Slater Success Year in Review

When the calendar flipped over to 2021, we all wished for a much different year than 2020. 

While the pandemic still overtook most of the past year, it felt slightly more normal, as we got back to in-person meetings, family gatherings and travel. 

Remote and hybrid work is here to stay and we all found ways to navigate it. Some of you might have realized you need to be in the office a few days a week, while others prefer to work solely from home, but the flexibility and attention to what is most important in life - our family, our health, our free time - has become apparent and appreciated. 

2021 was a great year for Slater Success - our 13th year in business. I wanted to share some of our highlights and what we learned from our experiences. 

My daughter got married! I know this isn’t business related, but my whole team was on board, helping me when I desired to take a few days off or get something done quickly to get to a wedding meeting. It brought us all even closer together. 

Team is everything. Find the right people and keep the right people. Ensure your 2022 plan has lots of team building exercises included. It matters. 

We started our LinkedIn Live shows and have hosted over 30 of them this year bringing in guests from various organizations to share their expertise and answer viewer questions live. It’s helped me hone my interview and speaking skills, because there really is no test like a live event. 

Do things that scare you. I am a big fan of tech, yet it truly intimidates me, so if I can go live and handle third party streaming services and Internet issues, you can, too!

We continued our podcast, Her Success Story, and have built so many long-term connections through this avenue. The podcast has been such a vital way to expand our brand and showcase guests and their talents and knowledge.

If it’s working, keep it up! We all get eager to try the next best thing or the new big idea, but when you find something that works, nurture it!

We hosted two roundtables, welcoming women from the legal and finance fields to work on their businesses and build community. I learned just as much from them as I hope they learned from me. 

Bringing women leaders together is one of my favorite parts of my business. Watching their growth and the changes they are making and witnessing them build lifetime friendships and networks with other leaders is truly the best.

We spoke - a lot! Both virtually and in-person. It’s certainly different speaking to a screen versus a room. You lose a lot of that pumped up energy, but you can still provide value and have a great time. I’m so glad we had the opportunities we did these past few years, from KeyBank to Graphic Arts Guild, Inner Circle Summit, Women Warriors, Marshal School at USC, SMPS, SPARK, Dress For Success, Women in Telecommunications (WITC) and more. 

Slide decks take time! Thank goodness for my team who always comes through with those last minute edits. And I probably saved a lot of money only buying clothes from the waist up. But maybe a little more money on lipstick and makeup. 

We did it! And so did you. 

We all made it through yet another year of uncertainty and change.

While 2022 is still an unpredictable future, the lessons learned and the strength garnered is unparalleled. Please share some highlights of your year, what you learned and what you are taking forward.