"As leaders, I think we often get so busy and consumed by daily problem-solving that we miss opportunities to find tools, resources and strategies that can help us tackle them more efficiently — even when those opportunities are staring us in the face." -Wes Parham, Leadership Fellows 2022
1. What has been a defining moment in your leadership journey, and how did it shape you?
Many leaders are afraid to share uncomfortable feedback with their teams. However, early in my career, I received challenging feedback from a leader about my public speaking. But to their credit, this leader not only recommended a weekly Toastmasters group but also offered to join me for several months.
Who knew that I’d actually enjoy it; and, after several years, the experience refined public speaking into a strength and unlocked a rewarding career path. But more importantly, it hardwired communication and leadership strategies that help me navigate uncertainty — because it’s having the tools to lead during those uncertain moments that have created defining opportunities along the way. Someone else’s willingness to share honest feedback was a true catalyst for my career path and opened doors I never knew existed.
2. How did your DMCLF experience shift your perspective on leadership and prepare you to face the challenges that come with leading?
As leaders, I think we often get so busy and consumed by daily problem-solving that we miss opportunities to find tools, resources and strategies that can help us tackle them more efficiently — even when those opportunities are staring us in the face.
We also tend to assume that traditional management skills will win the day, without putting them in context with our natural leadership style — who we are as people, our strengths and weaknesses, our ability to influence others, and how they respond to us. In other words, personal growth and professional growth go hand in hand.
Leadership Fellows was a game-changer for beginning to blend those two worlds. I’m fortunate to have had mentors and leaders who not only introduced me to Leadership Fellows but were just as invested in my growth as they were in their own. Working through these layers with a cohort of peers built trust and a professional network that will sustain me throughout my career.
3. What’s a lesson you’ve learned as a leader that you wish more people talked about openly?
Without question, it’s about understanding strengths and weaknesses. As leaders, we need to invest the time to truly understand who we are — both professionally and personally. What are we good at, and what are we not? What do we enjoy, and what do we dislike? What can we realistically improve, and what might never be our strength?
We spend so much time early in our careers trying to be all things to all people. It’s an exhausting approach that often leaves us frustrated and feeling like we’re not progressing. While we should always look to improve our weaknesses — and we need to know what they are — sometimes our energy is better spent understanding ourselves, so we can surround ourselves with people whose strengths complement our own.
This allows us to spend more time doing what we’re good at and enjoy. We also become more valuable experts in those areas, yielding stronger results for ourselves and our teams.
It takes even more courage to share these insights with your boss or others in your organization, but it’s a sign of mature leadership. And if you’re afraid to share them, you might be in the wrong organization altogether.
4. How do you see civic and business leadership evolving in Denver — and what gives you hope about the future?
We are all navigating an ever-changing and complex world — and that brings tremendous opportunity for our community. It also brings risk and uncertainty.
I recently took on a new mentor whose leadership style and experience I deeply respect. One thing that stands out about this leader is the diversity of their accomplishments — having served on executive teams for four Fortune 500 companies across a range of disciplines.
One of the first questions I asked them was how they found continued success through the ups and downs — the organizational shifts, career transitions, risks and rewards, and inevitable uncertainty. Their answer? “I focused on leadership.”
That simple, spot-on response validated our community’s investment in the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation and gives me real hope for the future of our region.
5. If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Understanding the value of time. I often tell folks that I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up because I’m just not wired that way. However, I’m a firm believer in the power of opportunity; it compounds and grows over time.
We have to recognize opportunity when it comes along. We also need to have the foundational skills to take advantage of it. Like any investment, the sooner we build those skills — understanding who we are, the value of time, engaging mentors, networking, communication, leadership development, how others respond to us, etc. — the more opportunities we’ll recognize and be prepared to take advantage of, which will hopefully create even more pathways.
