Interview Transcript
The leader’s name is Mary Rowe. She is an owner and a manager of a family apparel shop Rowe’s Fashion. The shop is specialized in clothes and accessories produced in Europe. There are four employees. Mary Rowe has had this position for five years.
Interviewer: Describe the organization that you work in.
Mary Rowe: Rowe’s Fashion is a family apparel shop. It was found in 1995 by my father. Up to 2009, my mother and fathers were its managers. In 2009, they retired and decided to pass their positions to me. A shop is small. There are four employees, and I am a manager. The shop specializes in apparel produced in Europe.
Interviewer: Describe the culture of your organization.
Mary Rowe: Rowe’s Fashion is like a family. All employees have good relations with each other and me. I feel free to ask them about their problems, questions; we decide together what to change, etc. We respect each other and our shop.
Interviewer: What are your responsibilities as a leader?
Mary Rowe: I am responsible for many things. I order goods from our suppliers, decide what apparel to buy according to the latest fashion. I set prices and estimate revenues and costs. I hire employees and have many other responsibilities.
Interviewer: Describe your leadership style.
Mary Rowe: I have already said that our shop looks like a family. I am a democratic leader. Very democratic, maybe. My friends often say that it would be better for me to become stricter. However, I do not want to be stricter because my employees do everything well. They do not violate anything. Why should I be stricter?
Interviewer: Describe the steps you took to get in your current leadership position.
Mary Rowe: I said that it is my family shop. My parents passed it to me because I am their only child. So, it was very easy, I just received my position as an inheritance.
Interviewer: Was it difficult to be a leader in the beginning?
Mary Rowe: A bit. However, I am a very communicative person. It was quite easy to find a common language with my employees and to become closer to them.
Interviewer: What has been your biggest challenge as a leader?
Mary Rowe: To save the shop. When I received it, revenues were low because there were few customers. It was quite difficult to save it, but I made it, and I was proud.
Interviewer: Do you feel any challenges in being a woman and a leader?
Mary Rowe: I do not feel challenges in being a manager. I perform my responsibilities without problems. The only challenge is being a mother and a leader. I have two children, and it is sometimes difficult to combine my work and family.
Interviewer: Do you consider yourself a better leader than your colleagues.
Mary Rowe: I know personally only two apparel shop managers. However, their shops are larger. It is difficult to compare us; but as I know they have some problems with revenues and employees.
Interviewer: What has been your greatest achievement as a leader?
Mary Rowe: I have mentioned about my shop saving. When I received it, revenues were low because there were few customers. I managed to change the situation. The reason for bad performance was in the goods. The apparel sold was not very fashionable. There were many outdated clothes for high prices. Therefore, I studied current trends, found new suppliers, and now order only the latest collections. The number of customers has grown significantly.
