Tamiko Stanley
Senior Executive Manager, Corporate Human Resources US & Canada
FedEx, Genco
20 Years in Business and Human Resources 16 Years working with Affirmative-Action/ EEO and Diversity and Inclusion
OW: What has been your greatest inspiration?
TS: I find inspiration to succeed in so many things. I am inspired by making loved ones proud, learning from and sharing with other women, and being an inspiration to young girls that will one day follow in our footsteps. One of my greatest inspirations has been my desire to effect change and help others. I have always wanted to be honest with myself about what motivates me to be my best. In business and in building a career, one has to be honest about what motivates them. Some are motivated by money and compensation symbolizing the value of their contributions, some are motivated by recognition and public or formal praise, and others similar to myself are motivated by the opportunity to be able to see on a daily basis the impact of their work and the change or progress that those efforts bring.
I am inspired by change, and my ability to impact it. My ability to improve a situation to leave it better than the way I found it truly drives my success and is a daily inspiration for me.
OW: When did you first become aware of your purpose?
TS: I am pretty certain that I became aware of my purpose as a young woman. I would often question my instant reaction to al- ways support, protect, and encourage the “underdog” and to fight for causes that helped people who were typically over- looked. I believe it’s my purpose to be a good role model and to always leverage my position to impact change, to impact peo- ple in a positive way, and to help as many people as possible who may need access to an opportunity.
OW: What was the best thing that you have ever done, which got you where you are today?
TS: Some of the best things I have done mostly happened by taking a leap of faith. I made some of the best decisions for my career by following my instincts even under uncertain and sometimes frightening circumstances and often with the potential of standing alone. It is important to nd the courage to make the di cult decisions in pursuit or support of things that are right and positive. One has to learn to trust one- self. Being bold in the interest of truth and fairness has earned me the kind of respect and recognition that helped me develop as a leader and an established professional brand, which is valued by successful companies.
OW: What would you tell your younger self?
TS: I would tell my younger self that it is okay to strive for excellence and that drive is nothing to be ashamed of. I would tell myself that talent and the desire to learn, grow, and develop are not attributes to hide or suppress. Not to “dumb myself down” to increase the comfort of an environment, or fit in with the masses. To know that while you certainly do not know everything, it is okay to show that you do have something valuable to contribute, and sharing it could encourage and empower someone else. I would tell my younger self to stay fearless and assure her that it is okay to leap even though you cannot see the net.
