Barbara Brown is a true believer in fate.
While working as a marketing manager for a real-estate developer in Columbus that allowed her flexible hours to balance a career and family, Brown's husband finished law school and wanted to start a practice in Cleveland. The Chicago native knew the chances of finding a "professional" job in any kind of less-than-full-time capacity was slim. But after a series of unfulfilling part-time jobs, her friend, Margie Flynn, told her about a part-time opening at National City Bank.
"We saw the benefit of making [the two positions] a job share," says Brown, a graduate of John Carroll University with a bachelor's degree in communications. "We thought we'd both be more stimulated by sharing projects and that the projects would be enriched by both of our perspectives."
After six years, the duo left National City to form BrownFlynn.
Brown's past experiences help her better appreciate the need for opportunities for women trying to balance work and family life, while still using the education they worked so hard to achieve. "The two can co-exist," she says. "We use freelancers and have flexible schedules (at BrownFlynn) so women can contribute in a meaningful way."
BrownFlynn's predominantly female staff is asked to get involved in the community, either serving on a nonprofit board or volunteering for an event. Brown says it's essential to give back and "it allows our employees to see what is going on in our community and also grow professionally, interact with all walks of life and use their talents to stretch learning in a different way."
The satisfaction of knowing you've helped someone is most gratifying, says Brown. "Seeing our younger employees discover a new skill set or do something they didn't think was possible because I've given them the opportunity and conditions to succeed — I just beam."
Brown and her partner also encourage growth in women throughout the community by nominating them for awards, often targeting client, vendor or supplier relationships. These women, she says, are doing exceptional work, but someone needs to tell their stories.
"I would really like to see new faces of the women doing wonderful things who aren't necessarily well known. We make sure to take the time out of our day and talk about their accomplishments and help raise their profiles in the community," she says.
In regards to her own accomplishments, Brown feels blessed she had all the right conditions to be successful — a supportive family and the right job opportunity at the right time.
"Fate and faith go hand in hand," Brown says. "To me, things are presented to you for a reason. As long as you are open to that and see what's around you, you'll be led [down] the right path."