Women leaders share vision of Excellence Published Sept. 23, 2009 By Maj. Robert Couse-Baker 349th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Community and military leaders found common ground and inspiration in conversations during the Women's Leadership Forum, Sept. 10. The roundtable discussion by 85 women focused on creating organizational cultures of excellence and developing subordinates. Brig. Gen. Barbara Faulkenberry, commander, 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., hosted the event at the Sacramento State Alumni Center. She opened the discussion by stressing the critical importance of creating a culture of excellence within one's organization. "Ingenuity and innovation makes money in the business world and saves lives in the military," General Faulkenberry said. The general went on to draw the connection between excellence and the need to cultivate the subordinates who can create it. Lynn Meland, President of EM-Assist, a nationwide environmental management and training firm based in Folsom, Calif., told of the concrete success of wholeheartedly embracing mentoring. "You can plot the growth curve of our company to the progress of the mentoring we have received," she said. The process of employee development needs to be systematic and deliberate, just as you would approach any other aspect of your business, Ms. Meland said. Brig. Gen. Maryanne Miller, commander, 349th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, shared her experience in both military and civilian leadership roles. She emphasized subordinate development as an integral part of successful organizational culture. "Mentoring is about investing. When you mentor your people, you invest in the future of your organization," General Miller said. Brig. Gen. Margaret Woodward, vice commander, 18th Air Force, Scott AFB, Ill., emphasized that mentoring is not for those perceived as future CEOs and commanders, but for everyone in the organization. She recalled a real-life story, of how few Airmen remember their first wing commander, but all remember their first supervisor. "Leaders are found at every single level of an organization," said General Woodward, stressing the importance of developing young, first-line supervisors. The mentorship process involves both giving and receiving, General Faulkenberry told the forum. "Each of you should strive to be a mentor and a mentee," she said. General Faulkenberry said leaders must continue to develop their own skills, through networking and listening to diverse range of ideas. Michelle Wong, President and CEO of Synergex International Corporation, of Gold River, Calif., spoke of the importance of developing one's own leadership strengths, and how for a woman, this process might be different than for the men who traditionally occupied positions of leadership. "You don't have to act like a guy to be a good, strong leader," she said. Women's Leadership Forum was part of Air Force Week Sacramento, a series of events raising awareness of Air Force operations, capabilities and contributions to the joint fight, as well as a great opportunity to thank the Sacramento community for its unwavering support of America's armed services. Air Force Week Sacramento continues through Sept. 13, culminating with the California Capital Air Show highlighting the Air Force Thunderbirds, the Air Force's premier aerial demonstration team, performing both days of the weekend. For more information on Air Force Week events, visit the Air Force Week Sacramento Web site at www.airforceweek.af.mil/sacramento.