazing and so Christine Walsh: It is very depressing. Which is amazing. Rebecca Snyder: hard each year because when you look at the progress and and the reason that we we count the number of women who sit on corporate boards in Maryland is it's a very specific metric to say who holds power in the workplace. Because in a corporate Christine Walsh: Hmm. Yep. Rebecca Snyder: ⁓ in a corporate environment, it is the board that sets the tone. They have the ultimate fiduciary responsibility for a company. And so you know, it's it's sometimes hard to say, ⁓ well, you know, let's count the number of women CEOs, although we sort of do that too. But The number of women sitting on corporate boards really says a lot about those corporate boards. And for we've been doing that report since 2007, and Maryland has always lagged behind the S P 500 in terms of its representation of women on corporate boards. Publicly traded companies headquartered in Maryland, just to be clear. ⁓ and the pace of change is always incremental. It's like point percentages. It's not, ⁓ we raised five percent. Like out of that whole time, and I should probably look up this metric before I I speak out of school, but I'm gonna anyway, that pace of change has has not been it is almost it has been very flat. And since ⁓ the current administration has taken office, it has it's a the general consensus is that that number of women is gonna kind of jump off a cliff. Partly because there's a lot of uncertainty in the world right now and and boards are not changing, they're not adding people in. And publicly traded companies tend to keep their board directors for a really long time, like decades. So there's not a lot of turnover and because of the uncertainty in the world Christine Walsh: Right. Rebecca Snyder: people still aren't turning over. So there's not new opportunities. And so you're right. I mean, you've you've been in the professional world for a long time. Women have made a lot of strides in some ways, but it also seems like it's throttled also in other ways. And Christine Walsh: Well, and ⁓ you're absolutely right. Yeah. And and I think the real question is whether women's perspectives are influencing decisions. And that's the most important because a lot of people just get the women in the seat to check the box. ⁓ you know, we're great, we got we got five women and you know, ten men, but we got some women. But it's it's i are are these women's voices influencing decisions? And and that's really the question. Are they allowing them to influence some of the decisions? Rebecca Snyder: But it's it's i are are these women's voices influencing decisions? ⁓ and and that's really question. Are they allowing some of the decisions? And I just I kind of wanted to go back to that idea of relationships because we we talk a lot ⁓ about the power of three. So where there are th you know, one one woman or one person ⁓ of a underrepresented group, you know, is that's the token. Two is there's not enough to sort of make that a groundswell, but as soon as you get three people from an underrepresented community together, then it's not quite so like, ⁓ well, it's not there's it's not a singularity, it's not an anomaly, then you can have sort of those relationships build a little bit more. And I think also when you are in that token situation and and Christine Walsh: Mm-hmm. Rebecca Snyder: both of us are kind of women of a certain age. So, like I remember being the only and there's a lot of instances where there's still a lot of only's, whether that's gender, whether that's race, whether that's any other type of demographic. ⁓ but when you're an only, I think the relationships you have with others that you identify with are even more critical because you have t 'cause you're Christine Walsh: Mm-hmm. Yep. Rebecca Snyder: you're speaking for the community in some way. And you're speaking for ⁓ like it's just much more fraught. And so like that idea of of how you can bolster one another and ha and the importance of relationships. I just I don't know if that's just me or if you've had those those instances sometimes as well. Well Christine Walsh: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Well, I mean ⁓ yeah, p plenty of times. But I think ⁓ le leadership isn't isn't just about what you accomplish, you and me as as a self, but it's about ⁓ who succeeds because of your influence. What did you do to help this person succeed? And I think I think going back to your question of of you know, who had the greatest impact, it it it wasn't a boss, it was it was th those women that who who opened the doors and shared advice and made those introductions and and helped me see the possibilities that I couldn't see. Yet, you know what I mean, which is why these the the podcasts I love listening to. And so, but I I don't think anyone builds a career alone. I think there's always gonna be those people behind you helping you succeed, and the the the women in the room, those important women in the room. And there needs to be women in the room, there needs to be more women in the room. Rebecca Snyder: And and the the women in the room. Those important women in the room. And there needs to be women room. There needs be more women in the room. Yeah. No, I agree. And you know, I think one of my favorite events that Executive Alliance does, and we just ⁓ it it relates to our our mentoring pillar. It's our in the room mentoring. And I were you you were there this year, right? I think. And so what I love about that Christine Walsh: Mm, yep. Yes. Rebecca Snyder: ⁓ that event which is speed networking. We we bill it as being targeted to ambitious women of all levels. And that is what I love about that event. Our our members and our mentees are kind of the anchor mentors. And then we have a great panel discussion ⁓ talking about ⁓ a a to thing of topical interest but The conversations at the table between our members who are who are mentoring, and then we like to do it in small groups so that we're all learning from one another. But the conversations sort of in the middle in the interstices of the ⁓ you know, when we're we're switching rounds and and networking in the beginning, there's just such an air of Everyone wants to help one another. And it doesn't feel like kind of the the surface networking, but there are r real conversations that happen there. And I was curious, you know, about that idea of vulnerability and really being ⁓ and having Christine Walsh: Collaboration. Rebecca Snyder: real conversations in professional places because it wasn't always comfortable to do that and it didn't always feel natural, but I feel like that's changing a little bit. Do you do you feel that or is is have you always been open and vulnerable and fabulous? I think Christine Walsh: I think that vulnerability is one of the most important leadership traits. But it's often the most misunderstood too, I think. I think w when you say vulnerable, you don't want to you share those personal things about being, you know, whatever, weak or emotional. but I think vulnerability is really about being ⁓ honest enough ⁓ to be human. while remaining strong enough to lead. And for women leaders, this can be challenging because of us spending years thinking we had to be twice as prepared, twice as polished, and never show uncertainty in the room. ⁓ and I've I've I'm very honest. I've showed lots of I don't know what you're talking about, I don't know what that word means, you know. ⁓ I I'm not afraid to say it like that. ⁓ and we're a woman of a certain age, we don't really care what you think. But I Rebecca Snyder: And for women leaders this can be challenging because of us engineers thinking we to be twice as prepared, twice as polished, and never show uncertainty in the room. ⁓ and I've I've I'm very honest, I've showed lots of I don't know what you're talking about, I don't know what that word means, you know. ⁓ I I'm not afraid to say it like that. ⁓ and we're a woman of a certain age, and we don't really care what you think. But ⁓ Christine Walsh: I I don't think it's about having all the answers 'cause I don't and I wish I I wish I ⁓ did. ⁓ but I think it's about ⁓ sh being honest about ⁓ feedback for this person. And I get I've had those conversations in the in the room mentoring and I've had to actually say, All right, look, how you're coming across right now isn't gonna get your answer to your question. I think what you're asking is this. And so I'd be happy to work you through that. But I th ⁓ just a word of advice from woman to woman, here's what you don't wanna say, but here's what you do wanna say, kind of thing. And I yeah, I have no ⁓ qualms about speaking my mind and helping that next generation. Rebecca Snyder: at next generation. Well and it is so critical because I you know, I I think we're we're at a time in the world where like everything is ⁓ so on display and you get so much input, but it doesn't always feel like real input. It's sort of like the AI fication of the world where, you know It and it's not like I want feedback that is intended to hurt my feelings. But if I have a situation where I have a blind spot that I truly am not a which is a blind spot, that I'm just not aware of how how I'm being perceived in this way, and no one has the courage to tell me that, then we're all in a in a less ⁓ we're not in a good place. Christine Walsh: Ha ha Rebecca Snyder: And so I think ⁓ it that idea of of how you can be supportive but how you can also tell the truth about what you're seeing is an art, you know, and and nobody's great at it. And so but it sounds like you you're feeling more confident in your ability to do that, partly 'cause of your experience, I would imagine. But what what do you think makes you Christine Walsh: It is. I don't know what makes me that way. ⁓ it's probably twenty years of working in a business where I've it this is ⁓ the printing business is an old white man's network. And there's many, many, many people, and they were men, who told me I was gonna fail. She's never gonna make it. She's just not gonna make it. Here I am twenty years later. We're as busy as ever. ⁓ I'm very proud of the team I have made, and they're out of business. So, ⁓ you know, I I I feel very proud about that. that I was able to stand the test of time. I was able to get through the hurdles I got through. but it also made me stronger. And I feel you know, I feel like I need to be honest with people. I had an employee interview who did not interview well, just didn't interview well. And so I knew I wasn't gonna give her the job. So someone had called from a local college saying, ⁓ I hear so and so interviewed, and I said, ⁓ I'm not hiring them. Well what do you mean? I I They they did terrible. They don't know the equipment. They don't know the work. They just I'm not gonna hire them. And they were like, she would have been the one that I would have hired. And if I was to give someone a project, she would have been the one I'd give it to. She knows all of the equipment you have. I I just don't think she interviewed well. So I I called her back and I said, Hey, this is Christine from Alpha Graphics. And she was like, Yes. And I said, I think you undersold yourself. And I said it just like that. And she did not know what to say. So I said, why don't you come in tomorrow? You and I are gonna work together, and we're gonna see what you know and what you don't know. And and I'll take it from there. three days later she was hired and she's done amazing. Rebecca Snyder: She would have been the one that I would have hired, and if I was to give someone a project, she would have been the one I'd give it to. She knows all of the equipment you have. I I just don't think she interviewed well. So I I called her back and I said, Hey, this is Christine for Northographics. And she was like, Yes. And I said, I think you undersold yourself. Said it just like that. And she and she did not know what to say. So I said, Why don't you come in tomorrow? You and I are going to Christine Walsh: You know, it's like if I hadn't spoken up, I wouldn't have her. And she's a great addition to the team. Rebecca Snyder: And I also love that you knew enough people in common that you felt comfortable saying and and that that connection was already there to say, ⁓ yes, you know, this person was following up. They knew that you were someone that they could ask. you know, what did you think about so and so? It all kind of works together in in many respects. And Christine Walsh: Right. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Rebecca Snyder: I wanna go back to the idea of of that staffer underselling herself and just the idea of, you know, this the world is is now so kind of brand oriented. You're branding yourself, you have your own your own piece, but ⁓ there's still I think that that idea that you can't fully it's not appropriate to fully acknowledge maybe all of the things that you bring to the table. I think sometimes women shy away from that. And I'd love to hear your thoughts on that idea of how you do sell yourself because you're doing it every day through your company. I mean a lot of a lot of the contracts you get are are based on your ability to convince someone that you can meet their deadlines, that you can take care of Christine Walsh: No. Rebecca Snyder: whatever is coming up. So what's your what's your pro tip on on how you on how you talk about your capabilities in a way that feels authentic and not over fluffing but is reality based. Christine Walsh: I believe wholeheartedly in transparency. ⁓ I'm very transparent to my clients of what I can and cannot do, what is beyond my capabilities. ⁓ but I think what has kept people coming back is the fact that if I didn't know how to do something and many, many years ago I didn't, but I found a way how to do it. it was it was ⁓ it it was that genuine connection to my clients. I didn't sell to my clients. I didn't need to. I didn't know how to sell. I'm not a salesman. But I do know how to be me and I do know how to be genuine and how how I would want to be ⁓ as a client, how I would want to be treated, spoken to, handled. Even if you made a a big the biggest mistake ever, but you made it right, I it's not that I would not go back to you because you made it right and you know we worked through it. But it's it was it's that transparent Transparency, it's ⁓ honesty, it's ⁓ and all my clients I love. They're wonderful, wonderful people. They walk in the door to pick up a job and I'm like, ⁓ my God, come here, give me a hug. It's it's just, yeah, because it's I that I I love doing it and I love my clients, and I I've been doing this for 20 years because of them. So I would say be transparent, but also be gen ⁓ genuine. Rebecca Snyder: love doing it and I my clients I I've been doing for twenty years because of them. Mm-hmm. So I would say be transparent but also be gen ⁓ genuine. Yeah. And I like that because you know, th those are things that everyone can do. You just have to believe in yourself a little bit to to be like, Yes, it's worth it. You know, I am I am enough as myself. Christine Walsh: Confidence. Yep, confidence. Rebecca Snyder: Well, and I think that also is a little bit about what we're trying to do in this podcast by giving women the opportunity to talk about the choices that they've made and the lives that they've created to bring their full self in. I think it'll be really helpful for others who are maybe on that same journey and then interspersing some of the topics and and and things that are important to all of us as we we work forward. So Christine I am super excited to embark on this project with you and I can't wait to to see what we can accomplish together. So thank you so much for doing this. Christine Walsh: Me too. Wonderful. You're welcome. Thank you.