Brenda Freeman Speaks at Smith’s Women Leading Women Event

Brenda Freeman, ’87 and MBA ’91, headlined the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business’s third annual Women Leading Women event. DreamWorks Animation’s global head of television marketing discussed fitting into different corporate cultures, finding a good mentor and having a good work-life balance, among other things.

The conversation, moderated by Smith’s Vice Dean Joyce Russell, turned to one about mentors and their importance in women’s careers. 

“The first mentors were probably my parents. Through them I saw a model of what success could look like,” Freeman said. She explained how in her career, she liked to seek out a woman who was a few levels higher than she was whose style and work-life balance she would like to emulate.

Freeman ended her speech by talking about the importance of a healthy work-life balance and being a demonstrative leader.

“You never feel like you are given enough time to all of the stakeholders in your life. And then there’s the challenge of allowing yourself to not be perfect, which is really difficult for women,” Freeman said. “But you have to let it go and say I’m going to enjoy this ride because I only have one.”

An audience Q&A and wine tasting concluded the conversation. The event was organized by Smith’s office of development and alumni relations and spearheaded by Sharon Strange Lewis, director of graduate alumni relations.

“Tonight started out as a dream and I am so happy to be here,” Strange Lewis said. “You all are making this dream a reality and each year Women Leading Women grows larger and larger. Whenever you have a dream or vision, don’t ignore it. Talk about it, get people on your team and run with it.”

regions: Baltimore / Washington, DC

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