Phenomenal Blogger Series

Are You the CEO of You, Inc.?
By: Susan Bulkeley Butler

It is so much fun to be celebrating Women’s History Month with all of you – a wonderful time to think about the women “pioneers” and more importantly, how we are changing the world for our daughters and granddaughters.

When I think of who I am today… wow! Forty-six years ago, I left Purdue University to begin my career with Arthur Andersen & Co.

Since then, I have been a computer programmer, a real “techie,” a business consultant, an intrepreneur (created the change management line of business), a partner at Accenture, and a managing partner of the office of the CEO of Accenture. Now, as the CEO of my Institute for the Development of Women Leader, I am impacting zillions of women and girls.

In summary, I think of myself as part of Susan B. Anthony (continuing to bring about equality for women by 2020), Amelia Earhart (dreaming big), and Gloria Steinam (changing the world for women).

So, how did all of this happen?

First, my parents said: “You can do anything you set your mind to do.” That was a good start.

One of my professors at Purdue got me started when he helped convince Arthur Andersen & Co. that they should hire me.

After a few “fits and starts,” I learned how to “make things happen for me, rather than let things happen to me.”

By this, I mean:
Determine your aspirations by continuing to answer the following question: What do you want to say you have accomplished in five years? I have proactively changed my career direction every three to five years.

Develop your team of mentors and advocates who will help you achieve your goals. These, too, will change as your aspirations change. They are mentors, advocates, role models, etc.

Create your annual plan to achieve your aspirations, including altering either one or both when appropriate.
Working with your plan every day, insuring you are making progress for You, Inc.

Two more important aspects that you must keep in mind are that you must invest time on yourself to make things happen, and you must take responsibility for who you are and who you want to be.

These steps continue to help me be who I am every day.

I am CEO of Me, Inc.

How successful are you as CEO of You, Inc.? Are you making this happen for you, or are you letting things happen to you?

BIO:
Susan Bulkeley Butler has been proving that women count ever since she rose from her roots as a small-town girl in Illinois to become the first female professional at Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1965 and later the first female partner of what would become Accenture. Now, as a philanthropist, mentor, speaker, executive coach and CEO of the Susan Bulkeley Butler Institute for the Development of Women Leaders, she is serving as a delegate to Vision 2020, a groundbreaking national project focused on advancing gender equality.

Image photographer photostock