Feedback: Sept. 2023

Q: As a previous year’s Women of Achievement honoree, you’ve been recognized for outstanding leadership. Different times seem to call for different strengths, so what do you feel are the most important leadership qualities for the times we are in now?

Rachel Aja

Director of Government Affairs
Cox Communications
Sector: Telecommunications

For me, the most important leadership qualities, especially in these times, are openness and flexibility. When thinking about openness, I am specifically committed to honesty with our teams about what our Cox Government Relations team’s goals are and our expectations and benchmarks for success. At the same time, as a leader, I know that being open-minded and flexible leads to more creative thinking, better suggestions and, ultimately, superior output from the team. 

I have found that when people are a part of the decision-making process and can have genuine and open conversations with their leaders, they feel more valued — because they are. This leads to more engagement and greater long-term success. 

Since COVID, we’ve learned that flexibility is the key to everything we do. This is true not only for our team, but also being sensitive to the needs of those we work with outside of Cox. When we can be flexible and grow depending on the situation and the needs of our teams, we increase the opportunity for recruitment and likelihood of retention. 

As director of government affairs for Cox Communications, Rachel Aja leads Cox’s local, state and federal political engagement and strategy. Before joining Cox, Aja was the chief of staff for Mayor Georgia Lord in Goodyear and Mayor Bob Barrett in Peoria.

The Arizona native is an active member of a number of community organizations and is an alumnus of Leadership West Class XII and the Luke Air Force Base Honorary Commander Program for the 310th Fighter Squadron. 

Kristin Atwell

Producer and writer
Quantum Leap Productions
Sector: Video and Film Production

Leadership means creating certainty, but how do we make people feel secure when so much is in flux? Inflation, water shortages, hyper-partisan discord, the sheer barrage of digital information we encounter daily, all add to distractions we must cut through to lead. 

I aim to inspire my team to “proceed as if success is inevitable.” Nothing is guaranteed. Sometimes failure needs to be salvaged into success. Even if I don’t have an answer up my sleeve, someone will have a good idea — and the best idea in the room wins! And that’s when leading turns into listening. It’s a dance between elevating everyone so we all feel empowered to give our best and taking the wheel as a leader to steer us in the right direction when we see it. It’s a balance of give and take, leading and listening. The bottom line is we get there together.

Challenging times require patience, resilience, creativity and, most of all, empathy. We wouldn’t be handed complex issues if we can’t solve them. This is our moment in history. We are up to the task.   

Kristin Atwell Ford is an Emmy® Award-winning filmmaker, 2021 Women of Achievement honoree, and recipient of the Governor’s Arts Award. Atwell’s stories unite our community by celebrating the arts, business culture and water resiliency. Her recent documentary, “The Weight of a Feather,” features Arizona’s Liberty Wildlife and explores the significance of feathers to Indigenous cultures; and is available on PBS Passport and Kanopy. 

Sherri Collins 

Executive Director
Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing
Sector: Government

There is no doubt that the past few years have been challenging for everyone. And for those who work with a variety of stakeholders, whether that be staff, colleagues or community partners, how we manage those challenges is a true testament to our leadership qualities.

I know that to successfully lead requires consistency and dependability. These two characteristics are what I value in leaders and what I try to demonstrate on a daily basis. 

There are always going to be hair-on-fire days, when something unexpected drops in our lap. But what I find has always worked for me is to “plan your work and work your plan.” 

And knowing when to ask for help. Yes, your team may look to you to have the answers, but encouraging others to be a part of the solution, seeking out alternative recommendations to respond to issues, and acknowledging the role others can and do play on a team go a long way in strengthening their commitment to your organization.   

Sherri Collins is the executive director for the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing. Collins advocates, strengthens and implements state policies affecting deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their relationship to public, industry, healthcare and educational opportunities.