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Name: Rachel Todd
Company: University of Oregon
What it does: Higher education
Title: Director, Oregon Executive MBA
Why we chose her: As director of the University of Oregon's executive MBA, Rachel Todd has supported the state's business community by developing leaders, increasing diversity in the MBA program and helping the region's startup community thrive.
What trait has served you best in the past 12 months? I am a person who is always looking for ways to improve what we do and to remove barriers for folks to succeed. I look outside myself for answers. Having an open mind and saying "yes" to new opportunities has served me well.
How has your approach to work evolved during the pandemic? The journey through Covid taught me to approach each challenge with optimism, and to not let setbacks get me down. It’s all about people. I have always been an action-oriented person, but my efforts now are focused on strengthening relationships, commitment to community, listening to others and building trust.
What qualities make for a workplace that celebrates and uplifts employees? Every employee needs to feel that their work and their contributions are important, and that their work is part of the overall success of the organization. Employers should solicit opinions from staff from every level of the organization and encourage diverse perspectives. Uplifting your workforce involves celebrating the whole person and allowing one another grace in the face of personal challenges. We all need to consider that there are challenges in every co-worker’s life we aren’t aware of — and to allow space for being human.
Women Rachel admires
- Adrienne Nelson, U.S. district judge
- Nataki Garrett, executive artistic director, Oregon Shakespeare Festival
- Linda Weston, owner, Rapporto
- Ericka Warren, partner, Try Excellence
- Connie Brady, associate dean, University of Oregon Lundquist College of Business