Transformational, Innovative and Inspiring: Susan Chapman-Hughes

February is Black History Month. To celebrate, we are airing a weekly four-episode series featuring exceptional African American leaders. I hope you will be inspired by these amazing leaders, just as I was, and share their stories with those you love and admire.   In today’s second episode of the series, Susan Chapman-Hughes joins us! Susan is a phenomenal woman who is currently the Executive Vice President and Global Head of Digital Capabilities, Transformation, and Operations for American Express. She was also named one of the 100 most creative people in business by Fast Company and has been recognized as one of the most influential women in payments by PaymentsSource. Additionally, Susan is the Director of JM Smucker Company, has served as a Director for Potbelly Corporation, and has served on the Board of Trustees of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Girls Inc. As a Senior Business & Digital Transformation Executive, Susan defines and brings strategy to action to deliver results. Throughout her career, she has driven top and bottom-line performance, grown businesses, promoted efficiencies, and simplified operations at global companies.   In our conversation together, Susan inspires us with her story, her wisdom, her insights, and her dedication and authenticity in all that she does. She gives advice on how to become the best leader you can be, the key lessons that other leaders should take heed of, tangible next steps to take on elevating your leadership, the key attributes that differentiate successful leaders and CEOs from unsuccessful ones, why we need to pave the path for the leaders of tomorrow as the leaders of today, and much more.   Her powerful insights on transformational, innovative, and inspiring leadership are not to be missed. I hope you’ll join us.   “Your path is your path. If you lean hard into what’s for you, it’s going to work out. Nobody can keep you from that. And the best example you can set is one of just being yourself.” — Susan Chapman-Hughes   Key Takeaways: [:09] About this month’s special four-episode series. [1:24] About today’s episode with Susan Chapman-Hughes. [2:40] Welcoming Susan to the podcast! [3:00] Susan shares her story, how she came into the corporate world, how she discovered her passions, and what led her to work at American Express. [9:40] Susan shares some lessons that other leaders should take heed of and her best advice on the next steps to take in order to level-up. [16:50] What ELC is and how it has changed Susan’s life twice. [18:03] The big transition that Susan made from the commercial real estate world to corporate real estate, as well as being presented the opportunity of taking on a P&L role. [20:19] Susan describes the type of people-first leader she is, the lessons she learned about the grit of entrepreneurship, and the key attributes that differentiate successful leaders and CEOs from unsuccessful ones. [24:20] How to become the best leader you can be. [28:55] Why we absolutely need to pave paths for future leaders. [32:32] Susan reflects on what every big transition in her career has looked like. [33:10] Susan shares about her incredible daughter. [34:35] How Susan influenced her company’s maternity leave policy by being a vocal advocate for it. [35:58] Susan shares more about her beautiful life with her daughter and why companies need to become more flexible if they want to be competitive for talent. [37:18] Susan shares some final parting words of wisdom, looking back on the tough year we’ve all had. [38:17] Thanking Susan for all the work she has done and for sharing her wisdom on this week’s episode of Fifth Dimensional Leadership.   Mentioned in this Episode: Susan Chapman-Hughes’ LinkedIn “The Most Influential Women in Payments, 2020,” PaymentsSource Executive Leadership Council (ELC)   About Fifth Dimensional Leadership & Ginny Clarke Fifth-Dimensional Leadership is a podcast about leadership — knowing yourself, speaking your truth, inspiring love, expanding your consciousness and activating your mastery. As an executive recruiter and career expert currently leading executive recruiting at a Fortune 20 tech company, Ginny Clarke is a passionate and authentic thought leader with a unique and deliberate perspective on work and life. She synthesizes aspects of her life as an African-American single mother who has successfully navigated corporate America for over 30 years. She has inspired, uplifted, and changed the lives of thousands and is intentional about bringing conscious awareness to people of all ages and stages.   Every other week, a new edition of Fifth-Dimensional Leadership will include fascinating guests, covering a variety of topics: power, personal branding, self-awareness, networking, fear, and career management   Stay Connected! To find more episodes or learn more, visit: GinnyClarke.com Connect with her on social media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Youtube