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Houston Female Leaders on Driving a More Diverse Workforce, Drawing Inspiration

Published Mar 07, 2022 by A.J. Mistretta

Rise to the Top networking

Every year, International Women’s Day drives collective action toward gender parity and equality. The latest report from McKinsey & Co. finds that while women are better represented in the talent pipeline than they were five years ago, they continue to fall behind their male counterparts when it comes to early promotions, creating a barrier to higher level positions over time. For women of color, those promotions are even more difficult to attain. 

The Partnership’s annual Rise to the Top event on March 10, aims to celebrate female achievement but also address some of the difficulties local women continue to face in keeping with this year’s theme #BreakTheBias. 

Ahead of this week’s event, we spoke with several female leaders about an increasingly diverse workforce, what inspires them, and how the Partnership helps in their work.  

Willingness to ‘Get Uncomfortable’ 

Qiara Suggs, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at TDECU credit union, said she’s seeing more women rise to the top of the financial sector, and specifically the credit union industry, buoyed by a focus on diversity and investment in talent at all levels. 

“It’s critical that we embrace future talent by helping them talk through their passion,” Suggs said. “I am a firm believer that you have to appreciate your purpose and build a career that aligns with your passion and purpose. I intentionally mentor, coach and advise those who request support because it’s important to share personal experiences that help overcome self-doubt and things such as imposter syndrome to build confidence.” 

Perry Homes CEO Kathy Britton said she’s eager to see more women enter the construction industry. At companies like hers that focus promoting from within, more women entering the organization will in time lead to even more female representation at the top. 

“As a leader, I am driven by what we can accomplish when we rally the strength of our team around our mission” Britton said. “Working collaboratively across the company toward the same goals is a source of satisfaction and pride.”

Suggs said her career has been altered by a “trusted village” of individuals who believe in her and reinforce her belief in herself. “I am conscious of surrounding myself with individuals who uplift me and encourage me to be better than I am today,” Suggs said. 

Continued achievement often means stopping to appreciate what’s already accomplished and determining what’s next without risking burnout. Suggs said she’s proud of what she’s achieved over a more than two-decade career, from helping hospitals expand to creating a DEI strategy and structure for a major healthcare company. Again, it was her village of individuals who encouraged her to act when she felt complacent. “Consistently, I experienced friends, mentors and executive coaches who would give me honest feedback, encourage me to ‘get uncomfortable’ and remind me of the effort and lessons learned that have led to my current state.” 

Britton said today’s female leaders have a responsibility to support and educate the next generation of women while helping them understand their potential. In her role as the founder of the Perry Homes Foundation, Britton said she seeks out philanthropic opportunities that can directly image young women through education and other programs. 

Leading from Houston 

While Houston companies have taken significant steps forward in recent years on gender inclusivity, recent data shows women remain underrepresented in senior leadership roles. The goal of events like Rise to the Top and the larger International Women’s Day is to encourage meaningful work to address the disparity. 

Houston is attractive to a broad base of companies because of its talent diversity, and organizations like the Partnership help channel growth for even greater outcomes, Suggs said. “The opportunity to network and represent my organization [at the Partnership] in a unique manner is appealing to me. These are priceless moments where networking becomes the greatest way to learn and apply lessons from others across various industries.” 

“While we are the fourth largest city, it can still feel like a small community,” said Britton. “Having been a Houstonian my entire life, I can say that our residents sincerely care about one another and will always come together to help each other during disaster or tragedy.” What’s more, she said, Houston is renowned for its philanthropy and generosity in ways that truly make a difference.  

“I’m excited to see how Houston will benefit from its continued growth,” Britton said. “With more people and businesses moving to our area, we will continue to see revitalization and expansion. As a community, we can thrive and grow together.” 

View perspective from other Houston female leaders. Click here to register for Rise to the Top on March 10 and learn more about the Partnership’s business resource groups for female leaders: Executive Women’s Partnership and Women’s Business Alliance

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Houston-based private equity firm EnCap Investment LP has committed $2.5 billion to launch two new portfolio companies in Fort Worth, Double Eagle Energy Holdings V LLC and Tumbleweed Royalty V LLC. Houston Christian University breaks ground on a $60 million engineering, science and nursing building that will include administrative space and multidisciplinary learning spaces. The University of Houston has started construction of the new William P. Hobby School of Public Affairs academic building, a 42,000-square-foot building to be located in the north side of campus. Fervo Energy expands its flagship geothermal project in Utah through a new power offtake agreement with London-based Shell PLC (NYSE: SHEL). League City City Council has discussed its Westside Master Plan, a strategic initiative to guide the development of the city's remaining undeveloped land. 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The Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority is listed to start construction on 56 Airline/Montrose this summer as the next phase of its 20-mile project.    If you are a member and want us to help communicate news about your organization, please send a press release or information about the announcement to member.engagement@houston.org and we will share it with our content team for possible inclusion in an upcoming roundup. Learn more about Partnership membership. 
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Corporate Catering Concierge: Corporate Catering Concierge is a catering company offering a wide selection of food options and personalized menu planning. Website. Definity First: Definity First is an IT consulting firm of advanced enterprise-grade solutions with expertise in Custom Development, Staffing, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Office 365, Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM, and Microsoft Copilot, as well as tailored additional services for on-premises Microsoft products. Website. Greenback Cost Recovery: Greenback Cost Recovery, LLC is a Houston-based company that specializes in delivering bottom line improvements to businesses by recovering overpayments and reducing ongoing costs associated with property tax, telecommunications, and real estate leases. Website. H-Town Dream Center: H-Town Dream Center is a community center in Splendora, Texas with a mission to give the hope, healing and freedom of Christ to the most vulnerable by feeding the hungry, rescuing women and children in crisis, and educating at-risk youth. Website. Magnum Staffing Services, Inc.: Magnum Staffing Services is a recruiting and staffing solutions firm based in Houston, Texas, specializing in workforce strategy, talent management, and providing staffing solutions for various industries, including warehouse distribution, logistics, manufacturing, and professional services. Website. Metro Houston Charter Bus: Metro Houston Charter Bus is a charter bus rental company providing flexible scheduling, trained drivers, and transparent pricing to make budgeting simple. Website. Minaret Foundation: Minaret Foundation is a multi-faith organization based in Houston, Texas focused on bringing faith communities together by tackling on issues related to child welfare and food insecurity. Website. Moelis & Co.: Moelis & Company is a global independent investment bank that provides financial advisory services to corporations, governments, and financial sponsors. Website. Mo'Kai'Ana Luxury Transport: Mo'Kai'Ana is a luxury chauffeur service for special events in Cypress, TX and the surrounding Houston Area, offering a variety of van services fully licensed by the city of Houston with background checked chauffeurs. Website. One Digital: OneDigital Impact Studio is an insurance brokerage, financial services, and HR consulting firm that provides a centralized platform that equips companies with real-time visibility and heightened control over their organization's total spending. Website. 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