The President/CEO of the Executive Women’s Success Institute (EXWSI), Madeline Ann Lewis is a 22-year Army veteran, TEDx speaker, best-selling author, creator of the online course “Crack The Career Code: Unlock The Amazing Power Within To Lead With Confidence, Charisma, and Credibility,” host of the Success 4 Women radio/TV show, career strategist, trainer, and business consultant. She thinks it’s important to take time for yourself (i.e., keeping her mind, body, and soul fit). This enables her to maintain concentration and reduces her anxiety about unforeseen happenings. She takes sure to appreciate what she has been able to do in her life and in business and to express gratitude for it.
Below are highlights of the interview between World’s Leaders and Madeline Ann Lewis:
Describe your background and what did you do before you started/joined the company?
I have over 20+ years of professional experience in city government, the federal government, and the U.S. military (retiring after reaching the rank of Sergeant Major). I hold a Bachelor’s degree, a Master’s degree, and a Doctorate degree. I have certifications in several areas to enhance my skills and credentials. Before starting my business, I was like most women who wanted to move up the career ladder. I had a successful career—in the challenging, male-dominated fields of government and the military. I can also tell you, there were no roadmaps back in the 80s and 90s to help women excel. And trust me when I tell you, I struggled for a while. I know what it’s like to get good performance reviews, take class after class, work long hours, be a team player, and still not get recognized for my talents and abilities.
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
I have always had a passion for helping others in any way I could, especially women. The defining moment behind me starting the EXWSI was seeing how hard it was for women to advance in their careers. I began to realize that women were coming to me for advice on many things, such as reviewing their resumes, advice on what they should do next to move their careers along, helping them get through an interview, and mentoring. I also noticed that there were not a lot of women helping each other to move up the career ladder. Starting my own company to provide mentoring, coaching, and personal and professional development to women who needed and desired to advance in their careers or start their own businesses gave me the opportunity to help more women and to be able to reach out through a larger medium. My motto is to, “Help Women Accelerate The Path To Success.”
What has made you successful? What do you value?
I realize success means different things to different people. For me, success is whatever I believe it takes for me to be successful. In other words, I must be able to articulate, I must have a compelling message, and I must be able to share it with the people I serve or speak to, and I must make sure that I can invoke change in the lives of the people that I meet and serve. I will never forget something one of my coaches said to me which was, “Be a problem solver. As a problem solver, you become a key contributor and someone that will be viewed by others as a successful part of the overall machinery. And you will get noticed!” But in all the success, the one thing I value over all is integrity. No matter what is happening, no matter how much money may be involved, I will not compromise my integrity. Because at the end of the day, that’s the ruling factor in how I run my business.
Which are the major services of the company and how do the company get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
The major services are coaching, training, and mentoring (primarily women and female veterans) in their career progression or business entrepreneurship. We get ahead of the competition by staying abreast of the industry and studying our competition, making sure we have a thorough knowledge of what the client is trying to accomplish, following up with our clients on a regular basis, knowing how to pivot when necessary, and staying focused on our long-term goals. The value-added services help our clients navigate around the usual obstacles and challenges they may encounter as women in the workplace or in business.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
The most important aspect of the company’s culture is making sure everyone understands and is committed to the values set in place. As the CEO of EXWSI, I am committed to providing my clients with excellence. The core values of EXWSI are Integrity, Perseverance, Professionalism, and Commitment. Everyone I bring on board must understand our core values and be committed to following each one, no exceptions. I will build this culture by making sure every employee or contractor knows they are appreciated, and their voices will be heard. When I say I have an open-door policy, I practice just that.
What is the significance of innovative ideas in the company?
The significance of innovative ideas in the company is to keep everyone on their toes. It is also to keep the company relevant, able to adapt and pivot through unforeseen circumstances. And finally, it can give you an advantage over your competition by coming up with unique products and services.
Give us your opinion on; do organizations rely heavily on individual heroics or team processes?
I believe that leaders should teach others to look for opportunity in adversity. In my organization, I do not rely on individual heroics because I prefer everyone to function as a team. Everyone that I bring on board must learn how we operate, understand and be in line with the mission of EXWSI.
What are your responsibilities as the founder and CEO of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
As the Founder/CEO of the company, my responsibilities are many. For one, as founder, I started and launched the company in 2013. I am the name and face of the company. I oversee but do not micromanage the day-to-day operations of the company. And my vision is what keeps the company moving forward to reach a million plus women to help them succeed and become the leaders they are meant to be. The happiest part of my daily routine is meeting with my assistants and leaders to go over the agenda for the day and to get any input, ideas, or plans they may have for the company.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
First, I would tell them to wake up early to have time for themselves before they start the business day. Exercise, meditate, read affirmations, read spiritual materials, all of which will get your mind clear and ready for the day ahead. Second, never blame someone else for your mistake or decision that may not have gone as planned. “Success is,” as Winston Churchill so aptly stated, “going from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.” All leaders make mistakes, and all decisions have downsides. So, never second-guess yourself and always admit your error.
