Women in Business: Cambre Horne-Brooks

Residence: Fayetteville

Education: Bachelor’s in Social Work (B.S.W.) and Criminal Justice, University of Arkansas; Master’s in Social Work (M.S.W.), University of Arkansas

Professional background: Horne-Brooks has been a top executive for various nonprofits advocating for the well-being of communities for two decades. She has held leadership roles for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Northwest Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas Tobacco Free Coalition, Community Clinic of NWA and, since 2012, the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation, where she is responsible for raising gifts for the growth of the foundation’s $4 million endowment.

What inspired you to pursue the career you are in? I knew that I would have to work in a field that was rewarding to my spirit. So I pursued the nonprofit route working behind the scenes, generally for the betterment of clients and to serve the community. I’ve been fortunate to be able to work in two huge areas that make an impact on quality of life in Northwest Arkansas and that was public health and public education.

What’s the most important aspect of achieving a balance between your career and your family? Early in my career, when my son was much younger, I was fortunate to have flexible work hours that allowed me to participate fully as a mom and also dedicate my time to my career. As my son grew older, our family developed a “divide and conquer” protocol. Each of us plays a role in making sure the domestic side of our family runs smoothly. My husband and son are just as invested in household duties as I am, if not more.

What qualities do you feel are most important in a company leader? I think being authentic transcends any other characteristic of leadership. Being the same person in all circumstances and being present for the people you work with creates a place for people to do their best. This means I often don’t sugarcoat things and my dialog is honest.

What’s the first thing you do at the office each morning? I begin my mornings with coffee and conversation. I ease into the day with dialogue with my co-workers. I work well through the synergy of the staff. As a team, we brainstorm and roundtable our projects and develop ideas, solutions and goals as a group before we divvy up our day.

What’s the last good book you read? “10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works — A True Story,” by Dan Harris. It is a humorous and brutally honest book. It was a game changer for me.

How do you spend your time away from work — if there is such a thing? What are your hobbies? I am high energy and am “on” most of the time. But as an extrovert, I still need time to retreat and re-energize. My father passed away a year ago. This ratified the importance of seizing the day. Traveling, exploring other cultures and slowing down and spending quality time with friends and family became a priority.

What’s your biggest passion and why? Being a change agent is my passion. There is no room in my career for apathy or indifference. I generally meet things head-on and dive in 100%.

What is something unique people would be surprised to know about you? I was an art history major in college, and I wanted to work in a museum as a curator. I abandoned that major because I realized that I would be entering a very competitive field and have to go work in a very large metropolitan area. Who would know years later that we would be art central for our region and the nation in the way of arts? If I had stuck with that, I might have had a different path.

What time do you get up on workday mornings? I do not thrive under a traditional work schedule. I get to work at 9 a.m., don’t usually take a lunch break and get home after 6 [p.m.]. I use my office time for administrative work, and once home, I usually hit my work productivity stride about 7 p.m. This has been going on for about 18 years, and it’s not uncommon for co-workers, board members or colleagues to get a call or text from me after hours.