Lara Palmer is a strong believer in breaking down walls in the workplace that keep information and teams separate. She is the first female senior director of enterprise applications at Rack Room Shoes and in her six years at the retail chain has helped orchestrate a cultural change that encourages cross-team collaboration.
“When I first joined this team, the technology areas were siloed, especially when it came to new project work and support of existing production systems,” she said. “Now team members feel more empowered to better engage with cross-functional resources and even manage project team members who do not directly report to them.
Palmer believes that individuals can also benefit from taking a similar approach in their careers. She recommends that women looking to move up within a company should strengthen their communication skills, especially when it comes to engaging other business areas. “You need to understand their lingo, their acronyms,” she explained. “One way to grow in this area is to volunteer to work within different areas of the organization.”
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Palmer added that project management positions are an excellent way to hone the skillsets that are vital for future leadership roles. “They can allow you another opportunity to lead cross-functional project initiatives and grow your communication skills,” she said. And in her own career, Palmer has leaned on a range of mentors from within her field and teams, as well as outside friends and acquaintances. “Having multiple mentors can help you achieve different goals including career and personal goals,” she said.
A version of this article appeared in the June 3 print issue of FN, as part of the “Women Who Rock” special section. On June 5, FN and Two Ten Footwear Foundation honored these women at a live event in New York City.
