A delightful part of my job is reading the Women in Retail Leadership Circle member spotlights shared in this newsletter most weeks. I enjoy learning everything from how these impressive women achieve their personal and professional goals to what they’re reading these days.

The answers to “what gets you up in the morning” never disappoint. Dogs, kids, and coffee (so much coffee!) are often mentioned, along with some truly inspirational answers. Diane Wang, chairperson and CEO at DHgate Group, said empowering others makes her feel meaningful and live a purposeful life. “I don’t do it to seek recognition from anyone,” she said. “It is like an engine driving me to take action. My greatest passion at this stage is to create an environment through our company platform where our employees feel more ‘daring’ and can fully unleash their potential. I want each individual to find their unique way to bloom fearlessly. Behind this lies the driving force of trust. All the opportunities ahead of us are what spur me to get moving in the morning.”

When asked what is one thing you look for when interviewing a potential job candidate, Nicole McCasey, president, Bravado Designs said: “An always-learning, can-do attitude (outside of meeting most functional requirements). I’ve seen this positively translate into passion for the work at hand and a fresh take on how things can be done.”

Humility and “GRIT!” are the qualities most important to Jennifer Masie, group vice president, full service at CosmoProf.

Each spotlight is packed with authentic insight as well as fun facts (JCPenney Vice President of Customer Marketing Kendra Horne’s guilty please is reality television, specifically anything Bravo).

To connect with these women and shine in your own spotlight feature, consider joining our membership.

As always, reach out with questions!