Payge Torres Anderson

I would say my malleability and my ability to get stuff done. My team knows, and this comes from reviews and feedback, that I'm malleable and reliable. If I commit myself to something, I pride myself on being somebody that's dependable - my team knows if I say I'm gonna do something, I'm gonna get it done, whether it's something I've done before or whether it's something that I've never done. My nickname within the organization is actually GSD, which stands for Get Stuff Done, and it's kind of a joke we have, but it really captures who I am. One of my biggest strengths that has helped me be successful is my reliability. My team knows that if they assign me something or if they put me up to the challenge, I will figure it out. So I think my malleability and my grit are what have really driven my success.

The best career advice I've received is to stay true to yourself and to have grit. I've really learned that growth comes from being uncomfortable and challenging yourself, and not getting too comfortable, because the biggest growth happens when you take on tasks that really challenge you as an individual. I don't think I would be where I'm at today in my career if I didn't say yes, if I didn't challenge myself, and if I didn't have the grit to persevere through challenges early on in my career and take risks. You have to not be scared to say no when needed, but also be willing to take on new challenges.

I would say have confidence in your abilities. Being a woman in business, you need to be confident in yourself and know that you deserve a seat at the table. Know that your work is worthy, that you are worthy, and that hard work really pays off. Don't think 'oh, I'm too young' or 'I don't have the experience.' Really realize that if you put your mind to it and if you put yourself out there, opportunity will come. Just don't be scared to ask. You really can do whatever you put your mind to - if you want to work hard, it'll pay off. It's just as simple as that. I've been able to mentor two first-generation girls from Texas Tech, and what I tell them is that being first-generation or being young shouldn't hold you back. You can do whatever you put your mind to.

I think the biggest challenge is just keeping up with everything going on with AI. It's always about looking at the market and asking ourselves what we could do better, and making sure we're keeping up with the times. AI is ever-changing, and there are so many changes happening within our sector. We need to make sure that we're keeping up with AI and all the advancements in technology, because we want to make sure that we're offering our clients the best experience and the best information. The technology is moving so quickly, and that's both a challenge and an opportunity for us.

I would say my team and people are what I value most. I really value our team, and I think that a happy team produces great results. Teamwork, camaraderie, and really believing in each other - I feel like that is one of the most important things. Travis was my manager for probably 6 or 7 years, and I always knew he believed in me. I feel like your team always knows if you believe in them, and you have to genuinely build rapport with your team. We're coworkers, but we're also humans, and I really value that human aspect. In what we do, we're starting businesses for entrepreneurs, and behind every business start is an entrepreneur that's chasing their dream. I feel like remembering that we're all humans, being kind, being a good coworker, being somebody that your coworkers can count on to help them succeed, and genuinely caring about people's success - those are the values that matter most to me.