Denise Henry

I would say I grew up in foster care, and I was told the best I could do in life would probably be a hairdresser. That really drove me to be successful. Growing up in that environment where expectations were so low, it motivated me to prove that I could achieve so much more. I've also been fortunate to have incredible mentors throughout my career who believed in me and saw potential I didn't always see in myself. My first mentor, Audra Scott, tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I'd be interested in people management when I never really thought of it for myself. She planted a seed that changed the trajectory of my career. I've also learned to leverage resources like therapy and mental health support, which I think is so important. I love that this newer generation has made mental health awareness a priority. Having good mentors who act almost like therapists, along with using company resources for mental health support, has helped me balance the emotional challenges of wearing many hats. It's been about perseverance, having people who believed in me, and taking care of my mental health along the way.

The best career advice came from my first mentor, Audra Scott, who has since passed away. She was from New York but was working in Minnesota, and she was so direct, which was just a breath of fresh air compared to the more passive-aggressive Minnesota style. She saw something in me that I didn't see in myself. When she tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I'd be interested in people management, I was shocked and thought 'me?' I had never really considered it before, but she planted that seed in my head. At first I was really scared, especially because I was competing against my previous supervisor and would end up managing her cousin, but Audra helped me see that people management was natural for me. Looking back, I can see what Audra saw in me. Her belief in my potential and her willingness to push me toward opportunities I hadn't considered for myself changed the entire trajectory of my career. She continues to inspire and motivate me to this very day.

Just go for it. My first thought is to just go for it. Something that always holds us back as women, and it still holds me back a little bit too, is that we tend to apply for jobs where we match the skills 100 percent, but men don't do that. I think you need to push yourself forward, and I know it's scary and unnerving, but you really have to just push, and then you'll be so surprised at the outcome. It's hard to see when you're in that moment and you don't think you're ready, but once you push yourself, there's so much more ready for you to take on - new challenges, new accomplishments, and success. I've actually coached my own daughter on this same advice. You need to push yourself forward and believe in yourself. Don't let the fear of not matching every single requirement hold you back from applying and going after what you want.

One of the greatest opportunities in my field right now is the ability to invest in internal talent development and create meaningful visibility for employees across the organization. I’m passionate about helping individuals expand their skill sets and explore different areas of the business, which not only supports their career growth but also strengthens the organization as a whole. Additionally, there are exciting opportunities to step into more senior leadership roles, such as director or vice president positions, as well as to grow within corporate real estate development in the financial services space.
At the same time, there are challenges that come with operating in large, often hierarchical and global organizations. Navigating complex structures and ensuring alignment across multiple stakeholders can require patience, adaptability, and strong communication. Another challenge is breaking into areas like corporate real estate, which have traditionally been male-dominated. However, I see this as both a challenge and an opportunity—to bring new perspectives, drive change, and help pave the way for more diverse leadership in the field.

Family comes first, period. In my downtime, I'm passionate about traveling and honoring my children's individual interests by taking separate trips with each of them since they enjoy different things. My son, who just turned 20, gravitates toward northern climates and cooler temperatures, so we took him to Iceland in January, which was amazing - I think about that trip almost every day. My daughter prefers warm weather and loves Halloween, so our last trip was to New Orleans to celebrate Halloween, which was on her bucket list. I'm extremely proud of my children and look forward to our next adventures, like Montreal with my son in the near future. When the weather permits, I love being outdoors - hiking, paddle boarding, or kayaking, which is extremely therapeutic for me. One of the more important values for me is mental health awareness. It's important to provide resources for people to seek out so they can gain support and guidance through the challenges and emotional balancing required when wearing many hats. I'm extremely proud of this generation being more open about mental health, and I hope to inspire others to seek therapy if needed, guidance and counseling, or build relationships with people who are extremely supportive so they can get through harder times in life and in their careers.