#FHIFavorites

It is often said that hard times reveal true friends. That saying has come true for me during the past 3 months as I have leaned on my trusted peers – other women CEOs who are also navigating this strange new business world. FHI is a women-owned business (WBE/DBE) and for many years, I have been involved in a variety of women’s business groups – some that focused on professional development and others on business development. All whose mission was to help women in business succeed.

So, when we were suddenly faced with so much uncertainty, and with so much at personal stake, I reached out to a small group of other women CEOs. These were women leaders who I trusted and respected from interactions with them over the years. While the outreach was organic and informal, this small group has become a sisterhood of sorts – one focused on sharing information and helping each other navigate through these uncharted waters with a shared goal: to all come out stronger in the end.

This sisterhood has become my favorite COVID-19 silver lining.

Introducing the “Kick Ass CEO Support Group” – including the following amazing women CEOs:

Left to right: Mary Ellen Eagan, Ashley McClain, Roseann Schmid, Susan VanBenschoten, Kelly Langer, Lora Byala, Lisa Brothers

Mary Ellen Eagan, CEO of HMMH (Burlington, MA) - who came up with our kick-ass name. Mary Ellen is always organized, has all the latest industry news, and is always first to take the lead with new ideas.
Lora Byala, CEO of Foursquare ITP (Rockville, MD) who speaks about the youth and energy of her staff and the dynamics of working side by side with her husband and business partner while quarantined.
Kelly Langer, CEO of Lakeside Engineering (Wauwatosa, WI) brings her cut-to-the-chase questions, make-no-apologies answers, and her mid-western practicalities.
Lisa Brothers, CEO of Nitsch Engineering (Boston, MA) who constantly amazes me with her strength, kind heart, and ability to always be a step ahead.
Ashley McClain, CEO of Cox/McClain Environmental Consulting (Austin, TX) – who brings her humor, her curiosity, as well as her updates on her successful virtual cooking demonstrations and martini mixing classes.
Roseann Schmid, CEO of Fisher Associates (Rochester, NY), my oldest and dearest friend, who has always been a bit like a little sister to me - but now runs a company twice the size of FHI. As kids we took on challenges together like designing and building go-carts (poorly) and rewriting the rules to hide and seek.

Our “Kick-Ass” group meets virtually every two to three weeks for about 2 hours. We also communicate regularly via email with updates and questions. We share our insights and advice on an array of topics including: the new challenges of virtual business development, how to keep our staff connected, reopening best practices, staff morale, and our own personal wellbeing under the constant pressure of leadership during a time of crisis. We let our guard down, laugh a little, and have developed a trusting and supportive group who genuinely care about and promote each other’s success.

I believe that so many of us have used this time to reassess our priorities, confirm our values, and appreciate more simple things in life – like Sisterhood and trust. Thank you, ladies, for being my #FHIFavorite COVID-19 silver lining!

FHI wishes success to all our clients, colleagues, and partners.

Friendships between women, as any woman will tell you, are built of a thousand small kindnesses… swapped back and forth and over again.
—Michelle Obama

and all of us at the FHI team

Please share your feedback and your favorite COVID-19 silver linings to Michaela Phonkhoumphon at mphonkhoumphon@fhiplan.com.