In celebration of Women’s History Month, we sat down with Katie Bouton, President of Diversified Search Group, to learn more about a leader who inspires her, impactful advice from a mentor, and what Women’s History Month means to her. Read her inspirational answers below:
Tell us about a woman who inspires you and why?
Stacey Abrams inspires me because she has managed to be a writer, an activist, a legislator, and so much more. She was undeterred by loss and found a huge way to make true impact in the world. I feel very grateful to her and have learned a lot from watching her lead.
What do you wish you could tell your younger self?
There is no “right” answer to most big decisions. There is just the next step.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Literally, every experience, especially the hard ones, is an opportunity to grow as a professional. You never know how some seemingly random project you took on at work can be invaluable down the road.
What advice would you give to women in your field?
Advocate for yourself. Don’t forget to look around and see who you can mentor. Ask yourself how you can help other women advance.
What advice did you receive from a mentor during your career?
A mentor once said to me, “There will be 100 little fires that come at you every day. You can’t put them all out. Focus on the themes you see in those fires and build your strategy and decisions around that.” It was great advice because as a leader, you can get consumed with the 100 little fires and miss the big one that really needs your attention.”
What does Women’s History Month mean to you?
I love learning about all the incredible women that have come before me. Women’s History Month reminds me that we are all on the journey to inspire someone, and we can’t forget that! It is important for everyone to see and be reminded of what is possible for women.