“I just try to be who I am,” Kerry Chandler said last month at a panel featuring three female executives talking about how they managed and excelled in their careers at the Baltimore Business Journal’s annual “Enterprising Women” event.
Chandler, who also held top HR jobs at Christie’s International and the National Basketball Association, added that “If you find you’re editing yourself too much, it’s a sign.”
Chandler also noted the importance of going “out of your comfort zone,” something she did when she moved solo to Hong Kong to take a job with Disney. But, as a woman of color, she acknowledges there are challenges with taking on executive responsibilities. “I feel a huge responsibility as a woman and as a black woman,” she said. “It’s not always the easiest thing to do. Sheer work ethic is a key--it’s not always easy. That’s where passion for what you do matters.”