Her Story
About Margie
Margie Hutson serves as administrative manager for the dean of the nation's top nursing school in Atlanta, Georgia. Over her five years in the role, her responsibilities have grown to include strategic planning for events, determining sponsorships and invitations, assembling teams, and functioning as a high-level administrator. She participates on the Leadership Council and Educational Council and serves as an adjunct member of the advisory board. Hutson obtained her PMP certification, which enabled her transition into this more strategic position from previous administrative roles. She attributes her success to continuous learning and improvement, having proactively taken a class on organizational change during a leadership transition. She created the Growth Series to teach support staff about professional growth topics such as reaching and reward, ownership and outcomes, and documenting achievements for annual reviews and promotions. Her approach emphasizes being proactive rather than reactive and demonstrating initiative beyond tenure. Hutson values compassion, integrity, empathy, resiliency, and an all-in mentality, including willingness to handle any task necessary for large-scale events.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Margie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to continuous learning and improvement. I function well when helping to inspire other people. I created a Growth Series to teach support persons about reaching and reward, ownership and outcomes. I share things from my professional past that taught me how to do my role, what's expected, how to make changes and measure them for annual reviews and promotions. I took a class on organizational change proactively when the dean retired. I try not to be reactive but proactive, and emphasize showing growth and initiative rather than just tenure.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Someone entering the industry should try to find someone more seasoned they could align with as a mentor. There are subtleties of emotional intelligence. You need to be really secure, know when to ask questions or not, how to read your leader, how to find answers and who to ask instead of just being thrown into the deep end. You need to find that person you can shadow.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In corporate world, leaders are still separated from support team even at highest level. Becoming a Chief of Staff can break that barrier to become a trusted advisor. Need to be aware of growth in the industry and the job market.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Compassion, integrity, empathy, resiliency, and an all-in whatever it takes mentality. Not beneath you to do certain tasks like parking garage duties when pulling off large-scale events.
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