Austin Business Journal on Aug. 31 revealed the 11 winners and 19 finalists for the 2023 Women in Business Awards.
The women span industries from technology to media, real estate to nonprofits, and include business owners, CEOs and senior executives.
Finalist Tamara Atkinson, Workforce Solutions Capital Area CEO, stood out to the judges because of her career and community impact.
Tamara Atkinson has unique insight into the workforce needs of Central Texas. As CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, she is a conduit between employers and jobseekers. She empowers women to find better jobs, prioritizing affordable child care for mothers learning new skills.
Q: What is your leadership style?
A: I strive to lead by example. When we work together and truly invest in our goals, we can make a great difference in our community. We reorganized our performance evaluation process and transitioned to catalytic coaching and have seen great success with this approach. We allocate a professional development budget for each staff member in recognition that every employee wants to grow professionally and personally.
Q: How do you lead in your company and community?
A: When I came back to this community after living abroad for five years, I came back with my oldest daughter who was very sick. This community gave my family and me a chance. I got a job and was able to advance based on my hard work and contributions. This community helped me care for my daughters and work at the same time. I enjoy preparing and connecting people to jobs because obtaining a quality job changed my life.