Women Who Lead: Celebrating the Voices Shaping Our Future

March marks Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements, leadership, and contributions of women past and present. It is an opportunity to recognize the progress that has been made while also honoring the women who continue to shape the future through their work, leadership, and influence. We are proud to spotlight women within our organization who are making a meaningful impact and inspiring those around them. Throughout March, we will be sharing responses from women in leadership as they reflect on their influences, values, challenges, and what Women’s History Month means to them.

Today, we’re proud to highlight Deborah Shaw, whose leadership and perspective continue to make a lasting impact.

Leadership Philosophy

Q: What values guide you most as a leader?

A: Success.

A Defining Moment

Q: Was there a moment in your career that helped shape the leader you are today?

A: One defining moment in my career was when I was asked to rebuild and transform a struggling call center into a modern contact center. At the time, it felt overwhelming because there were no systems in place and no clear roadmap. But I was given ownership and told to build it like it was my own. That experience taught me how powerful ownership can be when you're trusted to create something from the ground up.

Lessons in Leadership

Q: What is one lesson leadership has taught you that you wish you knew earlier?

A: That you are not alone.

Challenges & Growth

Q: What challenges have helped you grow the most in your career?

A: Learning the importance of clarity, accountability, and belief.

Mentorship & Influence

Q: Who has been influential in your professional journey?

A: Joe Schuette. I learned from him how important it is to create structure, empower people, and communicate constantly during times of change. He also helped me realize that leadership isn’t about controlling every detail — it’s about building systems that allow your team to succeed without micromanagement.

Impact

Q: What impact do you hope to have on your team or the next generation of leaders?

A: I hope to show that leadership is about ownership, growth, and accountability. When people feel empowered to take ownership of their work and continue growing, it creates stronger teams and better leaders.

Something You Might Not Know

Q: What is one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

A: That I’m actually an introvert.

Women’s History Month Reflection

Q: What does Women’s History Month or International Women’s Day mean to you?

A: It’s a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come and recognize the progress that has made opportunities possible for women in leadership today.