The Leadership in Heels Speaker series presented by Scharrell Jackson, featuring Pernille Spiers-Lopez, former CEO & President IKEA North America and author of Design your Life left audience members inspired to design the life they desire.

Pernille asked the audience, If you could redesign any area of your life – professionally, personally or community, what would it be and why?  Her first piece of advice was to take ownership of your life and know what you want.  Key to doing this is being clear on your core values.  What do you value?  How do these values guide your behavior and your life choices?  Having a mentoring relationship can really help you get the clarity you need to take responsibility for what your want.  Here are some of other lessons she learned over the course of her life and career:

  • Learn from your failures and move on

  • Adversity provides opportunity to grow

  • Take care of the employees and the results will follow

  • Seek out and take on challenging assignments

  • Embrace imperfections

  • Chose the right partner   (She and her husband have been married for 26 years and raised two children.)

  • Take care of yourself

She shared a very personal story about a health crisis she experienced that caused her to reevaluate how she approached her life.  She reminded us all that high levels of stress over an extended period will get the best of you.  It can negatively affect your health, your relationships and your performance.  So at a certain point it’s not helping your career it’s getting in the way of you doing your best work.  So learn to ask for help, delegate, let go and take care of yourself.

Pernille’s parting words, “Don’t spend your life looking for the right job, your most important job is to create your life.”

The program also featured Women in Business Leader, Erica Zuniga, Principal, SAA and Melissa Beck, CEO Big Brothers Big Sisters Inc.

Jackson founded the Leadership in Heels Speakers series to bring women together in an environment where they can have authentic conversations about matters that directly impact every area of a women’s life.  Her goal is to inspire women to live the life they desire by providing tangible tips to rise to one’s highest potential. Jackson currently serves as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Squar Milner.