Below is an article originally written by Mia Balabanis. Go to Pitney Bowes's company page on PowerToFly to see their open positions and learn more.
In celebration of Women's History Month and our theme, Accelerate Progress, we are proud to spotlight some inspiring journeys of women in leadership at Pitney Bowes. They share insights into the role Pitney Bowes played in accelerating their careers, how their personal experiences shaped their professional paths, and how support from role models, mentors and family members championed their growth. We start with the question, "Tell us about yourself."
| Stacy Alexander General Manager, Presort Services | I am an avid music lover with very eclectic tastes, a canine aficionado (or just a happy pet parent). In another life, I swear I was a world traveler because it just doesn't feel right if I am not taking a trip somewhere. My family circle is small but mighty, and I can say I have close friendships that span 20 years or more. |
| Joyce Bordash | I have spent my entire career in technology sales. I have a background in both client facing sales along with channel sales and have been at Pitney Bowes for six years. |
| Erica Creahan | I live in Atlanta with my husband, Michael, my daughter, Ava, and my yellow lab, Olive... I love all things nature, especially with water. I grew up in a beach town and now gravitate to the mountains, visiting often. Driven from a very young age, I started my first restaurant job at 15 and worked through high school and college. |
| Angela Holland | I am married with two sons, aged 8 and 9. You will find me at the weekend on the sideline of various football fixtures, come rain or shine. I have just invested in a Peloton this year and make a daily commitment to myself to get on the bike. For any Peloton fans, I love Leanne Hainsby and Emma Lovewell. |
What support systems have been crucial for your career growth?
Stacy: My family has been the foundation that has supported, encouraged, and propelled me along my career journey. I was raised by my mother who instilled in me the importance of hard work, strength, and determination. You can always learn more whether it be self-reflection, your trade, or something entirely new.
Joyce: A small inner circle of trusted advisors both within the industry and from other industries. They serve as sounding boards and offer various perspectives on next steps. Also, a growth mentality where one wants to continuously learn about new trends in the industry. I leverage every learning opportunity that comes along and am willing to reinvent myself and my approaches.
Erica: The Pitney Bowes HR system provides a continuous feedback loop that fosters open dialog and coaching. I currently report to Georges Berzgal, Chief Revenue Officer, Global Ecommerce. In a short time, Georges has helped me sharpen my financial acumen and pushed me out of my comfort zone. It’s always exciting to be challenged and growing.
Angela: The roles that I have had at PB have given me the opportunity for growth with supportive leaders and peers, who gave me the opportunity to try new things and do things differently to how they have been done before. I have enjoyed good partnerships across the organization at all levels.
What personal experiences or role models have inspired your professional journey?
Stacy: My mother is my role model. She was a high school special education teacher assistant for 42 years and went to college at the age of 55 to complete her associate degree. She always instilled a sense of pride in my sister and I as we grew up.
Joyce: I was fortunate enough to grow up with a mom who worked in the stock exchange and in banking, so she was a great professional role model. She stressed that education was a key that opens many doors and to not be afraid to take a seat at the table when it came to decision making. Realize that it’s important to recognize small steps in progress as much as it is to recognize major steps in progress.
Erica: Working with trusted colleagues and role models such as Jane Hornaday (VP Ebay Client Management) and Gregg Zegras (EVP & President Global Ecommerce), who have provided incredible business and personal insights and advice. They have recognized my potential and allowed me to grow. Also, managing and developing a team with the aptitude and appetite to manage a portfolio of clients on the front line is very rewarding. I love watching my team grow, develop, change, and excel over time.
Angela: My parents always worked hard and taught me that if you want something in life, you have to get it yourself. I’ve always been very practical and so I decided to do a college course in Business, and then went on to do a degree in Business and HR. My college tutor at the time really inspired me to pursue a career in HR, and had it not been for her I think I probably would have chosen a different career path. When I reflect now, she helped me to comprehend the huge impact HR can have on the communities within which we live and work.
In terms of personal experiences, when I was studying, I applied to work voluntarily in HR departments to gain some hands-on experience. I worked at a footwear retailer in their head office, and they really appreciated the appetite and desire I had to learn and gave me a wealth of experiences for someone who was so early in their career. I felt this gave me an advantage so when I finished studying and was looking for my first full-time role, I already had practical on-the-job experience.
How has Pitney Bowes helped accelerate progress for you/in your career?
Stacy: PB has helped me advance to the next tier in my career. Since becoming the General Manager at the Presort Services site in Arlington, Texas, I have had multiple opportunities to partner with executive leadership on various initiatives. I led the General Manager Advisory Council for Presort Services which aligned new ventures that expanded my personal and professional growth.
Erica: I have worked at Pitney Bowes for nearly 20 years and have worn many hats. I was part of a divested business unit, where I was in business development. I changed my career focus to international logistics with a marketing/advertising focus. The transition was challenging, but opened the world of e-commerce logistics, and I moved from being an individual contributor to managing a client engagement team. Pitney Bowes has always provided me with varied experiences and new challenges.
Angela: I am a working mum, and the flexibility that PB has given me to manage my personal and professional life has been of huge importance to me. A key factor for me has been the space to learn, to reflect and try new things. I enjoy working hard and like to apply myself in everything that I do.
Learn about our employment opportunities on our Careers page
