Susan Davis is CEO of Susan Davis International, one of the US’ premier communications and pubic affairs firms. Ms Davis conceived of and chaired the historic US-Ireland Business Summit, bringing senior government, industry and academic executives from Ireland, Northern Ireland and the US to further trade ad collaboration in IT and Biotechnology. Her work resulted in the establishment of the groundbreaking US-Ireland R&D Partnership. Ms Davis is also on the boards of many organisations and is very closely linked with the Washington Ireland Program.

 

I had just graduated from college and I was hired as special assistant to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport.

 

After a few years working in US government positions and was hired for a national Presidential campaign, I had started my own business by 1975 and that’s what I’ve been doing since.

 

It wasn’t my decision. I was recruited into the industry by the Dean of the School of Communications in the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

 

I have two. One was my aunt Helen, who was a schoolteacher until she was 75. She convinced me that I could do what I wanted to do, when I wanted; she taught me to be engaged in the world. In a town of 2,500 people, that was a pretty big leap to make.

 

The second, who I wouldn’t have said was influential in my life until a few years ago, is my Mother. From her, I gained enormous wisdom and a keen understanding of the world. She taught me ‘personal diplomacy’.

 

Independence, easy.

 

The day I started my own business, although it certainly didn’t seem like that at the time.

 

I think that anyone can be a leader, but I think that any good leader grows into their position overtime through experience. By learning from experience and extracting the positive aspects of leadership, you then become a great leader.

 

No question about it. Women today have to work even harder, it hasn’t gotten easier. We are still not fully accepted in the workforce, cultures have not fully adapted to this shift.

 

 

We do. The bar keeps getting raised higher. It’s no longer the case that women should be working, it’s we could be doing better, so you still have to prove yourself. There are more than 50% women in this world, but nowhere near that amount are in positions of leadership.

 

My advice would be to always be true to your passion. Never allow yourself to take a position or path other than where you can give your all and be passionate about it.