NWA Women in Business: Betsy Reithemeyer

Age: 57

Residence: Rogers

Education: B.S., labor relations, public relations, political science, Iowa State University

Professional background: Reithemeyer recently joined supplier development firm 8th & Walton LLC to oversee the company’s media and communications efforts. She started her retailing career in 1979 with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and was the company’s vice president of corporate affairs until 2006. She was later CEO of The Jones Trust and vice president of global communications for Saatchi & Saatchi X. Reithemeyer has also served since 2007 as an alderman on the Rogers City Council.

What are the attributes of a good leader? “A passion for their business, a desire to see the entire team succeed, both professionally and personally, and the ability to listen to all sides in order to make the most informed decision.”

What other female leaders do you admire and why? “Golda Meir was a strong woman in a time in history where women were often not even allowed into the rooms she later commanded. She recognized the inherent differences in men and women’s decision making and leveraged it for the good of all. Eleanor Roosevelt overcame strong personal challenges to drive the social change she believed was critical to the success of the world. Susan Barrett. She leads with quiet resolve, from a serene point of vision and a passionate desire to serve and help others. NWA is a better place because of Susan.”

What do you want 8th & Walton to accomplish in the next year? “In the next 12 to 24 months, our challenge from our owner [Jeff Clapper] is to deliver to global suppliers business education and solutions to the challenges they are facing in order to be an efficient, effective and productive supplier to Walmart. We are positioned to grow 8th and Walton well beyond any prior growth and have recently moved into Canada and Mexico, with other Central American countries coming on quickly. Before long, we will also be working in Asia.”

Have you had to deal with gender bias in your career? If so, how did you handle it? “I think all women who have been in business for 35 years have had to deal with either overt or subtle gender bias. I have always seen gender bias as the other person’s challenge, not mine. Hard work, strategic vision, and leveraging opportunities to demonstrate the value of your work is key to overcoming any bias. It is still true today.”

What advice would you give a younger version of yourself, just starting your career? Would you do anything differently? “I really try not to have regrets, so probably wouldn’t do anything differently. To a younger me, I would encourage myself to not take it all quite so seriously and to have more fun. Often the pressure we feel is almost totally self-imposed. I would learn to relax — one of my biggest failures in life is I don’t do time off or vacations very well.”

What drives you to succeed? “Passion to help others. In every role, the greatest satisfaction is how we are able to empower someone, encourage a new path, or even positively impact the world. Whether growing Walmart for more than 25 years, bringing jobs and a standard of living to the world, or transforming a vacant building into the Center for Nonprofits, people are counting on us to succeed.”

What do you do to unwind/for fun? “We have two Golden Retrievers who keep my husband and me very busy. We enjoy being on the lake when we can and recently went to Bonaire to scuba dive, which was totally relaxing. Dear, close friends, who are always close to share laughs and tears. Otherwise, a good book. I read four or five books a week.”

What motivated you to choose the field you’re in? “I enjoy managing business, developing people, and working to make our communities stronger with a great quality of life. The work I do allows me to be involved in all of those things and meet some fascinating people along the way. I like variety — and the work I do is different every day.”

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? “Listening to their needs, wants, desires and then solving for those challenges gets you a long way. In the end, ask. The greatest honor we can give someone is to ask their opinion or advice. Listen to it thoroughly and intently, modify what you can and explain your motivation when there is a difference.”

How have attitudes changed about women in the workplace from the time you started out until now? Or, has there even been a change? “I was fortunate to be engaged while there was such a major transformation in the workplace regarding women. I am grateful to the women ahead of me who paved a path and offered a hand up — never a hand out. Today, I do believe we are developing a work force that regards people much more fully on their merits over any other differentiating factor. They don’t care about the gender of the leader — they just want to know if they are a strong, ethical, moral leader that will deliver results.”

Best mentor? “My Mom, Shirley Beatty. She balanced working full time with raising a family, often alone as my father spent 17 years on sea duty with the U.S. Navy. Family is first.”

What’s one surprising or interesting fact about you? “Of all the jobs I had at Walmart, the one that I was most reluctant to take on was leading the Walmart Foundation — I wanted to stay in Government Relations and Corporate Communications. It ended up being the position that transformed the direction of my life and career. Great reminder that God just laughs at the plans we make.”