WOMEN AT
24
THE TOP
Rhoda Olsen
CEO, Great Clips
How has your life experience
made you the leader you are today? I believe it is one of the most
Has mentorship made a difference in your professional and
personal life? Mentorship is one of
important contributors to who you are
and how you lead. Growing up poor
with an alcoholic father, a mother
who battled depression, and six siblings contributed to who I am. We
relied on one another as siblings, and
we worked hard to please our parents
and not create any more tension. We
became resilient, hard workers who
knew we wanted to be in a different
place in our lives. I believe I am more
compassionate and care more deeply
for others because of my background.
I also have a greater appreciation and
understanding of people’s lives and
how difficult they can be.
those interesting words. I don’t think
I have had a formal mentor, but rather
many individuals who have provided
meaningful feedback and pushed my
growth. I think if you are open and listen there are so many things that have
a “mentoring” impact. My brother Ray
is at the top of the list. His confidence
in me and pushing me made a huge
difference in my success. Jack Sell,
the chair of my CEO group, Vistage,
has clearly been an ongoing “mentor”
and contributed to my business and
personal success. My sisters (four of
them) have always been “mentors” to
one another. And I learn from many
of our franchisees, managers, and stylists. I believe all of them have had an
impact on my style and in some ways
filled that “mentor” role.
Role models? My mother, who al-
ways worked hard and had an entrepreneurial spirit, was a great role
model. She never gave up and she kept
trying to make her life better. When
she became a Great Clips franchisee,
she was able to change her life and
realize her dream of becoming a successful business owner.
SYSTEM REVENUE: Just over $1 billion
NO. OF UNITS: 3,520
PUBLIC OR PRIVATE: Private
Female leaders you admire: Marilyn
GROWTH PLANS: Open 250–275 units
annually; continue same-salon sales growth
at 3–5%
Carlson Nelson is incredible, and she
has used her strength as a woman to
build a strong, dynamic organization.
FOUNDED: 1982
BEGAN FRANCHISING: 1983
Management gurus or books that
have deeply affected you: I think
some of the core business books are
still incredibly meaningful. I would
include Jim Collins, Good to Great
and How the Mighty Fall, and Michael
Treacy, The Discipline of Market Leaders and Double-Digit Growth. The core
messages and key strategies are still
as relevant today as they were when
these books were written. I also love
Daniel Pink and his incredibly clear,
simple, meaningful messages. A Whole
New Mind and Drive are great books
to look at the power of human nature
and the things that are most important in work and life. His focus on
autonomy, mastery and purpose resonates with my beliefs and focus on the
people side of the business. Frances
Frei’s book, Uncommon Service, has
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 25-plus
YEARS IN FRANCHISING: 25-plus
INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS: 113 in
Canada
become a guide for our organization.
It clearly addresses some of the challenges in a customer-focused franchise
organization and provides key direction. She clearly says you have to be
bad at some things to be good at others. Often in a franchise organization
there is a belief you need to be more
things to more customers. Her compelling experience and examples help
position a more single-minded focus
in a realistic way. And I love Marilyn
Carlson Nelson’s book, How We Lead
Matters. Her focus on emotional connection and caring deeply at the core
of a business is refreshing.
Advice for young female CEO aspirants: Be open to feedback. Accept
that women do lead differently and respond differently. Learn to listen and
be non-defensive. Become incredibly
curious and learn to ask questions instead of having all the answers. Take
care of yourself and your own health
to assure that you can become a strong
leader. Be physically active, work out
aggressively to build confidence and
become more resilient and healthy. Always say “What can I do differently?”
rather than thinking others need to do
something differently.
Leadership style: Focused, disci-
plined, caring, energetic, emotional,
connected.
Was becoming CEO of an organization par B