Female BSCs Share Key Leadership Lessons

Being a woman at the top of an industry is not without its challenges. However, the female business owners and executives featured in this article have rarely viewed their gender as a detriment when rising through the ranks. 

Some women grew up in the family business, mop in hand. Others switched careers later in life (one was a former chef; another a TV producer). But no matter their trajectory, all of them had the tenacity to master an unfamiliar industry, develop the skills needed to grow the company, and — most importantly — provide a safe, clean environment for other businesses to thrive in. 

Although women have made huge strides in the industry over the past few decades, men still outnumber them in terms of upper management positions. Some female executives say being a minority has not hampered their career, while others have felt the sting of being ignored or overlooked in the company of their male associates — sometimes a result of their inexperience; often due to their gender. But these encounters only strengthened their resolve to succeed — and that they certainly have done. 

Through trial and error, dedication and hard work, these business owners and executives have earned their place in the corner office — and learned some valuable life lessons to pass on to other women looking to thrive in contract cleaning leadership positions. 

Capitalize on Instincts 

Women are innately nurturing, caring beings, which can be an asset in the building service contractor industry — especially when fostering business relationships and interacting with team members in the workplace. 

“I feel, as a woman, maternal instinct in general really drives the way I feel about my employees,” says Paula Broutman, president, Performance Plus, Gary, Indiana. “Everybody has a side of their story to tell, so I don’t want to jump to conclusions. I try to hear everyone’s opinions before making a decision.” 

For Shari Cedar, CEO, AK Building Services, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, being “motherly” has had a positive impact on her business and enriches her relationships with the students she mentors through Junior Achievement internship programs. 

“Summer interns always become like a third child to me — so much so that I went to one of our intern’s football games, and he later FaceTimed with me to show me his dorm room when he went to college,” she says. 

Cedar loves being able to share her journey with students and young executives. She often has them shadow her team so that they can gain real-world experience in different facets of the business. 

One of the defining characteristics of women with strong maternal qualities is the ability to empathize with others. In fact, for women in leadership, empathy is a superpower. Not only does it foster better communication, but it can improve team morale by promoting a collaborative work environment where people can better understand and support each other. 

“Women often lead with empathy, making it easier to connect with their teams. They show care for them as individuals and their respective families,” says Marci Hernandez, co-owner and CEO of Keepers Commercial Cleaning in Mesa, Arizona. “In general, women tend to be more compassionate, which can be a great asset in building a strong team — to know we’re there to help and support them.” 

While being empathetic can be a positive trait, women executives also acknowledge the need to keep their emotions in check in the workplace. For Cedar, this is an ongoing challenge — as is the maternal urge to solve other people’s problems. 

“I have my professional hat and my human hat, and sometimes they overlap,” she says. “We must stay focused on the mission, but we also want to be a friend and ear to our team members. My instinct is to jump in to help and do everything, but I have to temper myself and remember that this is a professional environment, and I’m not everyone’s best friend.” 

Don’t Self-Doubt 

Despite their achievements, female executives have all experienced the nagging voice of self-doubt at some point in their careers — and many still do to this day, success aside. 

“Men have this innate confidence that allows them to walk into a room and take charge, even if they lack the experience or knowledge,” notes Sally Schopmeyer, president, Maintenance Inc., Dallas. “That’s something most women struggle with.” 

Schopmeyer started her career at Maintenance Inc. in an entry-level position. Early on, she found herself in situations that she wasn’t prepared for. 

“Being young and new to the industry, I wasn’t always taken very seriously,” she recalls. “If I was with a male counterpart in a sales meeting, for example, all the questions would be directed to the men.” 

Rather than get frustrated, she became a sponge, learning everything she could by observing how people interacted with each other. Most importantly, she learned a valuable lesson that has served her to this day. 

“Don’t discount someone in the room and assume they’re not important because they’re not the decision maker,” she says. “People remember when they’re ignored in meetings and when someone values their opinion. Talk to every person in that room, because your receptionist today just might be your CEO tomorrow.” 

Early in her career, Broutman, like Schopmeyer, was often the only woman in the room — or in her case, the only woman on the construction site when her company was involved in post-construction cleaning. 

“I had to have the confidence to walk onto that construction site, stand there with the men, and let them know that I was just as knowledgeable as they were about cleaning,” she says. 

Broutman advises women who grapple with self-doubt in similar situations to strike up a conversation. 

“Once you talk to someone, you begin to realize that everyone has a lot of the same concerns and challenges, so you can start to find common ground,” she says. “That should make you feel more comfortable and boost your confidence.” 

And if all else fails, women encourage other women to go with their gut when reading a room or responding to a situation outside their comfort zone. 

“It’s important to know when to speak up and when to shrug it off and move on,” says Terell Weg, president and CEO, MSNW Group, Ferndale, Washington. “And that’s where you must trust your intuition. I think women have gut instinct as to what they should be doing and how they should be doing it. And instead of questioning it, they should just go with it.”