Page 35 - The 10 Most Successful Shepreneur to watch for2019

organization for women in trucking the table
and that was her impetus in
forming the association.
A Comprehensive Organization
Ellen is proud to say that the
organization’s membership is
comprised of nearly twenty percent
men who believe in its mission.
This means that the organization
is all-inclusive. Many men in the
industry support and encourage
more women to opt for careers in
transportation. She says although
the organization is called Women
In Trucking, it is not FOR women
as much as it is ABOUT women.
Ellen states that Women In
Trucking Association has an annual
strategic planning session where
the board of directors, staff and
any interested stakeholders look
forward and define the activities
and goals for the coming months
and years. The combined effort
gives the organization a vision into
how the organization will address
future needs for its members and
the industry as a whole.
Being an Instrument of Positive
Change
According to Ellen, an
entrepreneur needs to see into the
future and then determine how to
create a positive change. She says
an entrepreneur needs to possess a
desire to use skills, determination
and focus on helping move people
and processes to result in the
change one is seeking.
Ellen is of the opinion that an
entrepreneur should be able to
convince others that one’s path is
the right one and should generate
a support system, which ultimately
creates a push in the right
direction.
Valuing the skills women bring to
December 2019
that timing is everything and
sometimes one needs to grab an
Women are often humble and opportunity despite the external
focus on consensus building while conditions and make it work out.
leadership traits are often perceived
as assertive and controlled. Ellen Ellen is currently looking at leaving
says these are the challenges behind a thriving association
women face, but instead of that she let into an industry that
conforming she speaks of the need recognized the need for change.
to change the culture to value She plans to retire in about five
leadership traits which women years, so now she is looking
bring to an organization. forward to focusing on traveling,
writing and spending time with her
According to Ellen, women are family.
better at engaging their teams,
and this has been proven to be Determining the Course of Industry
a positive employee retention and Community
strategy, but she is worried that
the characteristics that allow one Ellen’s advice for budding
to be more collaborative are not entrepreneurs is to truly determine
identified as leadership skills. what one can bring to one’s
According to her women bring industry, one’s community or
a different set of skills to the one’s social network. She says
workplace, doesn’t mean these that one should have something to
skills are less important to the contribute to empowering others,
company. She is of the opinion that but one needs to identify what that
these skills should be respected. skill, talent or passion is and stay
true to one’s mission. She warns
Perseverance through Adversities not to get sidetracked by others
who want one to accommodate
Starting a nonprofit association their goals. Ellen also advises
in the middle of a recession is not staying focused and to stay away
the most desirable way to initiate from distractions.
change in an industry. Ellen lost
her position due to the recession
while she was responsible
for two mortgages
and her daughter’s
college expenses.
She is still not
sure how she
made it through
that difficult
time but she
persevered
and daughter
graduated
with a Master’s
Degree in
Economics from
Purdue with NO
student loans. She
appreciates the thought
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