Bridge Women's Network

Martha: "I prefer to lead by example and don’t tend to ask others to do anything I wouldn’t be willing to do myself.  As one would expect with the way Bridge Debt Strategies’ business has grown over the past few years, so have the demands on the debt asset management team.  Learning how to delegate effectively and empower others has been top of mind.  Before beginning a project, task, or even answering an email I try to ask myself a few questions first:  is this something that needs to be addressed by me, is this the best use of my time, is this something that can be delegated, and is this something that an analyst or associate could learn from by running with it?" 

Martha: “As I’m going through the delegation thought process, how I manage each individual is definitely something I keep in mind. I try to consider who might benefit from a particular project or task and delegate appropriately.  If an employee is less motivated, sometimes it takes a little more following up and/or coaching along the way to be sure things get done in a timely manner and they are learning at the same time.  Many times, the motivation can be lacking because of a lack of knowledge and once they know what they’re doing and are empowered they can take on more in the future.”

Martha: “It's not just women in the early stages of the career --- it is way more common than you might think! I think men and women both experience imposter syndrome and at all stages of their career, some more than others. I find myself facing imposter syndrome often. The typical strategy people use to deal with it is to work harder – but that doesn’t do much to change the psychological nature of imposter syndrome. Experts in the matter suggest that acknowledging your feelings and talking about them with a trusted network helps you to feel less overwhelmed and realize you’re not the only one that feels that way. I have found this to be good advice and a perfect justification for joining a mentoring program!” 

Martha: “This is a tough question because I think it is a constant struggle. Work and life seem to be comingled, especially with the new hybrid work model we have seen post-covid. It can be very difficult but staying focused while working is critical to allow yourself the ability to put work away and focus on family demands later in the day. Delegation and time management are also key to being able to take on more responsibility and a larger workload. So is having a reliable, smart, and empowered team. When those who work with you are well trained, and cross-trained, it allows everyone on the team more flexibility.” 

Martha: “A change in setting can be very helpful – keep the work in one room of the house and resist moving your laptop to other rooms unless necessary. This helps keep the two parts of your life separate. Being flexible is key. There are days I am unavailable for a few hours to take care of appointments at school or doctors, but I recognize that means I may play catch up later in the day. However, being the parent of a thirteen-year-old boy who is new to having an iPhone, I try to set a good example and put the phone away while the kids are around, limiting my use during the evenings.

This quote is now famous because of her new book, but I heard Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, speak a few years ago and she talked about how her mother told her to ‘leave the crown in the garage.’ Her mother said this to remind her that at home she is a mom and a wife who needs to be present in her personal life, not allowing her job to be all-consuming. Sounds like very good advice to me!”

Martha: “I would encourage anyone in the early stages of their career to find others with more experience that they can learn from. Find someone you are comfortable with asking questions of – because there will be, and should be, plenty of questions! Many women are afraid to speak up or ask questions for fear of how they might be perceived (that imposter syndrome again) but it is so important to have a network of colleagues who can support you and help you learn the things they don’t teach you in school. This is one of the most important things you can do when you are junior in your career – learn as much as possible, soak everything in, and set aside your insecurities about asking questions since they are one of the best ways to learn.”