20 Questions With Stephanie Smith, Director of E-Commerce, Mattel

Stephanie Smith is the director of e-commerce at Mattel. She’s also a Women in Retail Leadership Circle (WIRLC) member! In this member spotlight, we asked Stephanie 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?
   “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks
2. What’s a tip you have for productively leading a remote or hybrid team?
   I give my team autonomy and flexibility to do their best work. I encourage my team to bring new ideas and challenge the status quo.
3. What’s a mistake you made early on in your career?
   I expected to stay in the same profession for my entire career.
4. What’s the toughest part of being in charge?
   I can’t be in multiple places at one time!
5. What’s the best way you motivate team members?
   Build a culture grounded in trust and empathy. Trust your team to manage their schedules and to deliver their best work. Be accessible to the team for coaching and support.
6. What woman inspires you right now and why?
   Simone Biles’ commitment to her mental and physical well-being is so inspiring. Taking care of one’s mental and physical health are so important.
7. What are you looking forward to the most for the industry over the next year?
   Continued transformation and reinvention as technology continues to evolve.
8. What is one thing you look for when interviewing a job candidate?
   Curiosity
9. What’s something that you learned about yourself in the past year?
   The more I lean into unfamiliar or challenging situations, the more room I give myself to grow.
10. What’s your favorite podcast?
    “Pivot” or “The Journal“
11. What values are most important to you as a leader?
    Integrity, transparency and honesty
12. What’s the most important thing people should know about you?
    My values guide me: integrity, fairness, compassion, growth, and well-being.
13. What practices or boundaries have you implemented in your personal life to create better work/life balance?
    I do not send emails or messages outside of standard business hours (unless there is an urgent matter). I schedule emails and messages to deliver during team members’ business hours and ask that others do the same.
14. How would you describe yourself in a single sentence?
    I bring 110 percent to everything I do; I love to solve problems and drive innovation, and I’m committed to becoming the best version of myself and bringing out the best in others.
15. What’s your favorite app?
    DoorDash
16. What do you do to recharge?
    I enjoy reading novels and exercising.
17. What is your biggest accomplishment?
    I led the e-commerce strategy and execution for “Barbie” the movie last year, and I am very proud of the results.
18. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?
    Be curious and be open to trying new things.
19. What gets you up in the morning?
    The opportunity to solve complex challenges.
20. What do you like most about being a member of Women in Retail?
    The culture and mission of women supporting women.