Lauren Parker is no stranger to imposter syndrome.
She questioned herself in her early days as an account executive in the high-stakes world of New York City public relations firms right out of school. Now in her early 30s and a little less than a year into her tenure as CEO of Columbus' FrazierHeiby, she's aware that she might not fit the profile of a top executive at a decades-old firm.
"I have to look in the mirror every day and say, 'Am I old enough to do this? Do I have the experience to do this?'" Parker said during a recent taping of our Women of Influence podcast.
But she knows the answer to that question is yes, in part because she isn't doing it alone. Parker took over the firm at the start of 2020 in a leadership transition that also saw Ann Mulvany and Whitney Somerville, then vice presidents at the firm, join her as senior partners and co-owners.
Together the three women have laid out "grand plans" for the firm's future, Parker said, plans that look a little different because of their relatively young ages. And they've adapted those plans as needed amid the unexpected challenges wrought by the pandemic, working together to keep the staff safe and clients happy.
Check out the full episode of the podcast for more on how the unique leadership structure and open communication help Parker feel confident in her role, plus her takes on how she's melding her New York City experience with the opportunities and culture of a firm based in Columbus, Ohio.
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