Featured Alumni - Charlon Hibbard
Name Charlon Hibbard
Business Cosmetic Sales and Leadership
Title Ind. Premier Club Sales Director
Best phone for contact: 248-705-5479 cell
Leadership Oakland Class: IX
Q. What is the most significant leadership lesson you have learned that has impacted your personal life?
A. My business is one of teaching and mentoring women to run their own home-based businesses. To do so I had to learn how to run my own business, which started with setting goals and priorities. Learning to set goals, work until they were completed or reset the timeline, has been a life-changing lesson. Most people go through life just drifting, as did I until Mary Kay came into my life. While working for myself gives me wonderful flexibility to live my life as I choose, it does take discipline. The lesson of setting goals has been instrumental in helping me reach this point in my life.
Q. What was one of your finest leadership moments professionally?
A. While I have been honored numerous times within Mary Kay, being selected by Leadership Oakland for the 2004 Distinguished Leadership Award and recognized outside of my industry was one of my most cherished moments.
Q. Is there a leader that inspires you? Why?
A. Mary Kay Ash. Mary Kay Ash took a dream of enriching women’s lives and started her company despite every one of her advisors telling her how many businesses failed every year. She lead a group of nine women and built a company upon the Golden Rule, keeping her priorities: God first, family second and career third.
Q. How do you use your leadership for community building?
A. I believe that one of my strengths is the ability to work with many different personalities and to work as a team. I use my people skills to be a connector of people.
Q. What is a mistake you have made as a leader and what did you learn from this?
A. In the past I assumed all people were self-motivated and would follow through on their own, being true to their word. I was a hands-off leader. I now maintain close communication with those on my team. This allows me to be aware of their needs to keep their goals in front of them so they can achieve the level of success they want.
Q. If you were to give advice to others in leadership during tough times, what would it be?
A. I think Mary Kay Ash said it all- "The speed of the Leader is the speed of the team. Do not expect others to do what you will not. Do not wish for what you are not willing to work."
