I recently got a call from Lauren Fleischer, a senior at the University of Pennsylvania and head of Wharton Women. I knew Wharton Women, having once given a talk about leadership and success to this student group. While I had never met Lauren, I was mightily impressed with her as she interviewed me for her research paper on that very topic -- leadership and success. In fact, I told her that she'd make a good journalist if she hadn't already accepted a job as a brand assistant at Kraft Foods (KFT).While I couldn't recruit Lauren to Fortune, I did ask her to write about what she's learned in college years and she graciously agreed. Alhough the piece she sent me this weekend flatters me too much, it's worth sharing. Happy Graduation, Lauren and all the amazing future leaders now moving into the pipeline. On on! -- Patricia Sellers
Lauren Fleischer. Photo by Hilary Fleischer
This past semester, I was lucky enough to snag one of 35 spots in Professor Richard Shell's "The Literature of Success." The class explores a broad variety of readings, from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin to Think and Grow Rich. Unlike other classes I've taken at Wharton, "The Literature of Success" asked us to look within ourselves. What do we think success is? How can we achieve it?
I had already been exploring this -- the hazy meaning of success -- through Wharton Women, which seeks to empower a community of female students, faculty, and alumnae in business. As 2010 president of the student-run group, I met some of Fortune's "Most Powerful Women," including Deloitte Chairman Sharon Allen, former Hearst Magazines Chairman Cathie Black, and fashion designer Tory Burch.
I've gotten lots of insights from these women, but I was particularly struck by Denise Morrison, who spoke at Wharton Women's Business Conference in February. Morrison is EVP and chief operating officer of Campbell Soup (CPB) and will become the CEO this August. She grew up as one of four daughters of Dennis Sullivan, a CFO at Cincinnati Bell (CBB), who raised them to be leaders. Denise's sister, Maggie Wilderotter, is the chairman and CEO of giant Frontier Communications (FTR). All four Sullivan sisters have reached executive positions at their firms. That's a difficult task for any four siblings, let alone four women.
As I heard Denise's story, I couldn't help but see parallels to my own life and aspire. I'm one of two daughters of a CFO who raised us in a similar manner. I'd like to think that one day the "Fleischer Sisters" will give the "Sullivan Sisters" a run for their money.
What struck me most about Denise's story was her focus on accomplishing her goals. "The end game that I set the bar at for myself was to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company," she said. In the context of "The Literature of Success," I took this statement to heart. Of course, Morrison was asked to speak about her career path, but was all her hard work for the one moment of being named CEO?
Denise made me think hard about my own career that I'm about to begin. While I too have the goal of being a chief executive, what if my plan changes? What if I end up as a writer or mother or entrepreneur? Would I then not be successful because my life didn't take the path I intended?
I realize now, I need to look beyond titles. Regardless of the titles I'll hold, I can evaluate my success by asking myself three questions:
1. Am I striving to get better in this particular pursuit?
2. Am I making a positive impact?
3. Am I doing more than what is required of me?
For my final paper before graduating, I researched women past and present. My search brought me to Pattie Sellers, who allowed me to interview her about women and success. I asked Pattie: "If you were one of the Fortune Most Powerful Women, how would you define success?"
Her response comforted me. "Whatever I was doing, I would define success as making a positive difference in the world outside of my job description. You can keep your nose in the books and follow the rules, but real success -- and real power -- is in making a positive difference beyond what they want you to do or what they ask you to do."
On graduation day, this view of success fits just right.
L. to R.: OWN honchos Christina Norman, David Zaslav, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Freston, Lisa Erspamer
I was on stage with Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the producer and director of Miss Representation, on Friday just after the news broke that Christina Norman was out as CEO of Oprah Winfrey's new TV network, OWN.
What an odd coincidence, since Newsom's documentary explores the dearth of women in "clout positions" in the mainstream media. Newsom says MORE
Patricia Sellers - May 9, 2011 2:54 PM ET
by Patricia Sellers
Today, on National Equal Pay Day, it's worth noting that women still make only 77 cents vs. the average man's dollar.
I may catch flak for saying this, but one reason is that women aren't as good at negotiating as men are. I know this from talking with hundreds of women in the Fortune's Most Powerful Women community. And many women on our annual Most Powerful Women list have MORE
Patricia Sellers - Apr 12, 2011 2:36 PM ET
by Patricia Sellers
Few career falls are as swift and spectacular as Cathie Black's.
It took just 95 days for the former boss of Hearst Magazines -- and alum of the Fortune Most Powerful Women list -- to get ousted as chancellor of New York City public schools.
Since her exit yesterday, Black had not talked to the press, except for "60 seconds in front of my apartment building last night," she said when she MORE
Patricia Sellers - Apr 8, 2011 1:18 PM ET
by Patricia Sellers
Did you hear that Lady Gaga was the magazine world's No. 1 hit-maker in 2010? So says the Audit Bureau of Circulations, which found that the provocative performer sold more magazine covers last year than any other celebrity.
That got me thinking...Lady Gaga shares a trait with two other powerful women who are making news this week: Oprah Winfrey and Cathie Black, the new chancellor of New York City's MORE
Patricia Sellers - Jan 5, 2011 11:42 AM ET
By Patricia Sellers
Lots of movement in the Most Powerful Women space. A Friday wrap-up....
Hearst Magazine chairman Cathie Black surprised the world--and people close to her too--by accepting a job as Chancellor of New York City schools. It's not so shocking that Mayor Mike Bloomberg would hire her--they're friends, and she is, like him, a strong manager although one who's inexperienced in education. Joel Klein, Black's predecessor, also was inexperienced in MORE
Patricia Sellers - Nov 12, 2010 1:30 PM ET
It was, to steal a Malcolm Gladwell term, a "tipping point" in my outlook on the cratering economy. I call it my "That Girl" moment.
It was the fourth Monday in November last year. I was at a Thanksgiving party at the home of Cathie Black, the president of Hearst Magazines. Marlo Thomas was there, too. "Saks is selling shoes for 75% off. It's incredible!" TV's onetime Ann Marie was crowing, MORE
Patricia Sellers - Feb 27, 2009 1:01 PM ET
I went out to lunch today. Really. Even as you've read this week about the slashing and shrinking inside my company, Time Inc. (TWX), and across the magazine industry (even Conde Nast, the proud, privately-held protector of privilege and perks is axing), I have to eat. I have to schmooze. My job depends upon it.
Allow me to defend the expense-account lunch. Here are my rules of (lunchtime) engagement, honed over MORE
Patricia Sellers - Oct 31, 2008 3:56 PM ET
Who will head Hearst following CEO Victor Ganzi's sudden departure? Read my colleague Richard Siklos' smart take on the drama there. I had lunch on Monday with one contender: Hearst Magazines President Cathie Black - and even then, she had no clue that her boss was going to quit. In fact, Cathie told me on Monday that she was heading to India for an IBM (IBM) board meeting this MORE
Patricia Sellers - Jun 19, 2008 6:32 PM ET
"When you consider accepting a new position at work, all your leverage is before you say yes."
Hearst Magazines President Cathie Black told me this over lunch at Michael's Monday. Not that I'm considering a new job at one of Time Inc.'s main rivals. (Fear not, Ann Moore!) But as Black and I traded insights on career mistakes - the topic that resonated most of all with readers of her recent MORE
Patricia Sellers - Jun 16, 2008 7:22 PM ET
For the latest on the most influential women in business, philanthropy, government, and the arts, like us on Facebook. 
In a funny and candid interview, Google VP Marissa Mayer explains how she got to the top. Watch
Xerox CEO Ursula Burns shares how she once accepted a job with Dell but ended up staying with Xerox. Watch
Pattie Sellers has written some of Fortune's most talked-about cover stories, including "Oprah's Next Act," "Can Meg Whitman Save California?" "The $100 Billion Woman" (Melinda Gates), "MySpace Cowboys," Martha Stewart ("I cannot be destroyed"), Ted Turner ("Gone with the Wind") and Oprah Winfrey ("Oprah Inc."). Since its launch in 1998, Pattie has helped oversee Fortune's "Most Powerful Women" cover package.
A specialist at dissecting larger-than-life personalities, she has also profiled former U.S. Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, Morgan Stanley chairman John Mack, and countless CEOs.
Pattie co-chairs the annual Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit, the preeminent gathering of women leaders in business, philanthropy, government, academia, and the arts. She started at Fortune in 1984, covering the big brand companies.
In Pattie's blog, Postcards, she provides insight into the lives of super-achievers through commentary, career advice, and Guest Posts by CEOs and other leaders.
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Fortune Most Powerful Women
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