Tag: Women of Grady

Becca Hannan: No one ever gets to the top on their own

Posted on by Don McClain

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, this is one of a series of profiles highlighting just a few of the impressive accomplishments alumnae of Grady College are making in their respective industries. For other profiles, please visit any of those listed below:

Carole Munroe

Maureen Clayton

Becca Hannan (ABJ ’11) is a senior manager on the Integrated Marketing Communications Team for the smartwater brand for The Coca-Cola Company. Hannan started her career at Leo Burnett in account management where she was responsible for leading advertising efforts for clients such as Phillip Morris, Nestle Purina and The Art Institute of Chicago. Hannan was a team lead of the Van Gogh project launched in 2016 in support of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Van Gogh exhibition. The idea was recognized globally and took home 14 Cannes Lions Awards at Cannes in June 2016. She was also instrumental in helping her team take home a Grand Prix in Creative Effectiveness for this same work.

Grady College: How has your Grady education helped you in your career?

Becca Hannan: The campaigns course was instrumental in understanding how to think and work like an advertising executive.  I found this final course and the access it gave us to folks in the professional industry invaluable.  The extra programs in Grady (Advertising Club) gave access to networking opportunities which helped me land my first gig at Leo Burnett Chicago.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with and for many amazing female leaders that still serve as my mentors today. They’ve taught me the power of paying this guidance forward and giving credit where credit is due.”

–Becca Hannan (ABJ ’11)

GC: What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned as a female leader?

BH: Pay it forward.  I’ve had the pleasure of working with and for many amazing female leaders that still serve as my mentors today.  They’ve taught me the power of paying this guidance forward and giving credit where credit is due.

GC: Have there been any challenges to being a female leader in your field? How do you overcome those challenges?

BH: I have found it challenging at times to have my opinion valued and heard by male creative leads.  I overcome these challenges by going above and beyond my roles and responsibilities to prove that I’m an asset to the team.

GC: Do you have any advice for Grady students who aspire to be in a leadership position?

BH: Don’t let your ego get in the way.  No one ever gets to the top on their own. So, look around you and identify who can serve as a great partner and mentor. Having people on your side as well as those that have been in your shoes to collaborate with will help you get to where you want to be from a leadership perspective.

GC: Are there any other comments you care to share about Grady College or women in leadership? 

BH: Build your network.  I landed all my jobs through networking – join clubs in the industry, attend speaker series, reach out to alumni, talk with your peers about what they are doing etc. the more people you can meet and the more opportunities you can expose yourself to will ultimately open more doors.

Maureen Clayton: Say ‘yes’ to new experiences

Posted on by Don McClain

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, this is one of a series of profiles highlighting just a few of the impressive accomplishments alumnae of Grady College are making in their respective industries. For other profiles, please visit any of those listed below:

Becca Hannan

Carole Munroe

Maureen Clayton (ABJ ’80, MA ’84)) is the founder and president of Insight Strategic Communications and Nest Egg Communications. She is a four-time Bulldog 100 winner. Clayton also won the 2017 UGA Graduate School Alumni of Distinction for achieving exceptional success in her professional career and service to her community. Additionally, Clayton is a UGA Student Mentor and a UGA Libraries Board of Visitors member.

Grady College: How has your Grady education helped you in your career?

Maureen Clayton: I learned to write for business at Grady.  As a student, I had some crazy notion that flowery, adjective-dripping prose was good writing. My professors taught me the value of writing that is simple, focused and concise.  That’s helped me in every role I’ve ever had.

GC: What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned as a female leader?

MC: You learn more from your failures than your successes.  No one wants to screw up, but when you do, own it, put in a process to address it, and move forward.  Resilience matters.  Like Babe Ruth said, “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”

“No one wants to screw up, but when you do, own it, put in a process to address it, and move forward. Resilience matters.”

–Maureen Clayton

GC: Have there been any challenges to being a female leader in your field? How do you overcome those challenges?

MC: Every leader has challenges.  I don’t view leadership through a male/female lens. I think attitude is at the heart of anyone’s success. My first management role was at a $5 billion electric utility where I was one of three women leaders and the youngest executive in the company.  There were many meetings when I was asked who was watching my children or would I bring in the coffee. I just responded with humor and said “I’d love an iced tea, if you’re getting up.”  Stuff like that never derailed me. Don’t make the small stuff big stuff. Never take your focus off the priorities.

GC: Do you have any advice for Grady students who aspire to be in a leadership position?

MC: Say yes to new experiences in every area of your life.  Don’t be concerned if your career ladder becomes a jungle gym.  It’s seldom a straight line to success. Many of the students I mentor are concerned that when they get out of school, the perfect job won’t be waiting.  Often it won’t. But your skills will be transferrable to a role that will take you your next role.  I never thought I’d be an entrepreneur, but that’s how my career turned out.  If you’re a lifelong learner, you’ll be amazed at the opportunities that arise.

GC: Are there any other comments you care to share about Grady College or women in leadership?

MC: I have fond memories of Dr. Lee Wenthe, the only female professor I had at Grady.  There were just a few female professors. That has changed since I graduated. She was a role model for me—very cool woman.

I think women maybe more likely to value mentorship in the workplace. Many of my clients are female executives at large, global companies. Each of them is committed to mentoring early career colleagues.  My advice for Grady students is to connect, network, and interact with alumni now, before you graduate.  They’ll help you transition to your next chapter.

Carole Munroe: Think about all women, not just those who may look like you

Posted on by Don McClain

In celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, this is one of a series of profiles highlighting just a few of the impressive accomplishments alumnae of Grady College are making in their respective industries. For other profiles, please visit any of those listed below:

            Maureen Clayton

            Becca Hannan

Carole Munroe is a Senior Director of Brand Communications at Hilton Worldwide. Before that, Munroe worked at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts as a Director of Content Relations. She collaborated with LucasFilm on the reintroduction of the Star Wars movie franchise in Disney Parks and leading up to and the opening of Star Wars Land and with James Cameron and Jon Landau on the premiere of Pandora, which is The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Currently, Monroe serves on the Grady Society Alumni Board. Among her accolades, Munroe was awarded the 2015 Pat Tobin Media Professional Award which is the NABJ’s highest award to a public relations professional.

Grady College: How has your Grady education helped you in your career?

Carole Munroe: My Grady education has been an ongoing part of my success as a journalist, publicist and marketing professional. These professions converge around capabilities of storytelling, information distribution and strategic thinking, all of which I learned at Grady and continue to excel as a result of having such a strong foundation.

GC: What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned as a female leader?

CM: “To thine own self be true.” I’ve learned to be comfortable in my own skin. Remember, ‘there will never be another you’ and that’s for a reason — because each of us has our own unique gifts to contribute. I’ve also learned the power of team work and diversity.  Team work is about everyone having a key role based on their strengths. It’s better to let others thrive by their strengths rather than dilute the results by trying to do it all oneself. I have been more successful developing and working with cohesive teams than individually.

“Team work is about everyone having a key role based on their strengths. It’s better to let others thrive by their strengths rather than dilute the results by trying to do it all oneself.”

–Carole Munroe

GC: Have there been any challenges to being a female leader in your field? How do you overcome those challenges?

CM: Yes, there have been lots of challenges! As a female leader who is also African American, I’ve had the challenge of having people judge me before seeing me or getting to know me. This can happen while even applying for a job, and it can be very subtle! Women and men have to be on the lookout for this kind of shortsightedness and subtle bigotry, because people like that do not make good leaders and, in the long run, have limited success.

GC: Any advice for Grady students who aspire to be in a leadership position?

CM: When you are in a leadership role, remember it is a servant’s role. You are there to serve, to inspire, and to help your people grow. If you do these things your team will work hard and will help you succeed because they believe in you.

GC: Are there any other comments you care to share about Grady College or women in leadership?

CM: On International Women’s Day, I want to encourage all women to think about ALL women, not just those who may look like you.  Think “Sisters in Leadership.” As women, no matter our color, we have great things in common. However, I think we also have biases that keep us from experiencing all the strength that women in leadership can bring to bear. So, be a sister to the woman who might be having a harder time than you because she’s also dealing with race, size, sexual or male chauvinist bigotry, or she just might be really shy or socially awkward. She just might be the smartest person in the room, so don’t count her out and be sure to include her.