For the third consecutive March, Longbridge is honoring National Women’s History Month by highlighting the lives and achievements of our women leaders in our “Ladies Who Lead” blog series. The women’s history theme for 2024 is, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” This initiative not only celebrates the invaluable contributions of ladies in leadership roles at Longbridge, but also aligns perfectly with this year’s theme, shining a spotlight on those who advocate for creating environments where women feel valued and accepted regardless of their background or identity.
The next feature in this year’s “Ladies Who Lead” series is Nicole Taylor, Longbridge Vice President of Technology. We met with Nicole to discuss her female role model, her advice to women seeking a work-life balance, and what helped her reach this point in her career.
Q: How does Longbridge set a culture of equality and inclusivity?
A: In my opinion, Longbridge does a great job of selecting the right people for the right roles, regardless of race or gender. This is proven by the fact that approximately 55% of our senior managers are women!
Q: Who is your female role model?
A: I was lucky enough to grow up with an independent, influential, assertive, and resilient woman as my role model – my grandmother. While raising two children, my grandmother was able to rise to a leadership position within the banking industry during a time when it was primarily dominated by men. In the 1970s, she was promoted to Regional Vice President within the Philadelphia area and oversaw numerous branch locations. And she managed to maintain a positive work-life balance without compromising her work ethic or dedication to breaking down gender barriers in business.
Q: What is one piece of advice to all women who are juggling between home and work?
A: No matter how hard you try, you will always have that guilt. Guilt that you’re spending too much time at work and not enough time with your family. Guilt that you should be working when you are just watching TV with family. I think it’s important to remember that every person is going through the same struggle, and learning how to prioritize is key. Sometimes you need to adjust both your work and personal schedules to accommodate deadlines or personal engagements and activities – and that’s perfectly okay! Open and honest communication with your colleagues and your family is critical.
Q: What advice would you give women struggling in a male dominated industry?
A: NEVER GIVE UP! The one piece of advice that I can give to women is never lose your confidence and always keep going. When I started in technology 25+ years ago, it was primarily a male dominated environment. Thankfully, today, you increasingly see more women not only in the field, but also in key leadership positions.
Q: What do you think helped you get so far in your career?
A: I believe collaboration, along with dedication and perseverance, helped me get to where I am today. Technology is a tough industry, but no matter what field you’re in, collaboration is critical to success in today’s environment. Nothing should be done in a silo. Asking for your peers’ perspectives enables you to see things differently or discover something you may not have thought of initially. In my experience, a collaborative mindset helps keep you open-minded. And encouraging my staff and peers to voice their opinions has helped me evolve and improve as a leader.
Q: What would you say to your 20-year-old self?
A: I would encourage her to never stop dreaming and never stop setting goals! Even if it takes a long time to achieve what you set out to do, or if you have setbacks, just keep going. The feeling of accomplishment and achievement is a great source of motivation!
Thank you, Nicole, for sharing your wise words with us and for being a great role model for women in or working toward leadership!
About Women’s History Month
Celebrated annually throughout the month of March, Women’s History Month dates back to 1981 when Congress authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982, as “Women’s History Week.” It wasn’t until 1987 that, after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Alliance (NWHA), Congress and the President proclaimed March as Women’s History Month.
Since then, presidents have annually proclaimed the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” This recognition honors the contributions and achievements women have made throughout American history.
The women’s history theme for 2024 declared by NWHA is, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” To learn more about Women’s History Month and this year’s theme, visit https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org.
