LINDA HANSON | PRESIDENT
ENTERPRISE BANK

Amid the fiercest economic turmoil in nearly 30 years, one word helps set Linda Hanson apart as a business executive: “Yes.” Her greatest reward, then, is being a trusted advisor for businesses. “Especially in this economy,” she says, “it is significant when I can help them find ways to say ‘yes’ to doing things that will help them grow their business.”

She gets to “yes” through four attributes that she says are shared by women and great leaders: commitment, fierce loyalty, determination and encouragement. Her mother and role model—one and the same—made sure she understood those qualities, and “I strive to incorporate each of these attributes into how I perform every day.”

Suburban St. Louis-based Enterprise Bank, with $2.2 billion in assets, made her president of its Overland Park location in 2001, then of the Kansas City region in 2005.

Her advice to up-and-coming women? “First, you must only compete against yourself. Do not worry about what the person next to you is doing or making; push yourself to the next highest level. Second, never underestimate the value of working harder than everyone else. If you want to succeed, you have to be willing to do more and work harder than everyone else.”

ROSHANN PARRIS | CEO
PARRIS COMMUNICATIONS

Roshann Parris runs a strategic communications company. But to hear her describe it, you’d think she was an energy executive: “I can honestly say that there is nothing more gratifying or rewarding than the privilege of working with people who give me energy,” she says, be they clients, her staff or civic and philanthropic partners.

She founded Parris Communications in 1988 and has turned it into a business communications force. A Kentucky native, she started out in Washington as a legislative aide in the Senate. There, she developed such contacts as Hillary Clinton, with whom Parris has worked for two decades in various roles. And her involvement in civic and philanthropic boards reads like a directory of Kansas City icons, including Children’s Mercy Hospital and Clinics, Starlight Theatre, the United Way, and on and on.

Other mentoring figures include former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, now secretary of Health and Human Services, and Adele Hall, a legendary figure on Kansas City’s philanthropic and civic scene. And, her own mother: “Everything I am, I owe to Mom. It’s that simple, and that profound,” Parris says.

Her advice to young females: “Seek out those people and things which infuse you with energy… and let the energy you create together drive your collective success.”

KAREN COX | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CO-CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
CHILDREN'S MERCY HOSPITAL

The foundation for Karen Cox’s career success was education. What she built on top of that had something to do, she says, with preparation: Being ready—and qualified—to act on opportunities. “There is also some component of luck—being in the right place at the right time,” she says. When she was 35, Children’s Mercy’s president and CEO, Randall O’Donnell, took a chance and promoted Cox to VP. Because of this, she says, “I am open to giving others a chance, regardless of their years of experience—looking at their attitudes and competencies, as well.”

She became a licensed practical nurse after graduating from high school, then went on to earn a PhD in nursing. In her administrative role, she’s helping transform the flagship hospital which has launched an $800 million, 15-year expansion to strengthen its position as the regional center for pediatric medicine. She also is assistant dean for clinical partnerships for the School of Nursing at the University of Missouri-KC.

She advises women seeking a similar path: First, “no matter how you progress in an organization, you are no more or less important. You just have a different role.”  Second: “The minute you start taking yourself too seriously is the beginning of the end of your authenticity.”

YOUNG SEXTON | CEO
WINGATE TRAVEL

Young Sexton runs one of Kansas City’s fastest-growing companies, so it’s a bit surprising to hear this from her: “I don’t consider myself successful by any stretch of the imagination.” That says something about the level of humility Sexton brings to Wing-Gate Travel, the company she founded in 1991. To the extent that she is successful, though, Sexton insists that the credit—and rewards—be shared. “It is especially rewarding,” she says, “that I can make a difference even in a very small way in someone’s life and could help someone to succeed with emotional, informational or financial support.”

The daughter of Korea’s first female doctor—who herself had to battle a social taboo by running away from home to enroll in medical school as a woman—Sexton learned early about the value of single-mindedness. Her mother, Sexton said, “knew exactly what she wanted and worked diligently to reach her dream of being a doctor. She was determined and never strayed and found ways to overcome obstacles.”

To young women, she advises: “Set goals and work towards them with persistent zeal. Be patient, flexible and ready to seek and receive advice and recommendations. Always be in a learning posture and don’t be afraid to try something new. There is always something new around the corner.”