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Leadership is more than just a core set of skills. More than ever, it demands adaptability as ways of work change and challenges become more complex. Leeds alumni share the leadership lessons that have helped them motivate, inspire and problem-solve. Read other leaders' stories here.

Beth Ann Catalano (Mktg’79), AHAVA, North America, LLC, A Division of Dead Sea Labs, Inc.

When Beth Ann Catalano was a teen working at the Clinique makeup counter, she didn’t just give out beauty advice. She gave customers her mom’s special spaghetti recipe. You may have it, too, since it’s just regular pasta and Ragu sauce from the jar. Catalano used the pasta recipe printed on an index card to give out to customers as a conversation starter. It made her memorable—adding surprise and delight to what could be a very transactional experience. Today, Catalano is the president and CEO of a global skincare brand, and her business leadership philosophy, though more sophisticated with time and experience, remains the same: Find how to connect authentically with people, make time to understand their concerns, provide viable solutions to the issue, and focus on educating, therefore, a sense of self-resolution solves future issues.

“How do I bring out the best in each person, each day, on my team? This is my daily exercise.” said Catalano. “I’m focused on being transformational and supporting my team in their professional growth. Your team’s growth is essential to continue to achieve your targets. All individuals must continually add value and I make it my passion to understand what drives them.  Understanding their communication style is essential to feeling understood. And if you don’t do that as a leader, work and relationships become very task oriented and transactional instead of transformational.”

Catalano understands differences in the workplace and is driven to create more space for women leaders to empower other women to find confidence, upward career mobility, and earning power.

This can be accomplished by focusing on an individual’s strengths and how the person enhances a team. She also believes in the importance of knowledge sharing and self-branding, noting that self-awareness can be key to navigating professional opportunities.

She shares that the journey to figuring out her own leadership style wasn’t second nature. She worked diligently on learning to lead in a way that aligned with her inner beliefs. For her, that means being humble and supportive of her team.

“Find the best in everyone and bring each out as an individual,” she said. “Make it a priority but know that it doesn’t need to be competitive. Then we can help each other succeed.”