NWA Women in Business: Michelle Barnes

Age: 45

Residence: Bentonville

Education: B.A., psychology, Ohio State University; B.S., early childhood education, Breyer State University

Professional background: Barnes manages 70 employees while overseeing an organization that serves 240 children. She also serves on the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission and opened the Early Childhood Initiatives Center, which aims to elevate the quality of early education and has helped significantly grow the percentage of accredited child care providers in Northwest Arkansas.

What are the attributes of a good leader? “Integrity, respect  [earn it and give it to others] and passion for their work. A good leader is a visionary who understands that achieving anything of value requires team effort, who keeps the main goal in view but is flexible in the path to achieve it, who creates a culture of excellence and who listens  [God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason.]. Finally, a leader should never ask a person to do what he or she is not willing to do.”

What other female leaders do you admire and why? “I admire leaders who give selflessly, are authentic, and aren’t afraid of being unconventional.  [Pioneer-era social worker] Jane Addams, who saw a need and actively pursued solutions. Mother Teresa, who challenged us to appreciate life, do all we can with it and live it through the simplistic lens of caring for others. Helen Walton, who had vision and tenacity to make a difference within our community. Most impressive was her spirit of giving from the heart and to do God’s work, not for the sake of recognition or personal gain. I also respect Rosalind Brewer as a business woman, and it was her discussion about authentic leadership and passion that was most inspirational to me.”

What do you want the Children’s Enrichment Center to accomplish in the next year? “Our goal is to build a model center and expand our training and resources to better support other early childhood programs in the area.”

What advice would you give a younger version of yourself, just starting your career? Would you do anything differently? “I wouldn’t change a thing about my career path, as it has led me to this incredible work in my community. However, I would share a few lessons: slow down, engage people more, talk less and listen more.”

What or who has been your greatest influence in your career and why? “Simply, God. I would not have selected this profession on my own without his nudging. I truly cannot imagine serving in any other capacity.”

If you were going to write an autobiography, what would it be titled? “Black-Eyed Peas: Lessons Learned the Hard Way.”

What do you do to unwind/for fun? “Garden, read, enjoy the backyard with my husband and play poker.  [It’s a game of psychology.]”

What motivated you to choose the field you’re in? “Almost 17 years ago, I was blessed with a sweet baby girl and, as I decided to be at home for the first year, began volunteering for youth-based programs. I was hooked. When we relocated to this region two years later, I wanted to work in nonprofit and make a positive difference within my community, so I humbly accepted the position as executive director at the center 15 years ago.”

Success oftentimes comes down to “satisfied customers.” How do you go about making sure your clients, subordinates and peers are satisfied with your work/leadership/vision? “I work by these simple guidelines: 1.) Follow God’s path. 2.) Specifically in child care: If it’s not a high enough standard for my own child, it’s not good enough for any other child. 3.) As a leader, it’s important to create a culture of family for your team members. Each person adds real value to our work. Value differences. Be honest and strive to understand their needs and goals. Respect their faith, family and values. 4.) Treat people well, be inclusive and help others succeed in the community. Then, everyone will stand behind the vision.”

Best mentor? “As a child, my best mentor was my mother. She didn’t just talk the talk; she walked the walk. Through her daily actions, I witnessed humility, grace, patience, hard work, and acceptance of all.

“I have also been blessed to work with talented individuals willing to give of their time to improve our community — the center’s stellar board of directors, who have been incredible mentors during the last 15 years.”

What’s one surprising or interesting fact about you? I’m a beach bum at heart. I love the sand, water, scuba diving, and the sound of ocean waves — a little Jimmy Buffett in the background, and life is good.”