LAVIDGE COO Wins Top C-Suite Award

LAVIDGE COO Wins Top C-Suite Award

C-Suite Awards COO Winner Alicia Wadas, Lavidge

Alicia Wadas

Company: LAVIDGE

Title: Chief Operating Officer

Years in position: 14 years with Lavidge, 11 in the current role

How did you come into your role? As a former entrepreneur equipped with leadership expertise ranging from new business to operations, innovation and management, I initially joined Lavidge to head up and grow the public relations department. Three years later, I was promoted to COO to oversee and grow all service areas, maintain and enhance our special culture.

Who was your mentor? My biggest mentor has always been my father, Virgil Ralph Smith of Lillydale, Tennessee. He was the only one of 11 siblings to earn a college degree after serving in the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant during World War II. His strong work ethic was a characteristic he bestowed on me even as a child. My father had high ambitions for me because he believed in my strengths. This has helped guide me throughout my career.

What is the most important thing about being a C-Suite leader? Integrity.

What is the best thing about being a C-Suite leader? The satisfaction that comes from helping others fulfill their career goals and directly impacting the success of our business that provides the community with jobs and service.

What is the toughest part of your job? While you need to constantly adapt to a fast-changing corporate and external environment and help the business innovate and grow, sometimes the financial parameters can impact staff.

How would you describe your leadership style? I guide more than dictate. I’m direct, yet kind. You always know where I stand.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in business, and what can we learn from it? I was unprepared for a meeting that was pivotal in my company’s growth. Fortunately, this mistake happened in my 20s so I learned early on how crucially important it is to always be prepared, know your field and do your research.

When you’re hiring, what’s the most important quality you’re looking for? Confidence. From an intern to C-Suite level, a candidate must have the attitude of confidence in their ability to do the job.

Was your goal always to make it to the C-Suite? Yes, becoming a C-level executive has been a lifelong goal. I’ve always pushed myself to take on and tackle new challenges, be a strong leader, earn the respect of others and make a big difference to a company.

What is the most challenging thing in making the transition to the C-Suite? Moving from a peer to a boss and then coaching high performers. I also had to design and define my role as previously, there was no one in the COO position. I learned to adapt quickly.

What about your current job surprised you the most? Learning that I enjoyed stepping out of doing day-to-day, hands-on advising of a client’s business, to directing my value more to coaching others, handling issues and ensuring alignment with established plans and goals of the agency.

What about your current job would surprise other people the most? The variety and scale of decisions require daily and constant triage of activities that may affect short- or long-term results. The role means not dictating how people do their jobs and what needs to be done but facilitating and bringing people together.

How do you give back to the community? I contribute to the business community through two organizations. As a strong supporter of the First Amendment, I serve as a director of the board for Independent Newsmedia Inc. I am also the immediate past-president of Intermarket Agency Network, a private group of independently owned marketing agencies across the country.

My contributions to the community at large revolve around my passion for safety. I founded Safely in Mothers Arms, an organization I led for 17 years to help women learn how to protect themselves and their families from human assault. In 2008, after graduating from the FBI Citizens Academy, I joined the FBI Phoenix Citizens Academy Alumni Association to further the FBI’s mission of community outreach. In 2016, I was elected to serve on the FBI National CAAA board as a director for training and awards for 60 chapters across the country. Recently, I was honored to receive the esteemed Meritorious Service Medal during the 2018 FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association national leadership conference.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to follow in your footsteps? Ask yourself if you have natural inclination for solving complex problems, implementing solutions, and driving change — no matter how big the obstacle. And when it is, sharpen your leadership skills. Do every task with your full attention, looking for obstacles and for opportunities at every turn. Develop open and ongoing communication with all members of the C-Suite. Also aim to study a problem from every angle, ask a lot of questions, stay calm and make a decision with the greater good in mind.