Mary Ellen Sheppard

I interviewed Mary Ellen Sheppard with fellow MCLEAPS intern, Rozan Latham.  If you google her name, you will read about her many accomplishments in the County Sheriff's Office and her many contributions on various committees and boards. I am very impressed with her resume, but I wanted our interview with her to be about her perspective of leadership. In the first five minutes, Rozan said she was impressed with Sheppard's leadership skills because so many departments and people within the county respect her and want to work with her. Sheppard responded that she had to learn how to collaborate with others because early in her career she was very driven and focused more on projects than getting to know a team. I instantly related with her because I can be so driven that I forget about the people around me as well. Sheppard grew up in a military family and she aspired to attend West

Mary Ellen Sheppard

Point when it opened its doors to women for the first time in her teens. She did not attend West Point and she said she still remembers the disappointment she felt. Later in the conversation, I asked about her role as a leader and what advice would she give to women aspiring leadership positions. Her response was that women should be confident and feel empowered, but one's career is not about the work, but the impact made by the work. She stated that women must encourage each other and Sheppard has worked with many nonprofits focusing on women empowerment. She also repeated that relationships are important and each person should be valued for the talents they bring to an organization. The conversation between Rozan, Mary Ellen Sheppard, and I was a great one and we related to each others' experiences, but they were different as well. After our interview, I reflected on my strengths and desire to work in the public sector. Sheppard said it is important to write one's thoughts down and have a purpose. This conversation is one I will never forget.