50 Leading Women: Ann Christenson

In honor and celebration of our Women’s Division‘s 50th Anniversary, we will be spotlighting 50 Leading Women making an impact, raising their voice, and leading the next generation of women in the workforce and Plano community.

Introducing, Ann Christenson, Chief Human Resources Officer for Aimbridge Hospitality. Ann Christenson joined Aimbridge Hospitality in 2017 with over 20 years of human resources experience. In 2020, Ann  was tasked with leading during a time of great uncertainty as the COVID19 pandemic rocked the hospitality industry. In response to the pandemic and staying true to their culture of “Think We. Not Me”, Ann and her team created Aimbridge Aid, a 501(c)(3) charitable fund to fulfill a mission: to provide support for their associates and the communities they serve. We are so thankful for Ann’s leadership, the impact it has had, and for having the Aimbridge Hospitality team located right here in Plano, TX.

1. Describe your leadership style and how you lead others.

I learned from a mentor years ago that the most popular sport is “boss watching”. As a leader, all eyes are on you. People look to you for cues about what’s important and what’s valued in the workplace. So, on a fundamental level, I make it a priority to lead by example. As for hallmarks of my leadership style, I am primarily a visionary with a passion for strategy and transformation.

2. How can women develop their leadership skills in the workforce?

Be a “work in progress”. Never stop learning, growing, and stretching yourself. If you’re too comfortable, you’re doing something wrong. Find a mentor. Take advantage of development opportunities. Make friends with feedback. The only thing worse than getting constructive criticism is not getting it! And remember, if you’re the smartest person in the room…you’re in the wrong room!

3. What are the most important decisions you make as a leader?

Most importantly, it’s making sure we’ve got the right talent in the right roles to drive the business forward.  There are certain things you just can’t train for, so patience and clarity when it comes to recruitment are key. High-performing teams are built one person at a time. If you compromise your standards, everyone suffers. Sometimes that means making some tough decisions. The key is to find people that are not only good at what they do but also whom other people want to work with. When you get it right, everyone thrives and a positive, high-performing culture is the outcome.

4. What has been one of your biggest joys as a leader?

Without a doubt, it’s watching people learn, grow and thrive because of the opportunities and experiences they received at work.  Knowing I played a small part in helping so many people advance their careers and accomplish more than they dreamed they could never gets old.

5. What has been your greatest career disappointment? What did you learn from it?

At the risk of stating the obvious, my greatest disappointment has been the real hardship suffered by so many of our associates brought on by the pandemic and the relative helplessness we, as leaders felt.  Like so many businesses, we had to part ways with so many of our workforce through no fault of their own – many of whom were facing other devastating life situations at the same time. Fortunately, we were able to set up an Aimbridge 501(c)3 non-profit foundation in eight weeks to help support our impacted associates and, of course, more recently have been able to bring many of them back. I learned long ago that it’s easy to treat others well in the good times but how you treat people during tough times really speaks volumes. I’m grateful to work with an organization and leadership team who leads with compassion and whose north star is doing the right thing…even when it’s not easy.

6. What strategies could be used to promote inclusion in the workplace?

At Aimbridge, one of the pillars of our employee value proposition is, “A Place to Belong”. We’ve learned that it’s one thing to be “included” but to feel a sense of belonging goes much deeper.  It starts by hiring people that enjoy the differences between us but who also recognize that our similarities are much greater. Then, we educate our leaders on how to leverage the vast diversity across the organization, help individuals recognize their unique gifts and realize their full potential, and ultimately celebrate the strengths, differences, and similarities of all our people.

7. What advice would you give your 25-year-old self?

Critics are a dime a dozen. We often spend time worrying about what others think and end up limiting our own potential. So, I would tell my 25-year-old self to be fearless and never shy away from something because you or others think you can’t. If they say you can’t be a VP by age 34, prove them wrong!  On a more humorous note, I’d also tell myself to never say never. I was “never” going to have kids but thankfully fate intervened and I now have five fabulous sons.

8. What advice can you give to the next generation of female leaders?

Support each other, celebrate each other, and mentor others.  I will never forget two female leaders who helped open doors for me and helped shape who I am today.  Be that type of leader who helps others succeed.  Remember, success is not a limited commodity – there’s plenty to go around and true joy is only found in giving back.

9. Who inspired you and why?

No one has inspired me more than my father.  He was a long-time politician in the city and state I grew up in.  I watched him lead the through floods, emergencies, and tremendous growth.  He believed in me and instilled in me a sense of confidence that I could do anything if I put my mind to it. His three leadership tenets, which he passed on to me, were patience, perseverance, and professionalism.

10. What do you want to be remembered for?

I count my blessings daily for ending up in a career and in an organization that allows me to touch so many people’s lives. I would hope to be remembered for having had an impact – even a small one – on the careers and lives of those I’ve had the pleasure to work with.