Lorna N. Ow-Elroy

I attribute much of my success to the unwavering support of my husband. Before retiring, he was a senior executive with a Fortune 50 company and spent his career in human resources and leadership development. Over the years, his guidance, wisdom, and encouragement have played a significant role in both my personal and professional growth.

Whenever I’ve faced challenges or difficult decisions, he has been a trusted sounding board, offering thoughtful advice and helping me navigate the next steps with confidence. In many ways, I’ve been fortunate to have a personal mentor and advisor by my side throughout my journey.

His support was especially invaluable while I was pursuing my MBA while working full-time. Balancing work, studies, and other commitments was demanding, but having someone who had successfully completed the same journey provided both practical guidance and encouragement when I needed it most.

I am also deeply grateful to the many exceptional leaders and supervisors I’ve worked with throughout my career. They recognized my potential, invested in my development, and provided opportunities for me to take on new challenges and grow within their organizations. Their mentorship, trust, and support have been instrumental in shaping the professional I am today.

The best career advice I ever received came from my former boss, Josie Tulipano, who was the General Manager of the American Club in Singapore. Early in my career, I found myself overwhelmed trying to support multiple leaders and departments. My instinct was to say “yes” to every request that came my way. I kept taking on more and more responsibilities until I was stretched too thin and struggling to accomplish the things that mattered most.

I still remember a conversation I had with Josie that has stayed with me throughout my career. She looked at me and said, “Lorna, you can always say no.”

At first, it seemed like such a simple statement, but it was a powerful lesson in prioritization and leadership. I learned that saying yes to everything does not guarantee success. In fact, sometimes the willingness to say no is what allows you to focus on the work that will have the greatest impact. That conversation taught me the importance of setting boundaries, managing expectations, and finding solutions rather than simply taking on more than I could realistically accomplish.

One piece of advice I would give to anyone early in their career is: don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.

When you’re young or new to a role, it can be intimidating to walk into a room where everyone seems more experienced, more senior, or older than you. It’s natural to wonder whether people will listen to you or take your ideas seriously. I certainly felt that way at times. However, I’ve learned that confidence often comes from taking that first step, even when you’re uncomfortable.

Don’t let fear hold you back from contributing, sharing your ideas, or building relationships. The reality is that many of the people who seem intimidating are often far more approachable than you might expect. In fact, they may be just as curious about you, your experiences, and the fresh perspective you bring to the table. The more you put yourself out there, the more comfortable and confident you become.

One approach that has helped me throughout my career, especially when interacting with senior executives or highly accomplished individuals, is to connect with them on a personal level before diving into business. Rather than immediately launching into a formal conversation, I try to establish some rapport first. It might be a simple conversation about their background, interests, travel experiences, or something we have in common.

Of course, it’s important to respect boundaries and remain professional, but those initial personal connections often help create a more relaxed and authentic dialogue. I’ve found that people are much more receptive when the conversation feels genuine rather than purely transactional. Once that connection is established, the business discussion tends to flow more naturally and productively.

Finally, I cannot overstate the importance of networking. Throughout my career, many of the opportunities, partnerships, mentors, and friendships that have shaped my journey began through networking. However, effective networking is not about collecting business cards or making superficial connections. It’s about building genuine relationships based on trust, mutual respect, and shared interests.

Take the time to get to know people, understand their experiences, and find ways to create meaningful connections. When approached authentically, networking becomes much more than a professional activity—it becomes one of the most valuable investments you can make in your personal and professional growth.

One of the biggest challenges facing our organization—and many membership-based nonprofits across the country—is attracting and retaining new members.

As a Navy League council based in Florida, we operate in a community with a large retiree population. Many of our members are veterans and retirees who have dedicated years of service to both our nation and our organization. While their experience and commitment are invaluable, we also recognize the importance of bringing in the next generation of members to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the organization.

When I talk about attracting younger members, I’m not necessarily referring to individuals in their 20s or 30s. Even recruiting people in their 50s and early retirement years would help create a more balanced and sustainable membership base. Currently, as someone in my early 40s, I am considered one of the youngest members of our leadership team, which highlights the demographic challenge we face.

Like many organizations with long-standing memberships, we naturally experience attrition over time as members relocate, retire from active involvement, or pass away. The challenge is not only maintaining membership numbers but also continuously bringing new energy, ideas, and perspectives into the organization.

This was one of the reasons I was invited to join the board. My background in marketing, membership development, and nonprofit strategy allowed me to bring a fresh perspective to how we engage with the community and attract new members. While many of our board members have extensive military and leadership experience, they readily acknowledged that membership recruitment and modern marketing require a different skill set.

One of the first areas we focused on was strengthening our marketing and communications efforts, particularly through social media. Historically, the organization relied on traditional outreach methods that had served it well for many years. However, today’s audiences engage differently, and building awareness requires a stronger digital presence. The board has been incredibly receptive to new ideas, and together we have implemented a number of changes to modernize our outreach efforts.

As a result, we have seen steady, gradual growth in membership. It has not been an overnight transformation, nor did we expect it to be. Building awareness, strengthening community engagement, and growing a membership organization takes time. It requires consistency, visibility, and a willingness to evolve with changing demographics and communication trends.

While this challenge is particularly visible within our Sarasota-Manatee Council, I believe it reflects a broader issue facing many Navy League councils across the United States. The future of our organization depends on our ability to engage new generations of supporters while continuing to honor and value the members who have built the foundation we stand on today.

For me, the importance of building genuine relationships extends far beyond the workplace. It applies just as much to our personal lives as it does to our professional ones. At the heart of every meaningful relationship is trust, and trust is built through authentic connections.

Throughout my career, many of the people I initially met through work have become close friends. What began as professional relationships evolved into lasting personal connections because they were built on mutual respect, sincerity, and a genuine interest in one another. In fact, many of the friendships and connections we develop later in life often originate from our professional experiences and the people we meet along the way.

Creating a relationship is one thing; maintaining it is another. Building a network is important, but nurturing those relationships over time is what truly makes them valuable. Whether in business or in our personal lives, meaningful relationships require effort, consistency, and a willingness to stay connected.

I’ve found that some of the most rewarding opportunities, collaborations, and friendships have come from relationships that were cultivated over many years. That’s why I always emphasize the importance of being genuine in your interactions. People can often tell when someone is only interested in a transaction versus when they are genuinely interested in building a connection.

To me, that ability to build and maintain authentic relationships is one of the most valuable skills anyone can develop. It enriches both our professional success and our personal lives, creating a network of trust, support, and friendship that lasts far beyond any single role or organization.