Positively Powerful Women

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There was a time when sport teams were seen as the ultimate models for how managers should see their businesses. Some CEOs would make reference to football teams in describing their management style. For example, calling all plays from the sidelines. Others would use basketball, with themselves as the head coach, and another coach who was their eyes and ears on the court being a point guard.  This provided flexibility for the players/employees until a time out was called.

Today, the popular analogy is the family – a different structure, smaller and requiring a different set of sensibilities from the managerial leaders. For example, the football model is to play at any cost to yourself, just don’t hurt your team. It meant being a warrior, like Ben Roethlisberger, having fractured ribs while competing in this year’s Super-Bowl. While we might admire Mr. Roethlsberger heroics, in our businesses this would be seen as reckless. How this might be similar in the workplace is saying one believes in work life balance but asking your teams to work 60 hours a week…”give it your all.”

Many women (men too – the paradigm is shifting) have a different take on business and understand fully the concept of family. Here are just some of the attributes that support the business concept of families.

1. Understanding that emotions mean something.
2. Understanding that change is constant
3. That caring is not a bad word.
4. Risk for risk sake is not taking risk but being silly.
5. That everything matters.

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Series Intro: In this series I’ll be highlighting some of the most interesting and inspiring women that I’ve been meeting, learned about, or working with. Here’s what I know…they are so busy working, filming, teaching, campaigning, leading, etc. that they don’t have time to promote themselves. I get to do that. If there is a positively powerful woman you’d like me to feature, let me know.

Meet Cybel Martin, Director of Photography/Cinematographer:

Singled out for her expressive and stylized work, Cybel Martin is the first and only African American woman to receive an MFA in Cinematography from New York University. Perhaps because she was named after 1962 Oscar winning film, “Sundays and Cybele”, this native New Yorker has set her sights on her own golden statue. Recently she was filming a feature in DC during the Inauguration of President Obama.

It was interesting to learn that the cameras that she must wield are heavy, so staying in peak condition physically (as well as mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) is important. All seem to be taken in stride by this PPW (Positively Powerful Woman). Other traits that I learned are key for those who want to be cinematographers like her – in a male dominated industry – are the abilities to facilitate diverse people, be able to “travel well”, spot great professional talents, be the boss of her crew on the set, and juggle many balls. Cybel is both a Bollywood and Nollywood DP (Director of Photography). Another skill is to be exceptionally entrepreneurial. Cybel Martin is a business entity that creates art and brings stories to life with mathematical excellence. (Try figuring out what lights, filters, camera lenses…to use. That’s a discipline that I can only begin to imagine!) The results of her work bring tears, laughter, and yes Oscars.

Cybel is also an author and speaker: Inspired to share her knowledge and career experiences, Cybel has participated in several film panels and lecture series. Her favorites include guest lecturer at the Psychiatry Department at Columbia University, Cinematography instructor for the Film Academy in Nigeria, guest teacher for The Ghetto Film School and panelist at the Arizona Black Film Fest.  She documents some of her experiences in Nigeria in a recently published photography book, “Picture in Nigeria” which is available for purchase through Blurb. Her website: Click here.

No matter how you interpret the headline, it all rings true when it’s Lorrinda Gray-Davis that’s being referred to. Ms. Gray-Davis is the Director of Diversity Development for Perini Building Co. Inc., a company that is a leader in the high-dollar relationship-based commercial contracting and construction industry. The Las Vegas skyline and Phoenix Airpot are two of the many sites shaped by their corporation.

I met Lorrinda when she held a similar position with Austin Industries and since those early days, I have seen the consistency with which she has exceeded the $$ diversity commitments of these firms. She’s been pivotal in the awarding of millions of dollars to minority companies. She’s received millions of accolades and awards most recently the Champion of Diversity Award from Diversity Plus. She has assisted significant numbers if not millions of business owners in growing their businesses through mentoring, championing, educational forums, etc. because as she says, “If our subcontractors fail, we fail.” She is also supportive of community events serving as the Chairperson of the Grand Canyon Minority Supplier Development Council, Ron Williams President and sponsor of The Positively Powerful Women Celebrate! events among others.

Perini serves as a benchmark for other prime contractors. however, the firm’s diversity success did not come overnight– nor has it been coincidental. It actually started growing roots in 2005 when the firm hired its Director of Diversity Development Lorrinda Gray-Davis. when Gray-Davis took on the challenge, she was charged with establishing a full-time diversity department, policies and procedures. Fortunately, Gray-Davis and Perini alike have seen substantial results. (MBNUSA September 15 – October 15, 2008)

Transformational leaders enroll in their vision: She’s done this at Perini, for entrepreneurs, and in the community. They are vulnerable and she is in her “upfront” style of communication and commitment to get things done. They cause a possibility to occur that would not have happened otherwise as she does being a minority business advocate who is not only a gate keeper for millions but creating gates where there were none before.

Recently I had the privilege of being coached by Betty Pichon. I learned from her that it was to my advantage to prepare an introductory paragraph or two to provide those who introduce me with the words I want my audience to hear, to create a “tickle file” to remind and prompt me about activities for new business, how best to project my message to an international audience, and much much more.

Betty is an award-winning speaker and consultant. She is well-connected and well-liked. What she says is always bankable. Given the importance of making a good first impression especially for those of us who want to do international business, when Betty speaks we listen. She’ll be speaking at the Positively Powerful Breakfast Feb. 6th, Chaparral Suites, Scottsdale.The event will focus on global success.

People also listen to Rodrick Miller. He’ll also be speaking that morning. Rodrick is the Vice President of International Economic Development, Greater Phoenix Economic Council. He is a results-oriented leader with 7 years of progressively responsible experience who has worked extensively in the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Spain, Germany, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Betty Pichon is founder and president of The Pichon Group, a firm that offers the most comprehensive training and consulting available in contemporary business. She directs her international expertise to corporate executives, management and sales and marketing personnel who desire a greater knowledge and awareness of organizational and cultural behavior.

Betty¹s objective is to promote greater self-confidence and better strategies in today¹s competitive global economy by enhancing personal and professional skills that place firms in control of any business or social transaction. Betty is a certified consultant in Business Etiquette and International Protocol. Her client base includes many Fortune 500 companies in telecommunications, microprocessors, energy and various service and retail organizations throughout the country.