Nearly 200 women — many of whom had never been to Firestone Country Club or the Bridgestone Invitational — were part of what was called the pro golf tournament’s first “Executive Women’s Day” program on Tuesday.
The event is new to the PGA Tour this year and was designed to explore what is a male-dominated event, Donna Fiedorowicz, senior vice president of tournament activation and community outreach for the tour, told the crowd. Next year, the men’s tour will have 20 such women’s events and plans are to be at all 38 tour stops by 2016, she said.
“Many of you have probably never stopped on these grounds,” she said before a morning “Power Brokers Breakfast” panel discussion.
A behind-the-scenes tour of the facilities along with lunch with Renee Powell, one of the first African-American women to play on the ladies’ pro tour, and a chance to play the North Course were also part of the day. The four-day World Golf Championships event begins Thursday on the South Course.
“We’re going to take you to places that your husbands, boyfriends and sons don’t get to go to,” Fiedorowicz said.
At the morning program, WOIO (Channel 19) news anchor Romona Robinson moderated a panel discussion about female leadership skills and the role of business and mentorship.
Virginia Albanese, president and chief executive officer of FedEx Custom Critical in Green, said her career path of 26 years began as a part-time customer service agent at a FedEx predecessor company.
Albanese said flexibility, such as filling in on a third shift, was a key to gaining responsibilities and promotions. While she said she had a lot of good mentors, she also noted there were “champions,” or people who were helpful even in her absence.
Albanese said she still has a champion in her current boss, who lets her sit in on meetings he would normally attend to meet or interact with people to further her career.
Panelist Jennifer Deutsch, executive vice president and general manager of Doner Advertising’s Cleveland office, spoke of how she incorporates being an athlete into her workplace. The daughter of an Olympic swimmer, Deutsch is a lifetime athlete and said she uses her training in the office.
She hires athletes, who are judged to have discipline and the ability to win and to work as a team. She called herself a “captain” and said she has a “question captain” who fields inquiries during job pitches and directs them to the correct person.
Another panelist was Christine Karbowiak, chief administrative officer for Bridgestone Americas Inc., the Nashville-based division of Japan-based Bridgestone.
Karbowiak described herself as a “recovering lawyer.” She went to school for journalism, but was told by one of her first mentors, a college professor, that she needed a hook or edge, and she should go to law school.
Karbowiak said: “Failure is not bad. You need to learn from your mistakes. You need to make sure not to make some mistakes over and over and over.”
During a question-and-answer session, Albanese was asked about balancing work and being a mother. Albanese, whose children are 12 and 14, said she’s fortunate to have a husband who now stays at home.
“I do take time to make quality time with my kids,” said Albanese, who tries not to work on the weekends, but admits to staying late at the office on weekdays and working year-round.
“Yeah, I’ve missed a lot of things for my children,” she said. “It’s one big puzzle. You have to keep inserting and change.
“I hate to say it, but if you want to be the CEO of a company, there’s a price you pay. A lot of women get sidelined because they want that 8 to 5, Monday through Friday job,” Albanese said.
Albanese said she and her family spend weekends camping in an RV and get away from technology, including the kids’ cell phones and her BlackBerry.
“I had kids for a reason. I want to be with my kids,” she said.
Deborah Sabo of Chagrin Falls, who attended the program, said she enjoyed hearing the different women’s backgrounds and how they had the same drive to become successful in their careers.
Sabo, a partner at Bath Twp.-based CPA firm SS&G’s Cleveland office, said it was her first time at Firestone Country Club, though she is a golfer.
She was among about 50 who played golf in the afternoon.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” she said.
Cori Booth of Burbank, a Westfield Insurance senior underwriter, said she kept low-key about her opportunity to play the famed course and get a behind-the-scenes tour from her husband, an avid golfer.
“I tried not to rub it in,” said Booth, also a first-timer to the course.
Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/blinfisher and see all her stories at www.ohio.com/betty