119. Episode #60: LIVE with Camille Burns of Women Presidents' Organization

We are live. Camille Burns, welcome, welcome. How are you?

I am doing well. Very happy to be here with you, Annette. Always love the opportunity to talk to you.

It's so fun every single time, hands down, whether we pre-COVID meet in the gym before a conference, like, I am like, oh, that's what you look like with your hair up. Oh, that's what you look like. Or just over Zoom, which it's been recently. But we're joined today by Camille Burns. She is the CEO of the Women's Presidents Organization, a rock Star Global Network of women business owners that meet monthly in the roundtable peer advisory groups. And so many exciting things happen. Camille joined us back in October of 2020, so we're going to hear lots of great updates of how the organization has evolved, how the business owners in the organization have evolved. And I encourage everybody out there, we are live on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Comment, ask questions. StreamYard lets me see most of them, but let us know that you're here and say hello. So Camille, tell us, tell us the latest and greatest. What are some wins? What are some updates on your end?

Sure, some wins. Well, first of all, I'm glad you said October because I was trying to remember when was the last time we spoke and where were we in the process of 2020. But, you know, I feel like there's been a lot of wins. I feel like, you know, we're in a really good place. I feel like women business owners, a lot of our community are doing really well. You know, I think one big win for us is that the feedback of WPO and what it's meant to the members has been really, really positive. Our members have expressed feeling really supported and really helped through the pandemic and just navigating all of that. We recently did a survey of our membership and 87% of our members said that the WPO helped them navigate the challenges of the pandemic. So to me, that was like a huge win, made me just absolutely really thrilled to hear that and just how women were coming together and helping each other navigate all the challenges. And, you know, also looking at what's happened to women business owners over the last year and a half and seeing how our community has done.

Right.

You may have seen the, the Cherie Blair Foundation came out with some data earlier in the year. And one of the statistics was that 83% of women-owned businesses said that the pandemic really impacted them and their business negatively. And whereas our members, that's about 40%. So, you know, feeling really, really positive about what the organization did and how our members came together to, to really help each other and get through, you know, such a crazy year and a half.

Right. I wonder if that's based because on revenues, because WPO members are typically $2 million and above. So I wonder if the revenue size had something to do with it or the tenure of their business being around or what it was. I know that it had so much to do with being surrounded and feeling supported by the WPO. That was huge.

And I think revenue.

I do think revenue. I can't tell who you are though. I'm sorry. Hello, hello. Who's all chiming in? You can only do it for a bit. Excited to be here. Hello. It's a Facebook user. Sorry about that.

Oh, no, no, no problem. No problem. But yeah, I think the revenue, I think the tenure of business probably helped. And, you know, like, like most businesses, the WPO members impacted, it was really sector-based. So, you know, so much of that had to do with, with the industries that, you know, the obvious ones that were impacted. You know, another thing in that that I've really seen, and I'm wondering if you've seen this as well, is a real shift of focusing on employees. I, I feel like our members, there's just— not that they weren't focusing on employees because they always were, but just this real focus on what can they do for their teams, you know, restructuring benefit plans, thinking about flex time, thinking about going back to work and how that's going to impact the employees and what do the employees want. And, you know, this is another big win for me, I think, because, you know, you know, we have about 2,000 members in the WPO, but they employ a lot of people. They employ 150,000 people around the globe.

Wow.

I love seeing that shift. You may be seeing that. That may just be a shift in business as well. Um, so I'm curious a little what, what you're seeing, and if you're seeing the, the same.

Oh, I would definitely agree. You know, there's been so much talk about what your employee package looks like, and because right now talent is high demand, right?

Yeah.

So it's— and there are so many ways to, as a small business, have an aggressive, uh, recruiting package and benefits package. You know, from long-term and short-term to 401(k) with a match and all of these different things. So yeah, I was definitely seeing the same thing. And not only that, but a lot of additional things like wellness focused in and wellness, just either gym memberships or, you know, a lot of different like repositioning of the auto expense to more so of a gym wellness kind of addition. So yeah. So great, awesome.

Yeah, and I, you know, I think that with this war on talent that's happening, um, you know, I, I think that employees are really looking for companies they identify with and that they share values with. And I think one thing women have for them is that they bring their whole self to their business, right? And so I think, uh, I see just employees wanting to connect with an organization more than just wanting a job, which I think is also just a really, really great thing.

That's right. I say it all the time, and I'm sure you've heard me say it. We all do life, right? Yeah. Yeah. You know, if we were hiding behind the Zoom calls before, you know, nobody was hiding anymore. Kids and dogs and pajamas and whatever. Yeah.

I may have a cat leap behind me.

That is life. Right.

Just ignore if you see that.

That's awesome. So you have so many different members globally in various different industries. And one of the things we like to do here for our audience on the live show is give any kind of industry updates or trends that we're seeing. So is there anything that you've noticed beyond the benefits and, you know, the employee talent challenge, the talent challenges?

Um, I think a lot of our members, the industries are pretty typical of what's happening in industries in general. I am seeing that members that were in industries that were really impacted you know, trade shows and all sorts of events and travel, they're really picking up and feeling much more positive. I think there's an optimistic outlook on 2020, the rest of 2021, and going into 2022, even next year. So that's kind of, that's what we're seeing. I think in, in our industry as a nonprofit, as a membership organization, peer advisory organization, I think that I've seen a shift in our industry as well, just in that people are looking for community constantly. And I think the pandemic really made us all realize how much we need each other and how much being part of a community matters. And so being a community, I've seen more interest and, and just more people looking and reaching out and trying to find where is their community and, and what can they belong to, to feel that kind of connection and, and have those kind of safe relationships and business relationships and all of that.

So, so true. So true. So what kind of growth opportunities are we looking at? What's on the horizon for the WPO and for you?

Well, I think, first of all, our conference is coming up and I'm just really excited about that because it's going to be in person. And I think I'm really excited to be in person. I know a lot of other people are. We'll have a virtual component, but really the core of it is going to be getting together together in Nashville in October and, and having that opportunity, that energy of bringing, you know, 700, 800 women business owners, successful business owners, into one room. Um, so I'm looking forward to that. Uh, I think that I see a tremendous amount of opportunity right now for organizations like WPO and for women business owners. Um, I think that there's a real push to support women, and I think that women should be taking advantage of that opportunity and taking advantage of being a woman and the power that they bring as a woman and as a woman business owner. And, uh, I, I think there's just a lot of opportunities. There's a lot of corporations that want to support women. There's, um, we're getting— I'm having more corporations reach out to us than I have in the past, just randomly finding me on LinkedIn or, you know, how can we support women. And that's something that's that's new. So I think for women in general, what I, you know, if you're out there, you're a woman business owner, take advantage of being a woman business owner. Get those women-owned logos and do all the things you need to do because I think now's the time.

That's right. Yeah. And the Women Business Enterprise National Council is a great, great sister organization. Yeah. Yeah.

We've been connected and they certify women-owned businesses. We Connect International certifies women-owned businesses. Outside of the United States. But yeah, I think, I think it's, you know, strike while the iron is hot. There's a lot of enthusiasm around women, and I, I think hopefully women business owners are taking advantage of that. I know you are.

Well, you know, it's interesting, I work with men and women and, and coach them, and then on the timber industries, you know, all of our corporate clients, it's, it's, it's— I think there's so much opportunity out there for those that are asking and presenting and really showing up and ready. And, and if you are in the position, especially women, to see some of the different opportunities that are out there on the horizon, it's just— you're gonna find it. You're gonna find it. And if you don't find it, you're gonna find somebody that's willing to help, right?

Yeah, I would 100% agree.

So, okay, so the conference, is that open to anybody?

Or do you have to be open to women business owners that qualify for WPO membership? So that is a minimum revenue of $1 million if you're service-based or $2 million if you're product-based. And then the majority of attendees will be our members. Um, you know, I, I will say that we may cut registration off this year because there's a tremendous amount of enthusiasm, and with COVID you know, you can't quite pack rooms the way that we may have in the past. But, you know, so if you qualify, you can definitely come to the conference. And then there are the additional fees if someone decided to join would be put toward their membership dues, that fee on top of the membership registration fee.

Oh, that's great to know. That's great to know. I have one new member, maybe two who are already getting— they're coming. So it's exciting.

Oh, great.

Really good stuff. I've been a member of the WPO since 2013. And in 2017, I stepped up to be a chapter chair. So I've seen it through both the membership standpoint and the chapter chair standpoint, and I couldn't speak more highly of this organization. And when you think about that many women business owners in one room, especially post-COVID, the dance party, honestly, it's going to be awesome. I can already feel the energy. It's going to be so fun and so great.

I can't wait.

And I've never been to Nashville. It's going to be great.

Yeah, Nashville is great. I think it's going to, I think it's going to be a ton of fun, a lot of music sort of throughout. You know, just, just taking advantage of all the talent. There's so much talent in Nashville.

That's fun, that's fun. And I want, um, to make sure we mention the Fastest 50. Yes, a little bit about that.

Yeah, sure. So we do every year, um, a list of the 50 fastest growing women-owned led companies, and it's basically a combination of percent growth and actual growth. And the applications are now out You can find the application on our website, which is womenpresidentsorg.com. But we're partnering with JPMorgan Chase. So it's really honoring these women who over the last 5 years have grown significantly. The women on this list are incredible and get a ton of great publicity from being on the list. But you're looking at businesses that grew. You can't even believe how fast. When sometimes when I think about how fast they grew, I think, how do you even manage that?

Right.

It's almost terrifying, but it's a, it's a really incredible list. And I would encourage anyone who has grown over the last 5 years to apply because it's a really great opportunity. You're featured at the conference, but then also sort of having that partnership with Chase, um, really, really helps with— it's just great visibility and a great opportunity for women to get recognized for growing their companies. And also, you know, it's important for us to show how many women are growing really fast. And in all sorts of industries and, you know, help, help, uh, dispel some of the myths or the stereotypes around women-owned businesses.

Exactly. I love it. I love it. All right, now we get to turn the tables, Camille. You get to ask me a question. I have no idea what you're gonna ask. Let's go for it.

Okay, I want to ask you, as a woman business owner, female entrepreneur with multiple businesses, you know, you talked a little bit about the opportunities I want to know what you think are the biggest challenges for women entrepreneurs and, uh, women business owners right now.

Okay, so good, I love it. Um, the first thing that comes to mind honestly is that we are being the operator and not the owner. We're holding on to things and doing things in our business like too long, right? And it's that that fear of failure, but it's also that fear of success. I see fear of success more in women than I do see fear of failure. I see fear of failure more in men than I do in women. So with women, I think that it's that, well, what if I do get too busy and I don't have enough time for life and family and kids and home and everything, right? Because they know that they can do it and they They're going to rock it, right? So, so I honestly think that one of the biggest challenges there is just holding on and doing too much in your business. You have to do everything in your business, you know, as you're growing and new level, new devil, you're going to have a new set of things and a new set of things as you're seeing in your role as it's evolving, right? But in order to, to keep on growing and scaling and achieve that that freedom and flexibility that you really started the business with in mind, you know, making sure you are hiring the right people, giving them autonomy, accountability, and ownership, and then keep on doing what you do best, and that is steering the ship and moving it forward.

And, you know, I'll say, Annette, I, moving from a COO executive VP role into CEO about a year and a half ago or a little bit more. I realize at this point me doing work hurts everybody else. Not that I don't do work, but getting me in the weeds causes problems for everybody else. I bottleneck everything. Everybody is better served if I am working on the business and not in it. And I think that's so true.

So true. It's so true. I mean, I've been kicked out of my business many times. I can do that. I can do that.

Just let us handle this.

But that's, that's like, that's exactly what you went through from Chief Operating Officer to CEO. And it's like, you need to stay focused on where, where are you going and what obstacles are ahead, what opportunities are ahead. And right now for your organization, the opportunities honestly are like endless. It's so great.

Yeah, I think so. I think so.

Well, good. Well, I always love being with you. I cannot wait to give you a big hug.

I know, I can't wait to I can't wait to see you in Nashville. And just, you know, I love watching your continued success. You're just, you're just an incredible inspiration. You're an incredible business owner. And I just, I hope the world realizes that.

Oh, you're so sweet. Thank you for that. And thanks for being here, Camille. I'll drop the episode in the show notes. So if you want to hear more about Camille's journey and story, you can check out the podcast back in October and check out the WPO, the Women Presidents org.com. We'll drop that link. All right, bye everybody.