Dorothy Czylyski

What would you like future generations of women to know about their voice/leadership/gender equality?

You are all equal. Don’t doubt your capabilities and where you have gotten up to this point in your life and your career. Don’t compare yourself to others and especially don’t look around and count how many men are at the table! You have an education, you have experience, you have skills, you have a perspective, and therefore you have a VOICE. Don’t be afraid to say out loud what you are thinking because what you have to share is valuable. Be proud of your achievements and your successes, however small you think they may be. And whenever you achieve something and are proud of what you have accomplished, don’t hesitate to share your successes. One of the most valuable things that one of my mentors taught me very early on in my career is to “manage up”. Which means that no matter what role you are in, you create value every day and do things that you are proud of. Know that you have a voice and can speak about those achievements and make others aware of your success (don’t forget to thank others along the way). It’s good for your job satisfaction, your relationship with your boss, and ultimately for your career.

To what do you attribute your biggest career successes?

I attribute my biggest career successes to the women and men that have surrounded me in my various roles. Some of them were great supporters of my work, some became my mentors, others my advocates. FIND those people in your workplace that believe in you and give you the confidence to push yourself and deliver your best. In my first job at a healthcare advertising agency, that person was my boss – he gave me the confidence to be independent and not feel like an imposter just because I was the youngest one in the room. In my second job it was my Managing Director – she believed in my capabilities and presented me with opportunities that I would have never been able to find on my own. In later roles it was the company partners who gave me the leeway to manage teams and step out of my comfort zone. And most recently, it was the No Fixed Address Inc Founder who has followed me throughout my career and gave me the opportunity to start a healthcare division within his company because he was convinced that I would be successful based on my track record. In each case I accepted the challenges and opportunities presented to me with fervent passion and a desire to succeed. So look around the people who surround you everyday and ask yourself - Who is my greatest collaborator? Who can I count on to support me? Who can I always go to for help? Who is someone that would vouch for me? These are the people that you want to surround yourself with.

How do you maintain your own growth, learning, and development with you and those you lead?

I believe that in order to successfully grow in your career you have to have a desire for lifelong learning and truly be passionate and interested in what you are doing every single day. If it’s just a job then you’re probably in the wrong place. I subscribe to industry publications that I read with interest every time I get them and often consider bedtime or vacation reading, I participate in professional conferences and webinars because they offer me an opportunity to learn something new or different, I maintain a strong network because all of the people that I have grown up with throughout my career have grown as well, and maintaining those relationships means that I can always learn something or we can collaborate on something together that will often provide value to both sides. I actively and openly share many of my readings and learnings with my team and encourage discussion or new ways to think about something. The best part about that is that I will often find that others will have an interesting perspective or angle on this new piece of information that I didn’t think about. It makes the learning richer and more diverse, and always adds a valuable nuance. I also believe that it enriches others learning and development, and that benefits us all.

What healthy habits do you employ to maintain your mental health and wellbeing?

You always have to stop and smell the flowers. No matter at what stage of your career you are in, taking time for yourself and doing things that contribute to your wellbeing will make you happier, healthier, and ultimately allow you to be a better contributor to your team.

1. I always take vacation, and often divide up my vacation time so that I can go somewhere multiple times a year. In my entire career I have never skipped a vacation day and I don’t believe that anyone should. These are the moments you need to recharge, do something different, be in a different environment. You will come back refreshed and ready to dive back in.

2. I find time to be with my family everyday. I eat meals with my family around the table every single day. Even in an exceptionally busy day, work can wait that one hour, and you can always come back to it if needed. In my early days at the agency I would run out to pick up my son from daycare (much to the dissatisfaction of my boss actually) and would come back to my emails in the evening to see if there was anything I missed. In the end I got my work done so there was never an issue with performance and nothing that anyone could say.

3. I rarely work on weekends. Even early on in my career I would schedule my time in such a way that I would complete what needed to be done for the week and knew exactly what I needed to get into on Monday morning.

4. I do things that I enjoy outside of work. I’ve been playing on a women’s competitive volleyball team for many years, practicing Pilates for 15 years, and I’m an avid skier and recently got my Level 1 Ski Instructor’s Certification. I also love reading, shopping, and going out for dinner. And if I can mix business with pleasure then I’m all over that too!

What is the most effective way to make decisions?

You just have to make them and sometimes ask for forgiveness later. I trust my instincts and rely on my past experiences, but I also know that people have different decision-making styles. I believe that it’s OK to make the best choice possible given the information you have available to you, then take action based on that decision. No doubt that sometimes mistakes happen, but then use those moments to learn how to make a better decision next time. The key thing is not to fear the consequences – whether you make the right or the wrong decision you will learn either way.