Great relationships often start with giving back
Years ago, while volunteering on the ULI SF Communications Committee, I met Maureen Futtner. At the time, I’d been running my business for about five or six years, and she was launching hers. Over lunch, we agreed to find ways to work together—something we’ve continued to do over the past decade.
When crafting and sustaining authentic communication and content strategies, Maureen is one of the best communicators I’ve worked with. In a world overflowing with words, her approach is refreshingly intentional.
I’m thrilled to feature Maureen in my Remarkable Women series—spotlighting women who lead with impact, insight, and integrity.
Check out our conversation below…
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 “𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿,” 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿? I’ve been told I’m a great listener. When combined with my curiosity, I’m able to help people open up and put them at ease. It’s especially useful when, say, I’m conducting an interview with a commercial real estate executive on the impact of cancer research in his life. Yes, that happened. I was producing videos for the City of Hope Cancer Center. After I conducted this one particular interview, a representative from the executive’s office shared, “I’ve never seen them open up like that.”
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘀—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲? I meditate daily and have been doing so for over 15 years. Or maybe that my high school ambition was to be the greatest comedienne since Lucille Ball. When in doubt, meditate. Or laugh.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻?
As a communications consultant, I sometimes find my female clients reluctant to be “the spokesperson.” I’ll gently nudge a client towards a more public-facing role. It may mean nominating them for awards, ensuring they’re quoted in a press release or supporting them through messaging as we prepare for a video.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀? I recently saw Audra McDonald in “Gypsy” on Broadway. First, wow! Second, I subsequently heard this interview with Audra where she described being mentored by the great Broadway diva Barbara Cook. And there was nothing diva-esque or catty about their friendship. It’s just the story of an older expert who gently guided, encouraged and championed a younger talent. I think that gentle guidance is key for women to mentor other women.
Who are the remarkable women in your industry or community that deserve recognition? Tag them here and share why they inspire you. Let’s celebrate their impact together.