In honor of Women’s History Month, Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) welcomed a panel of women in leadership roles across the Statesboro community to share their experiences with OTC students, faculty, and staff.
The panelists included Carolyn Ethridge, market president for Renasant Bank; Yolanda Tremble, business office director for Willow Pond Senior Care Center; Rachel Edwards, attorney at Wright and Edwards, P.C.; and Amy Lingo, Ed.D., dean and professor for the College of Education at Georgia Southern University. They discussed their leadership journeys, what motivates them, and the keys to their success.
There was a common consensus among the panelists about the qualities of a great leader: they must empower, grow, and develop the people around them. Yolanda Tremble offered her thoughts on the matter, stating, “A leader must be selfless, they must have a passion for people. You cannot be intimidated to lead those who may be smarter than you or have more knowledge than you in a specific area of expertise. Have the confidence to grow their talents.”
Mentorship was another popular topic, with Dr. Lingo sharing her perspective on what makes a good mentor: “A good mentor I had told me things I wasn’t always ready to hear but needed to hear. She saw areas where I needed to improve. One thing I look for in a mentor wherever I am is, ‘What can I learn from them?’ and ‘What can I learn that can help me in my role and serve others better?’”
The panelists also acknowledged the systemic challenges women face in the professional world. Carolyn Ethridge reflected on how she overcame some of these obstacles, stating, “There are coworkers, managers, who will try and sabotage your career. I learned not to give it real life, not give their words power, I know who I am, and I know what God’s gifted me to do so I learned not to let those people dictate my life.”
At the conclusion of the panel, OTC student Kaytlyn Colson asked the panelists what they attributed their success to. Rachel Edwards shared her thoughts: “I think it has to be combination of a lot of things, you have to have goals in mind, the work ethic to reach those goals, a passion to work with people no matter what field you are in, and respect for everyone else.”
Colson later reflected on what she gained from the discussion, saying, “Something that really resonated with me was hearing Dr. Lingo speak on her roots and journey to her current position. I feel like I came from a similar background and resonated specifically with her experience not getting a job that she applied for at a university. It’s easy to admire someone for where they are but sometimes forget how many ‘nos’ and ‘failures’ it takes to get there.”
