Never say you can't: Interview with Maita Crowe
Excitement is brewing in the Hearts+Minds team as our next Overnight Getaway is just days away! The theme for the Overnight is “Forging Meaningful Relationships” and we’re delighted to be welcoming Maita Crowe to deliver not one but two sessions.
Siobhan Scullion, our online editor, reached out to Maita ahead of the Overnight this weekend to get a feel for how she cultivates relationships in the workplace and how that balances with family life. She has gained a lot of wisdom over the years and we’re delighted to share her insights here.
Maita, how did you end up on your particular career path and what advice would you give to young women pursuing a career like yours?
My career is in sales, which I love and I am very passionate about. Believe it or not (as there are differing views about salespeople - some not so complimentary!) but there are many similarities between sales and a career in coaching or mentoring, because sales to me is about helping clients solve their problems and working closely with them to grow their business. Seeing the result provides me with a big sense of fulfilment and makes me very happy! It is exactly the same feeling when I am able to help people or teams improve, discover their potential, and explore becoming better versions of themselves. If you have a desire to do this, then this path may be the right one for you.
You give a lot of your time sharing your expertise in the education and charitable sectors as well as helping those you work with to develop and grow professionally. Did you have a mentor along the way?
I was lucky to have several great managers who saw my potential and helped me professionally and develop in my career. I learned a lot from them and their example as leaders. There were equally several poor ones who held me back, and as much as it was a horrible experience at that time, it taught me exactly what to avoid and grounded what I did not want to be.
What's the best advice that you’ve ever gotten, either career-wise or life-wise?
There are two I would like to share, both from my Mom and Dad, who I witnessed living these when I was growing up. The first is to treat people with the dignity they deserve regardless of what position in society they are from or what level in the business they are in. Everyone should be treated the same way. The second one which is as equally important, is to make sure that your life is lived with integrity because this is the foundation of honesty and trust.
Career-wise, there are also two that are instilled in me to this very day. I can still hear the voice of my first manager tell me - "Only come to me with a problem if you have a solution". The other is one I learned hanging on a rock face for 30-minutes, unable to reach the next hand hold due to my size, during an Outward Bound program in Australia. "Never say you can't" - because if you put your mind to it, you always can! There is a solution to any problem if you find a way.
Has there ever been a time where you felt like you failed, and how did you deal with it?
Definitely! Not only once but many times! I tend to beat myself up and feel bad for messing up, which is an emotional response, but then my logic kicks in and I review the situation, reflect on how I could have done it differently and implement corrective measures in place. If it involves people, apologising will go a long way! I see failure as an opportunity to learn and to improve.
With such a demanding job and your responsibilities at home as a wife and mother, what do you do to help fill yourself up and rejuvenate after a really stressful period at work?
It is exactly the demands of being a wife and mother that rejuvenates me after a really stressful period at work. It is my family along with my faith that keep me grounded. There were many occasions when things were not going well, I was having a really bad day, or feeling rubbish and these all go away when I see my family when I arrive home, especially when I am greeted with a smile, hug and kiss. Going for a walk also helps a lot, especially when it is around nature and up the hills!
To find out more about the Overnight Getaway and to book your place, click here.