19 Questions With Pattie Pfeiffer, Director/General Manager, Qurate Retail Group

Pattie Pfeiffer is a director and general manager at Qurate Retail Group, whose brands include HSN, QVC, Ballard Designs, and Garnet Hill. She’s also a Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) member! In this member spotlight, we asked Pfeiffer a series of questions about both her professional role and personal life, including the woman that inspires her, her leadership style, her advice for the next generation of female leaders, and much more.

1. What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
   “Letting Go of Imposter Syndrome” by Serena Choo. It’s a tremendous book that shares the ways to accept greatness and accomplishments in your life. Allow yourself to gain the recognition that is deserved.
2. What’s a tip you have for productively leading a remote or hybrid team?
   Communication is key, whether it be via phone, chat or Teams. Checking in to ensure all parties are on the same page is paramount. A lot can be lost in translation and checking in visually helps to ensure understanding.
3. What’s a mistake you made early on in your career?
   Doubting my ability to be my authentic self. The thinking that women need to act like men in order to achieve what men do is absurd. I’m happy I learned that lesson and was able to come to the table with my authentic self.
4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?  
   Managing the number of different personalities and agendas, as they’re all different. Not every person has the same intention or agenda as you do, so managing the expectations can be difficult.
5. What’s the best way you motivate team members?  
   Caring about them. Showing team members you care changes how you’re viewed. Sometimes team members don’t see you as a human, but only as a boss or leader. Being vulnerable and caring is a great way to show you’re human. A little bit goes a long way.
6. What woman inspires you right now and why?  
   My mom inspires me every day. This woman is amazing and I thank God every day she is my MOM. At 80-plus years old, she wakes up refreshed every day with pep in her step and ready to face the day. The amount of energy and charisma this woman has astonishes me. She does tasks like helping cook and deliver food for Meals on Wheels, supporting friends or community in need, assisting in community events, and always being there for family. She has relentlessly worked every day of her life to make her family and her life the best that it can be and has never given anything less than 100 percent. I look to her for wisdom, advice, guidance and sharing our love for cooking.
7. What are you looking forward to the most for the industry over the next year?
   I’m looking forward to the change in leadership as companies shift to more women-led departments and organizations. I cannot wait to see what the next year brings with stepping up in leadership at the female level and seeing the accomplishments everyone makes.
8. What’s one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
   Passion and drive. I can teach the business but I cannot teach passion and drive.
9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?  
   That I need to trust my instincts and move forward. I need to stop doubting my decisions or actions when others over-talk or push negativity towards me.
10. What values are most important to you as a leader?  
    Integrity and resilience. A great leader needs to have unwavering integrity to encourage confidence. Resilience is a necessity for any leader as there will always be setbacks, obstacles and challenges.
11. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    I act with integrity as a business owner in all things.
12. What practices or boundaries have you implemented in your personal life to create more work/life balance?
    I’ve made it a practice to make time for myself, whether it be for a book, for my dogs, or for my family; they’re all worth it. I work to live not live to work and try to practice mindfulness about balancing my work at home.
13. How would you describe yourself in a single sentence?
    I’m a results-oriented executive with a reputation for delivering responsible growth and genuine results.
14. What’s your favorite app?
    The Hatch app, which helps me do mediation and sleep practice before bed. There are so many different options and I love the fact I can actually wake up gradually in the morning without the jarring alarm sounds my phone use to play.
15. What do you do to recharge?  
    I recharge at the beach. This is my special place, where I can sit and read a book, listen to music or just listen to the waves. Calmness and peace reach me at all levels. If I could only work from the beach, life would be different.
16. What is your biggest accomplishment?  
    My biggest accomplishment was after working for years in the finance industry, quitting my job at 30 years old and going back to school to get my degree in culinary arts. I always wanted to do this but was set on the path of life and work. I was told so many times, “You can’t go back and do that.” Well, I did and it was the best thing I ever did. Not only do I cook better but it was a piece of my life journey that needed to happen. The people I met and the experiences I had were there for a reason and taught me so many important things in my life.
17. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    Keep driving. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. Make your own decisions and don’t let anyone hold you back. You got this!
18. What gets you up in the morning?
    My drive for being my best self. How can I be a better person and do better in work, society and life?
19. What do you like most about being a member of Women in Retail Leadership Circle? 
    Seeing all the amazing, strong women coming together without judgment.