Latest / Executive Alliance Podcast / E16: Distinguished Women of Girl Scouts of Central Maryland
Transcript
- Rebecca Snyder: Welcome everyone. I am really excited to have a quadruple crown in the studio today. We have the distinguished women of Girl Scouts of Central Maryland here to talk about the program and their leadership journey. So welcome friends. We have Shelly Elliott of Homatro, Karen Bond of the Judge Alexander Policy Center, we have Jill Reimer of Peak Partners USA, and Ellen Shiry of Merrill Lynch. So welcome all to the program. Ellen Shiery: Thank you. Rebecca Snyder: So Shelly Elliott: Thanks. Rebecca Snyder: this is it is a big deal to be named a Distinguished Woman for for Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. And before we kind of get into the whys and and what's what's going on with the program, just for our listeners, just wanted to sketch out what this is. So Distinguished Women Awards is the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland's signature fundraiser, so it really means a lot to programming, to the visibility of of Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. And it brings together hundreds of business, civic, and community leaders to celebrate f local women for their exemplary professional accomplishments and community contributions. And the other exciting part is that each of you get to be paired with a high school-aged Girl Scout to shadow you for the day. So it's a little nerve-wracking to have someone shadow you the whole day. So, but why don't we start with? why this honor is so important to each of you. And and Karen, why don't we start with you? Karen Bond: Thank you, Rebecca. I was thinking when we're living in 2026 and often young girls, women emerging feel not seen or diminished. I think this award has a very special place in all of our hearts because it says yes. And I am Ellen Shiery: Mm-hmm. Karen Bond: humbled and very excited to be with my friends and colleagues, Shelley, Jill, and Ellen for this award. And I think it's just affirmative for not just us, but for all women who are working across the state of Maryland and making a significant contribution. We represent them. Rebecca Snyder: Absolutely. Thank you. And one of the other connections that you all have is that you're all Proud Executive Alliance members. So let's turn to Shelly Elliott: Yeah. Rebecca Snyder: Ellen. Why is this so important to you? Ellen Shiery: Well, thank you, Rebecca. When I think about organizations that specifically support women and girls, something that's really important to me both professionally and personally is philanthropic giving. And in twenty twenty two, giving in the United States hit an all time high for organizations for that support specifically women and girls at a whopping two point one eight percent. That it that means that 98% of philanthropic giving went to organizations that not that they don't support women and girls, but that are not specific for women and girls and the causes that are important to us, the development of of young girls. So the opportunity to get to come alongside this organization, and I I did not grow up as a Girl Scout. My cousins were Girl Scouts. I was jealous of them that I didn't get to Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. Ellen Shiery: be a Girl Scout. I still want badges, I still want a sash. so this I guess is my opportunity as an adult to be an honorary girl girl scout of sorts. Rebecca Snyder: Well, I hope that you live the dream. And there's so many things that that we're picking up in these comments that we'll circle back to. But before we dig into some of those other other pieces, Jill, tell us why this is important to you. Jill Reamer: So my reason I love this honor is because mentoring has always meant so much to me. I'm not quite sure why it's always spoken to me, but it's been my kind of life mission since I was in high school. I did a mentoring pro led a mentoring program for elementary school. So just always reaching back and lifting up is one of the fundamental principles I live by and I love to support. And I love Girl Scouts because it's wholesome, impactful. And goes back to in time that is timeless in the ways they build up these young girls' confidence and skills and friendships. It's just all the wholesome stuff that we all know we need in our lives so we can move forward and succeed. So that's what it means to me. I was not a Girl Scout, let me just add, but my daughter was, and she she became a Girl Scout when she went to a new school. And it was her way to make new friends and to learn new skills and to kind of connect. So that connectivity is really significant as well. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah, I love that. Shelly, what about you? Shelly Elliott: Yeah, there's a lot of different levers that this pulls on for me and why I'm so humbled to be recognized. I think first and foremost, it's always been kind of part of my life's mission to be a a leader for for girls, even when I was younger. Like I was never afraid to mix it up with the boys. I grew up playing a lot of sports and my dad was the boys' basketball coach at my high school. And while that usually did not intimidate me, I I would see how it would intimidate others. And I think what I love about this award is all the women who are receiving this have been, you know, trailblazers and are leading by example for girls at very young ages to be able to look up to and see and mentor you know, what success looks like, both in, you know, professional life but also in your personal life. And you know, I think for me in my family when it comes to you know kind of what Ellen touched on with philanthropic giving, we give to a lot of causes that support access for girls and women into those avenues, right? Whether it be sports or girl scouts or other things that are really formulating development of the whole girl and woman and you know cultivating leadership traits. finding your purpose and your values, but also figuring out, you know, ways for you to kind of maximize you know, your impact. And as, you know, a mom who's raising two young daughters that I don't know what their passions will lie in, you know, I just think I see a lot of parallels between what I had the, you know, real pleasure of experiencing at a very young age through sports, but for through for Girl Scouts to have another avenue for girls to learn a lot of the, you know, lifelong lessons around, you know, team building and teamwork and, you know, making connections and trying new things and being able to lead. And so I'm just really honored to be a part of this. Rebecca Snyder: And so just thank you for that, Shelly, and and thank you all for being distinguished women. the Girl Scouts is are is holding an event on November twelfth from five thirty to eight thirty at Preston Hall in in Baltimore. And tickets are available. I know everybody has a a fundraising goal and a support goal, and so we'll we'll have different events and links to the main event in the show notes as well. So one of the things that I heard just as a through line is really about visibility and how it ties to impact. You know, Karen, you started off by saying that, you know, s sometimes that this was a way for girls to get around not being seen or feeling diminished. And Ellen, you talked about the real material effect of philanthropic dollars being funneled, ninety-eight percent of philanthropic dollars being Jill Reamer: Amazing. Rebecca Snyder: funneled elsewhere. And s and in terms of mentoring and in in the impact of leadership, where has your where have you seen in your own lives the impact of raising visibility for yourself and and for girls and women? Anyone wanna start off with that? Karen Bond: This might seem a little self serving, but I think Executive Alliance is a space in Baltimore and Maryland that women can find their place to be seen. And Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Karen Bond: that is such a gift. And it's not a gift that we take lightly, it's a gift that we nurture. And we all have different stories on how we got here, but I would just say for young women, first job, China Launch, mid-career, this is a space to look at. And it has made a very beautiful and vibrant difference in my life because outside of work, there's such powerful friendships and relationships that happen. And so you need this whether you're need someone to help you with the carpool or help you rehearse, you know, who you are for a job interview, or if you're just trying if you're trying to get very critical advice on your investments, it doesn't matter what it is, feel the beauty of being with other women who Get you and the unique things like our lifespan, the responsibilities we have, et cetera. Rebecca Snyder: Karen, can you tell me about a time where like the first time you really felt seen and what that meant to you? Karen Bond: Wow, I had a real flashback. It makes me smile. Jill Reamer: Yeah. Karen Bond: I've I was chubby as a child, but my parents put me in ballet and I remember coming out on the stage and not as graceful as I'd like to, and the people laughed and then they clapped and like that's one way to be seen. But I would say that I think because I've enjoyed writing in my life as as an undergraduate writing having some of it Like publishing a the newspaper was being seen. And Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Karen Bond: I think I worked for Dr. Gino Barr, who was the head of women's studies at Duke. And she always said, Karen, my job was very modest. I would photocopy things, and she said, I want you to read everything I give you to copy. And she made me feel seen. And I wanna say that let's say 20 years later I was at Vassar on a panel. And I got to be with my hero next to her. And I was, you know, rem reminiscing back to that moment, maybe 15 years prior when she when I worked for her and I got to sit on the panel, women's studies panel. and that's when I really felt seen. And I just want to quickly say that I told her, I said, I feel like a complete failure. You know, I've I've divorced, I I have a small child, I'm, you know, working three jobs to pay the private school tuition. You made it all look so easy and she stopped me and she said, Karen, you never saw what was behind the scenes. You never saw the nanny, you didn't see my husband, you didn't see the lady who cleaned my home. And I you could not compare yourself to four or five people behind one woman. So we Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Karen Bond: all have different ways of being seen and you st you encouraged us to be authentic. I can authentically say that kind of knowing that truth helps us measure ourselves. And give grace to ourselves on the days when it takes four or five of us to get one good thing done. Rebecca Snyder: It definitely takes a village and and so Jill I wanted to you had talked about the importance of mentoring and so what Karen was saying about sort of being inspired by people and being seen by others. Can you talk about how visibility in mentoring and and what you've seen happen, how that creates impact for women and girls? Jill Reamer: Yeah, I I I'm gonna almost answer one of your questions to Carrie and Karen and come back to that as well because one of the first times I have felt seen was in high school when I unexpectedly won an unsung hero award. So sometimes being seen isn't really the loud person in the room. There are a lot of people observing you, and I think that I think the mentoring that I've recently done through EA were the quiet ones and Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Jill Reamer: who who really benefited from one-on-one as opposed to although the last mentee definitely brought down the room. but she grew into that. And I think it's about finding comfort and how you present yourself but and your trick onto being seen. not everyone has to be seen the same way. And that's Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Jill Reamer: what Girl Scouts is really cool about because they gave them the space to explore so many different ways to succeed. You know, you can get a badge in sewing or you can get a badge in camping. You can, it's all over the the map. So giving people space to see what tickles them is really what mentoring is about, is helping people find what that tickle is. Rebecca Snyder: So when you were I'm just thinking Shelly Elliott: Yeah. Rebecca Snyder: back to your unsung hero award Jill Reamer: Okay. Rebecca Snyder: in high school, which is I think terrific. I wanna hear a little bit more about that, but sort of w when you make an effort or how you kind of reach into someone who's maybe not expecting recognition Shelly Elliott: Mm-hmm. Rebecca Snyder: or expecting visibility, and how do you kind of draw people out to be more visible or women to be more visible in that way? Jill Reamer: Just to do what they love to do and then it happens or do what speaks to them. And so sometimes it's about learning what it is that speaks to you. And that holds people back not knowing what their superpower is. So helping people learn what that superpower is. And I think again, like that's what EA has done for a lot of women. And I think that's what Girl Scouts does for these young women. is just giving them the space to figure it out. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. Jill Reamer: And and it Shelly Elliott: And Jill Reamer: doesn't have to be what everyone else is doing. It's Rebecca Snyder: Right. Shelly Elliott: Yeah. And I and I think a safe space to experiment, right? Like I Jill Reamer: Yes, exactly. Shelly Elliott: I I was kind of thinking about that. maybe the moments where I have felt most visible have actually been like in times of of failure where I've been fortunate enough to have somebody who kind of came and pulled me up, a majority of the time that was actually another woman. and I'll I'll like go back to my, you know, freshman year at Notre Dame. I'm one of, you know, a thousand valedictorians in the incoming freshman class. I failed my very first like intro to engineering and physics one class the very same day. And I remember like sitting on the back side of the student union steps, crying on the phone to my parents. And and they gave me some really good advice. you know, one of which was, you know, you need to go and see Kathy. She was the director of like women's engineering at Notre Dame. she's since passed away, but I think about her a lot because she it's funny, I I showed up at her office and she said, You were on my list to come see. And Kathy was a very like commanding woman, very direct, like she didn't pull any punches. And she pulls me into her office, she closes the door, she hands me her box of Kleenex, and she's like, you get 30 seconds to pull yourself together, and then we are gonna figure out. how we get you back on track. And it was just like the fact she already knew and she was gonna come hunt me out anyway. And she already had her plan together, like to me it you know, not that I was happy about failing exams, but I think it did show like in that type of environment that I wasn't getting sort of lost in the shuffle and that there were people who cared about me. And you can translate that into your prefers, you know, your professional life, your personal life. And I kind of come back to like what was at the crux of that was sort of two things, right? Like having community around me, but also having like people that really cared about me and they were in it for me and not for themselves. which sounds a little selfish, but I think now all of us are in situations where we can pay it forward and and you know, think about how do you do that for others and and pull each other up. And I think learning, you know. you think about like the mission of Girl Scouts and kind of cultivating that from a very young age and being able to see that all the way through and then even transition is, you know, some of you know, these girls go throughout their lives. Cause Karen kind of hit on this, you know, all phases of life, you're always gonna have challenges and and problems and, you know, like different things and nobody's perfect. And that's what I really love kind of about the mission of of Girl Scouts is creating that strong sense of community that you can have as you go through life together, whether you're part of the troop or not. Rebecca Snyder: well and and I love that what Kathy did for you was just sit down and be like, Yep, you can fall apart for a second, but now let's move on and failure's Shelly Elliott: Yeah. Yeah. Jill Reamer: Yeah. Rebecca Snyder: a fact of life and we're just picking ourselves up and it's natural and we're gonna do something different. what a what a great way Jill Reamer: That's a cool gift. Rebecca Snyder: to kind of use your power to show a path forward. and Ellen, what about what about you? Do you have a time where you've have felt seen? Ellen Shiery: When I think about being seen, I I sort of pull that back actually to Karen's original comments about Executive Alliance and I think about the relationships that I've developed and and with Karen who has done beautiful belonging training with the several organizations Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Ellen Shiery: that I'm part of. one of the statistics that Girl Sprouts of US USA had that kind of surprised me and and saddened me a little bit was that seven in ten girls aged five to thirteen report feeling lonely. And Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Ellen Shiery: I think that lo you we we hear a lot about the loneliness epidemic. And I think that that, you know, that's that it's not just girls, it's women as well. And having strong relationships wherever those might be and and including for me, certainly, my friends in executive alliance, increases our life satisfaction and helps us feel seen, feel supported, and is like Karen said, I think for young women who are early or mid in their career looking towards organizations or groups that you want to be a part of, that you aspire to be. involved in and then working your way there and building those relationships with the individuals there they're in can improve your career but it really can improve your your life in in more ways than just professionally. I think the the people that you surround yourself with can can bring you up when you're feeling low and and keep you up When things are going well. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. Well, I think that's so important because earlier one of you said that distinguished women are really trailblazers in their in their field and certainly executive alliance members are senior level executive women and it can be really lonely when you feel like you have different decisions that fall down on your shoulders, you're maybe not aware of of of supports out there. And so And and you Ellen had talked about how seven and ten girls and and young women feel lonely. How do you think w what builds that community for you all? Like there's there's friendships, but like how do you make friends at certain ages? Sometimes I think back to Girl Scouts, and it's e is it kinda easier 'cause you're in a a troupe and you're doing things, but like how do you gain that sense of community? Ellen Shiery: You know, I would say it's easier, I think, when you're younger and you have a natural community built in, right? The the kids that you're going to Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Ellen Shiery: elementary or middle or high school with. I definitely, you know, I made a pretty big move for my career and really struggled for a number of years in finding my place, finding my people. and that you know, if I I appreciate those times of struggle because it has helped me develop a sense of empathy and I can see where other people are struggling and can try to help them plug into places where they might feel like they belong. but it's yeah there's there's a lot of opportunity for us to be lonely in today's society. I was with an organization just today And they were talking about a group of kids that they worked with where they take their f their phones away during the day programming for the camp. And Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Ellen Shiery: during that same camp there are other groups in the same spaces, specifically while they're eating lunch. Those those other groups are not communicating because they're all sitting there on their phones while they're eating lunch, but their kids, because they don't have that device, are forced to interact with each other. and as adults we we are all guilty of doing the exact same thing. I've been at to dinner with my husband and he's sitting across the table from me. I'm like, Hey, hello, put your phone down, I'm here. you know, we we're all guilty of of maybe spending a little too much time with technology and if we can can put that down and start making eye contact and looking around, there's plenty of peop people for us to smile at and and have a kind word for. And we can probably create a little community just by looking up. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. I think you know, it's so interesting. Sometimes we are self sabotaging our own like sense of community and sense of belonging. And so Karen, you talk about belonging all the time. You've you've done a lot you've you've worked in a lot of those initiatives. Like what does it mean for women and girls to have that sense of belonging in that community? 'Cause it feels kinda grim out there in the world for women sometimes. Karen Bond: Absolutely. I think we this is part of our secret power as women that we we talk to each other and I was gonna say I think when your child is small you say don't talk to strangers but now when you're starting your career off or you're trying to launch it, I say talk to every stranger. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. Karen Bond: I've often said that I I take literally I I take the middle seat. it depends on what you do for a living. And if you raise money or create partnerships or you just want to meet great people, it's amazing how just a simple smile can go a very long way. And more than ever, we have a need for belonging in our community. And I've appreciated particularly all in the stats and it just goes to show what we do for a living that you did that research. Jill Reamer: Yeah. Karen Bond: And I I love that, but it's so important. I know what it's like to be a part of the sandwich generation when you you have a child that's in college and you're taking care of an elderly parent. Things like that force us to talk and and get out. And I think the entryway like for scouting is is a mutual project. I was Rebecca Snyder: Right. Karen Bond: a scout in West Baltimore and it was very exciting for us to have a a troupe. at James Mosier Elementary School and our only problem was keeping a troop leader. But Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Karen Bond: get that sash, we walked around with our sashes with no buttons or badges Jill Reamer: Okay. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. Karen Bond: because we couldn't keep a troop leader. So what Jill Reamer: Mm-hmm. Karen Bond: motivates me, you didn't ask Rebecca, but I need to say for the girls, Rebecca Snyder: Ciao me, yeah. Karen Bond: you know, like when I write my check, I want PS to Jenny. To have that money go towards a neighborhood that is struggling to find a troop leader. Because there are many women who would be awesome troop leaders, but because of their financial situation, they don't have the time to do it. And part of belonging is developing a sense of confidence that wherever you land, you know how to jump back up. And the universal way for us is a smile. and commonality because we're all we're all struggling with something. We all, you know, the pandemic taught us that we had so many common points. And I think there are some lessons that I I always want to keep with me around the belonging, especially what it means because if women Maya Angelo and many other women have great quotes out that talk about how we hold up half the planet. And I think part of this award is owning that fact, not apologizing Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Karen Bond: that we can work together in coalition together. You know, whether it was Margaret Mead, Bella Abzu, Shirley Chisholm, whatever. We have so many names that may be foreign and we want them to be more well known. But when we decide to get up together and do something, we really can make a difference. And that's what I love about Girl Scouts of Central Maryland. That's what I salute. for Jenny Trossell and her leadership. it's just to keep keep getting up, keep moving forward. Rebecca Snyder: That is lovely, Karen, and I it just strikes me now like Shelley, you have the sports background and that keep getting up, that resilience, that sort of Kathy telling you you're gonna get up after failure. how does that relate to community for you or your do you have comments on community? Shelly Elliott: Yeah, I think I think to really build authentic community you have to be vulnerable, right? And that's that's not really easy for women. you know, I I I was telling somebody a few weeks ago, I think like mistakes I made earlier in my career was thinking that, you know, to be a leader, like you had to have a title, like professionally, right? you have to have a title, you have to have all the answers, you have to be able to make all the decisions and And really that just goes to show like how immature I was earlier in my career. But I I think about you know, in in sort of building community and what it means, it's people want to get to know you. And to do that authentically, you have to be a little bit vulnerable sometimes. And that can make people, you know, uncomfortable. But again, I think the reality is we all are uncomfortable in our own own skin at different under different circumstances and environments. so think about like how do you flip that around and make somebody like feel welcomed in in terms of building community. you know, again, with kind of raising two young daughters in today's day and age, like what Ellen was talking about. I mean, technology has driven a lot of great things, but also a lot of very challenging things. And you know, I want them like My we really don't allow the kids to watch much TV or have iPads except for when they travel and and even then, like when we do 45 minute drives or whatever, they're kind of whining in the back, I'm bored, I'm bored. Well, being bored's a great thing. Like, Jill Reamer: Mm. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. Shelly Elliott: talk to me, be creative, tell me what you see outside the window. Like, you know, and and if I kind of wrap this up into like what I think about in terms of building community, I think it also just requires us to be present and to make choices. Like Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. Shelly Elliott: Everybody has the same 24 hours in a day. you know, we're all in control of how we spend our time and what we choose to do with it. but you know, being present is such an underrated skill these days. Everybody I shouldn't say everybody, I'm generalizing, but we've we've sort of as a society like patted people on the back and and promoted those who can multitask and churn out a bunch of work and you know, you think about that, but the The ability to really like stop and pause and reflect and to take in what's happening around you is is really important. And I think, you know, for today's, you know, younger and aspiring leaders, that's a skill that's gonna be in very high demand in the future. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah, absolutely. Jill, what do you have to add on community? Jill Reamer: So I'm gonna start by I was sitting at an EA lunch last year, and before any of this all came up, I guess there were some new board members on the Girl Scout board. And it started this whole conversation around our whole table. Like almost everyone was a Girl Scout and they all had stories to tell and reminisce about what troop they were in, what area, you know, they all connected through this Girl Scouts. And now they're young professionals and they got to use that commonality and that community. And that to me was so powerful. that just this experience from six to fifteen, they all got to different levels, they all had the different badges, they all but they had that commonality that created that community that made the discussion at the table so much easier at the time a pivoting time in their professional careers where they're gonna like learn to lean on each other. So that was really powerful. And that was really a cool community moment of what that had done. And so I just wanted to relay that story because that fits right into community. But I did want to add, and it's kind of what everyone has alluded to, but I call it mind talk. And we all talk in our own minds and have our own stories. And Ellen Shiery: I think Jill Reamer: what happens is Five years ago I started this new division of my company and I had to go into rooms of strangers and I'm not the most extroverted and it was really hard to go in there. And Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Jill Reamer: I had to go build a community, and five years later I now have a community that I cherish. But the way to do that is one person said to me, Go find the other person standing by themselves and go talk to them and just Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Jill Reamer: recognize who wants to do it. And then when you start talking, you find out. their mind talk's the same as your mind talk and then that that commonality just happens. And so community is really strong, a a needed presence, and it really can help give you perspective against your mind talk. And yeah, I just can't emphasize that enough. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. Well it feels like with with something that everyone said is sort of the vulnerability that Shelley was talking about to to make yourself open enough to connect with someone. And maybe it's something that's not as obvious, but but really have a conversation to find out where you connect and then build on that to keep that community going. That's that's feels really powerful. I do know that you all will get an opportunity to build community because you'll have a girl shadow, a girl scout shadow you a little closer to the time of the event. Do you know who's going to shadow you just yet? Jill Reamer: Not yet. Still a surprise. Shelly Elliott: Right. Ellen Shiery: Yeah. They're interviewing today. Shelly Elliott: Yeah. Rebecca Snyder: exciting. Jill Reamer: it is revealed today. Good timing for our podcast. Yeah. okay. Karen Bond: cool. Ellen Shiery: They're interview they're interviewing today. Shelly Elliott: They're interviewing. Yeah. Karen Bond: Okay. Rebecca Snyder: So then for our our closing question, because you don't have a face or a name to to gravitate towards yet, you haven't been assigned your your shadow yet, but what d after the day, because this young girl will be with you all day, what do you want her to take away from the experience? Jill Reamer: I want her to be on my podcast with you in December. Rebecca Snyder: You could do it, you could do it. Shelly Elliott: There you go. Ellen Shiery: I want her to come with me to the Anna Rundel Women Giving Together grant showcase and have the opportunity to see the collection of you know 10 well there they'll actually be about 20 nonprofits there who've received grants from that giving circle over the last few years and get to see what happens when they get involved and they get their hands dirty. That they have a real opportunity to make a difference for their neighbors, for their families, for their communities, and that caring about something, getting involved and never taking no for the f for for an answer, right? Like f being a problem solver. If somebody says no, that's just an opportunity to find another way around. I I I really hope that my Shadow Girl gets to come do that with me and and witness the power of three hundred or so women in a room together who are all focused on making the world a better place. Rebecca Snyder: love that that visibility Jill Reamer: That's powerful. Rebecca Snyder: that impact bringing the community in and like pushing through tough challenges so Ellen I hope you get to do that with your shadow. Shelly you were you were about to jump in. What's what's your dream for your teenager Shelly Elliott: Yeah. Rebecca Snyder: girl? Shelly Elliott: So she's gonna get a pretty cool experience to come see Hamatra where we're making, you know, rescue equipment for first responders in a manufacturing setting in a very male dominated space between manufacturing and sort of fire and rescue public safety in general. but you know I hope what she walks away f with is is really a few things. Like one, you know. You are made to be uniquely you. and I think discovering that, you're kind of you know, this girl's gonna is really in her formative years of sort of discovering like who she is and what's important to her and her values and sort of what she stands for and she's got, you know, kind of the world as her oyster. and it's okay to take some time to figure that out and it's also okay to change your mind. you know, Rebecca, when we did our podcast, you were asking me like, what would you say to your younger self? And I think a lot of times, you know, especially as as women at all ages and stages of life, we put so much pressure on ourselves to, you know, have it all figured out and do everything and keep, you know, be the social media perfect sense of everything. And that's just not reality. So like come to terms with it now. Know who you are. and stay true to yourself as you're making, you know, kind of decisions about your future. And, you know, don't let outside forces, sort of to Ellen's point, put some false limits or or ceilings on what you're capable of. Rebecca Snyder: Hmm. Well that that kind of goes back to what you started out with saying in terms of visibility gives you purpose, gives you, you know, helps you articulate your values. And so really kind of grounding who you are is a really important piece of of this whole journey. So thank you for that. Jill, what about you? What do you want your shadow girl to know? Jill Reamer: So my world's a little bit more mundane than Shelly's. I wish I had like a really cool machine to show them. And I love going to manufacturing operations. It's it's just amazing how things get put together piece by piece by piece. So that's kudos to you. And so my life is a little bit more mundane. So I guess I predominantly really focus it on networking and socializing and getting to know people and learn how to. engage with people because that's a skill that you will need I think regardless of where you are especially if you want to be a leader. So I am thinking about maybe a center club event with the women in business and whatever networking events I can bring or meetings and just show that it's a journey and not every day is like a cliff jump and that sometimes you do have to live through the mundaneness, but it's all there's always a community out there for you to ask and use resources for to help you grow. And it's you know, maybe more boring. I'm sorry for my mentee, but Rebecca Snyder: Mm-hmm. Jill Reamer: still important. And and it's funny because my kids watch me and my daughter, it's so sweet. She like listens to me and she thinks it's a big deal when she's overhearing me from the other room and what we're saying and doing. So I hope I have that kind of impact as well. Rebecca Snyder: Yeah. Well and and just providing that window into the world of like this is what it looks like every day to build your community, to get to know people, to create create a space where women owned businesses are thriving. I mean I think that'll be very impactful. Very Jill Reamer: Yeah, and I hope they can see how I can help candidates get jobs and how we help people get what they need to do with my mission as well. So, you know, not to forget what I do today to day is helping people get but yeah. Rebecca Snyder: Like you're raising the visibility of candidates too. So it's it's Jill Reamer: Right. Rebecca Snyder: all mixed in. Karen, what about you? Karen Bond: Well, I want you to know that I I have several thoughts, but it guess it will depend on the girl. we are saying rah rah girl power, but I wanna say at this point in my career there have been two men who've been pivotal and really helped me to become the Karen I am. And one of them is Theo Rogers of A and R Development. And I think Jill Reamer: I used to work with him. Rebecca Snyder: huh. Karen Bond: so I think I've I've been Every time I see Theo at an event, I say, let's have lunch. And I work for Judge Alexander Williams, retired judge. And I think to be effective as women, we have to learn how to work well with men. So depending Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Karen Bond: if the person is interested and legal related, it'll be that sort of day. but we'll I'm going to just be open. I want to make it a day that is of her interest. And I hope that we can just make it memorable and I absolutely can't wait. So again, thank you to Girl Scouts of Central Maryland Jill Reamer: Yes. Karen Bond: for doing it. And I think Rebecca, as I've been enjoying the podcast, the hidden thing is to have someone like you who opens doors, makes your place at the table more comfortable, and invites Rebecca Snyder: Hmm. Karen Bond: you back again. So there there's so many things. I don't want that to go unnoticed here, because that is what connects the dots for us. and it's essential and we I am most grateful. so special thanks Rebecca Snyder: Well thank you. Karen Bond: to you. Jill Reamer: I'll re I'll did it at that. Rebecca Snyder: And Shelly Elliott: Yes. Yes. Rebecca Snyder: Well, thank thank you all. And I feel like we all have our our role to do as at opening up the table and making space for others and I'm thinking back to Diana something Diana Emerson said and she's with Emerge Maryland and her mission right now is to build the table. So I think as women and and a lot of what you're doing what this Distinguished Women Award is doing as well is you're building a table that is not you're making space for someone, but you're automatically included. You're we're creating that space for everyone to to be connected. And so I really appreciate what you all are doing. I can't wait to celebrate with you on the 12th of November. And I look forward to hearing more about your own individual journeys. Absolutely. Ellen Shiery: Can I make one more point about building? Jill Reamer: Thank you. Ellen Shiery: So that that reminded me of the fact that, you know, we are in the early stages of a tremendous wealth transfer where trillions of dollars are going to be passed from one generation to the next. And the exciting thing for all of us here is that most of those doll the the majority of those dollars are going to end up in the hands of women. And women Rebecca Snyder: Mm. Ellen Shiery: give and spend differently than men do. And the prospects for funding for women's and girls organizations is very bright. So we have a lot to look forward to Jill Reamer: What a great note to leave on. Thank you. Yeah. Ellen Shiery: over the the the next couple of decades. Rebecca Snyder: Wonderful. Well thank you and thank all of you for what you're doing and we'll check back in with you again. Karen Bond: Thank you. Jill Reamer: Thank you, Rebecca. Shelly Elliott: Thanks, Rebecca.