Leadership rarely follows a straight line. Sometimes an unexpected opportunity changes the course of a career. Sometimes growth comes from a mentor who sees potential before you see it yourself. And sometimes leadership means recognizing when it is time to make a change.

Those themes emerged throughout the third annual InfluenceHER Summit, hosted by First Horizon Bank’s Women of Influence committee. The women’s summit focused on empowering women financially, professionally and personally through candid conversations with leaders in athletics, banking, business, and the nonprofit community.

The day was organized around three themes: The Athlete’s Playbook: Lessons from Tennessee Athletics; The Financial Playbook: Lessons from First Horizon; and The Community Playbook: Lessons from Nonprofit Leaders and C-Suite Women.

Lessons from Lady Vol coaches

WVLT’s Brittany Tarwater moderated the Athlete’s Playbook, featuring Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kim Caldwell and softball head coach Karen Weekly.

Both coaches shared the career journeys that ultimately brought them to the University of Tennessee — and the surprise they felt when the opportunity arose.

Caldwell recalled receiving the call about the Tennessee job on April Fool’s Day and initially wondering whether it was a joke.

Weekly and her husband, Ralph, were coaching at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga when the opportunity to come to Knoxville arose. They had planned to tell legendary Tennessee women’s athletics leaders Joan Cronan and Pat Summitt how much they loved their jobs at UTC. Instead, they found it nearly impossible to turn down the opportunity to coach at an institution with such a strong commitment to women’s athletics.

Just 10 minutes after the Weeklys accepted the position, Summitt called and offered to help.

“We took Pat up on her offer,” Weekly said. “Every single recruit we brought in, Pat met with them. It wasn’t just for a picture and a handshake. She would spend 30 or 40 minutes with some recruits. She was so giving and so willing to help everyone succeed.

“I wish my players today had the opportunity to know her and be influenced by her.”

Pellissippi State’s Hayley Bisacre with Coach Karen Weekly

Taking control of your financial playbook

The Financial Playbook, led by First Horizon’s Women of Influence committee, turned the conversation toward practical steps women can take to strengthen their financial futures.

Jaime Bagwell, vice president of commercial banking at First Horizon, reminded attendees to focus on the financial decisions within their control.

“There are so many things in life we can’t control, from the markets to the headlines,” Bagwell said. “But there are things we can control, including our spending, paying down debt, estate planning, and investments. Take stock of your life, work at your own pace, and make a plan.”

The committee also encouraged women to use life moments as openings for conversations that can otherwise be difficult to start, particularly discussions about estate planning with parents or spouses.

A surgery or health event — or even hearing about the experience of a friend or family member — can provide a natural opportunity to ask important questions and begin planning before a crisis makes those conversations necessary.

From managing people to developing them

The summit concluded with The Community Playbook, featuring nonprofit and C-suite leaders discussing an important transition in leadership: moving from directing people to developing them.

As careers progress from individual contributor to manager to leader, the job changes. Effective leaders set a clear direction, help team members understand their purpose and then give them enough room to make decisions, solve problems, and grow.

Chrystal Brown, CEO of United Way of Greater Knoxville, reflected on the people who helped prepare her for leadership by trusting her with opportunities before she necessarily felt ready for them.

“In every organization I’ve been part of, there has been someone I was learning from,” Brown said. “Often, it was a mentor or a boss who gave me a challenge I didn’t think I was ready for but trusted me to figure it out. Those opportunities stretched my skill set and helped me grow.”

Panel members: Beth Ardoin, Chrystal Armstrong Brown, Katie Penny, Jennifer Podhajsky and
Jennifer Reynolds moderated by Sophia Kearney-Lederman

Perhaps one of the most interesting themes of the day crossed all three playbooks: resilience doesn’t always mean staying the course.

Athletes are taught not to quit. Even when things aren’t going well, they finish the season. Life and careers, however, don’t come with seasons so clearly defined.

Sometimes resilience means persevering through difficulty. Other times, it means recognizing that a season has ended and having the confidence to make a change.

Knowing the difference may be one of leadership’s most important lessons.

First Horizon launched Women of Influence in 2017 as an initiative to empower women financially, professionally and personally through year-round programming, networking opportunities and educational forums. InfluenceHER has become the committee’s signature event, bringing women together to learn from leaders across a variety of fields while building connections with one another.

First Horizon Bank is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to helping our clients, communities and associates unlock their full potential with capital and counsel. It’s the powerful tools you need with the personal service you deserve. Contact First Horizon for all your banking needs.

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