Jennifer Hayden

I attribute my success to having a strong moral compass and the ability to make difficult decisions with clarity. There was a pivotal moment when I went to a mentor and said I was in a situation that was just eating me alive, it was so difficult and tearing me apart. This mentor said, Jennifer, I'd like you to cut out all the noise. I'm going to ask you a question I want you to answer quickly: Is what you're doing right, or is it wrong? On an ethical and moral level, I was able to answer immediately, oh, it's right. And they said, just because it's right doesn't mean that it's going to be easy. Having that moral compass that I can generally, no matter how much is going on, stop and breathe and say, is what I'm doing right, or is it wrong, helps me even when it is the hardest decision that I have to make. Another defining moment was when my predecessor, who had been the leader of the museum for 23 years, told me after I was chosen to be CEO that what made him realize so long ago that he wanted to look at me as a successor was that I was never afraid to manage up. He said I was always very respectful when I gave my opinions, but I never cowered. If I thought we were doing something that could have been better or was just incorrect, I was unapologetically a leader. I take that very seriously, and I take a lot of pride in the fact that I'm not afraid to lead, no matter what room I'm in. Looking ahead, my goals for the next 5 years include continuing to build a culture at this museum that really aligns with our values and our staff's values so that they find a place where they enjoy being and a work environment where they want to succeed in. I want to build a team where, when I walk in the door with all of my leaders, it is difficult for anyone outside of the museum to determine who the CEO is, because I am surrounded by such strong leaders. I'm also focused on expansion of our museum, whether that's through our programming to expand us outside of the four walls of the museum more nationally and internationally through our education programs and Nuclear Science Week, or tangible expansion where I'm looking into expanding on our building. We are also just a couple of weeks away from getting another airplane at the museum.

The best career advice I ever received came from a mentor during a particularly difficult moment in my leadership journey. I had gone to someone and said I was in a situation that was just eating me alive, it was so difficult and tearing me apart. This mentor said, Jennifer, I'd like you to cut out all the noise. I'm going to ask you a question I want you to answer quickly: Is what you're doing right, or is it wrong? On an ethical and moral level, I was able to answer immediately, oh, it's right. And they said, just because it's right doesn't mean that it's going to be easy. That advice has become foundational to how I lead. Having that moral compass that I can generally, no matter how much is going on, stop and breathe and say, is what I'm doing right, or is it wrong, helps me even when it is the hardest decision that I have to make. Another piece of advice that has stayed with me came from my predecessor when he told me what made him identify me as his successor. He said I was never afraid to manage up, that I was always very respectful when I gave my opinions, but I never cowered. If I thought we were doing something that could have been better or was just incorrect, I was unapologetically a leader. That validation of my leadership style has given me confidence to continue leading authentically, and I'm really proud that I'm not afraid to lead, no matter what room I'm in.

My advice to young women entering this industry is, first, don't be afraid to manage up. If there are opportunities where you believe you can contribute to the success of the organization in a meaningful way, don't remain quiet. Share your thoughts and ideas, unapologetically. I also determined in my 20s what I needed to really find a purpose in what I was doing in my career, and that was that I wanted to be proud and I wanted to be happy. So I encourage you to find the values that really make you who you are as a professional, and find a place that aligns with your values. I am a mother of two teenage boys now, and part of my happiness is work-life balance, ownership, respect, open-mindedness, and teamwork. I work for a place that allows me to find a work-life balance and really be happy. I think it's about determining what you need. Maybe it's money, maybe it is prestige, maybe it is title, maybe it is mental health, and all of that is completely understandable. Find what is meaningful to you and then go for that. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. When someone in a marketing position left at my museum, I advocated for myself and said I would really like to be considered for this position. When I was offered the director of communications role while I was 8 months pregnant, I was terrified, but I thought I'd like to be my own leader, so I kind of leapt and hoped that the net would appear, and it did.

The biggest challenges and opportunities in my field include building an organizational culture that aligns with our museum's values, developing strong distributed leadership, expanding programming beyond the museum’s walls to reach national and international audiences, exploring potential physical growth and expansion, and navigating ongoing nonprofit funding constraints while sustaining long-term impact.

The values that are most important to me, both in my personal decision-making and as a leader, start with being unapologetically open-minded. I never, ever assume that my way of thinking is the only way to do something. My team members have told me before that if I had a bingo card, one of my bingo slots would be 'bless your heart' because I say that often, being from Texas, but another would be 'I'm not saying no.' I always say that because I'm always welcome to differing ideas and opinions. Respect is fundamental to who I am. I believe in giving respect to have respect. Ownership is also very important to me because I feel like I have actively sought out to open every door I've ever walked through. It falls on me and what I can bring to the table, so having ownership is very important to me. Work-life balance is critical, as I mentioned, and it's very important to me as a human being. I am a mother of two teenage boys now, and part of my happiness is maintaining that balance. Finally, teamwork is essential. I know that I can leave the museum, go on vacation for a week or go home in the evening, and I know my museum will remain working as a well-oiled machine, doing everything, because I have a team who, all of us actively together, are moving this museum forward. There's no preconceived notion that success for this museum is because of me. I am fully aware it's because of the entire team that we have. Beyond work, reading brings me great joy. Leadership being so meaningful to me, I hope to one day possibly write a book or do different things for leadership that would bring such fulfillment to me. Truly, anything with my family brings me joy. I only have a few years left before my boys start going away to college, and any type of family time, whether we're working out together, traveling together, or doing new experiences, is precious to me. Lifting weights and exercise is very important to me, especially for my mental wellness. I'm also that person who loves plants and surrounding myself with greenery. I try to find happiness every day in different areas that I can be thankful for, and I aim to do that professionally and very much in my home life. Family is truly means the world to me.