Ammie E. Harris

I attribute my success to my humble beginnings and the determination that came from being a child on welfare, raised in housing projects in Kentucky. When I was little, somebody told me I could be anything I wanted when I grew up, and even though counselors and others ignored me because they just saw me as the poor kid, I decided to prove them wrong. I worked hard, studied all the time, made it through college, and got a full ride to law school even while working full-time at night with a daughter. I wrote a paper when I was young saying I was going to be a corporate attorney when I grew up, and I did exactly that. I think it's important for people to realize that the whole stigma of the circles you run in, or your parents run in, or the money you have is what determines your future is just simply not true. Being poor was actually a barrier I had to overcome, but I used it as motivation. I found it almost as a motivating factor, like, don't put me in a box, you don't know me. My greatest skill has been my ability to negotiate diplomatically with empathy and partnership, understanding that we have to accomplish something together rather than trying to win. I've taken lessons from every industry I've worked in and brought them forward, whether it was lean manufacturing concepts or understanding different business models. I never looked at being a woman as a hindrance. I go into every room thinking I'm qualified to be here, that's all there is to it.

The best advice I received was when somebody told me when I was little that I could be anything I wanted when I grew up. I took that to heart and wrote down that I wanted to be a corporate lawyer, and with hard work, I did just that. Even though everyone ignored me, even counselors in school who saw me as just the poor kid, I believed in that message and made it happen. That simple belief that you can be anything you want if you work hard has guided my entire career.

My advice to young women is that you can have great success if you just keep up the hard work and always be a leader, and always be adaptable. Don't look at the world to dictate what you should or shouldn't do. Look into yourself. You decide what you want to do, and know you can do it. Don't let anyone put you in a box based on where you come from, how much money your parents have, or what circles you run in. I go into every room knowing I'm qualified to be here, and I never look at being a woman as a barrier. You don't have to follow the typical path that everyone says you have to follow. You don't have to go to an Ivy League school or attend all the bar events. You have to learn your craft, hone your skills, be really good at what you do, and build great relationships in the industries you're working in. Don't try to fit someone else's mold. You build the mold that fits what you want to do, and you stick with it. You don't have to follow the sheep. And remember, nothing you're doing is meaningless. Every job you take, whether it's working in a restaurant or any other role, is going to add to your career later. If you do some of these other types of jobs and don't just have somebody paying your bills your whole life, you're going to be more successful as a manager and a leader than those people ever will be.

The biggest challenge and opportunity right now is the transition from having humans answer phone calls to incorporating AI into the mix. When I started, people wanted 100 human beings to answer phone calls, but by the time I resigned, we were in a place where clients would say they have enough volume for 100 humans, but they want to figure out how to do it with less humans while still having the same quality and empathy. The challenge is figuring out how to responsibly incorporate technology into business so that you're helping clients save money and do things efficiently, but still making sure nothing's getting dropped. You have to always look at what point do you trust this tool, and at what point does it get escalated from the tool to a person to review it. It's a constantly evolving field because with each new innovation in any business, you have to look at what the laws are saying, where this is heading, and you have to consider regulations like GDPR and compliance across different states and countries. For me personally, the opportunity is being on my own now and ready to take on more clients, building my independent practice after resigning from my previous position.

The most important value to me is being able to inspire other young women and young people to believe in themselves and never accept any circumstance that they were brought up in as defining their future. Their future can be as bright as they want it to be. I want them to understand that hard work and determination can overcome barriers like poverty and lack of family support. I believe in fair and reasonable negotiations, building partnerships rather than trying to win, and treating everyone with empathy and respect. I don't look down on employees. I look at them as team players. I try never to marginalize anyone because I know what it's like to be marginalized. I believe in being diplomatic, understanding people's concerns, and helping them rather than belittling them. I also believe in staying true to who you are and not trying to fit into someone else's mold. When I'm not working, I'm supporting my local church and veterans organizations, spending time with my daughter, and being outdoors. I love fishing, hiking, and spending time with my dog. I also enjoy going to Christian concerts. These simple things keep me grounded and remind me of my humble beginnings, which I never want to forget because they made me who I am.