February 21, 2005
Women in Business Leadership Conference 2005: Commit to Your Community, Says Dawson

Work-life balance may be an evergreen issue for businesswomen struggling to balance family commitments and professional goals, but according to Susan Dawson, president of the Austin-based technology consulting firm Athens Group, professional and personal goals not need be in tension. A holistic approach to life, in which family commitments coexist with careers and community service, offers benefits to executives, companies and the community at large.

“Leadership should not just be about you,” said Dawson, MBA ’90. “You need to think, What is my greater positive impact on the world? How am I leading in my family? How am I leading in my community? How am I leading in all the spheres of influence that I have?”

Dawson spoke at the McCombs School Feb. 11 at the Women in Business Leadership Conference. She received the 2005 Trailblazer Award in recognition of her professional accomplishments.

Citing worrisome statistics about public education in Texas, Dawson argued that business professionals, have a pragmatic and ethical imperative to give back to their communities. “If you’re an MBA student, you’re going to walk out in the world with an earnings potential that’s about 4 times higher than the average household income in Texas. That’s the day you walk out of here,” she said. “You all have a huge gift in the education and earning potential you’ve received.”

This might seem like a guilt trip, Dawson acknowledged, but there are plenty of other reasons to take an active role in the community. At an early point in one’s career, for example, a non-profit can be an ideal place to gain new skills. “If you’re in marketing, you could go be treasurer for a nonprofit organization and learn the financial side,” she pointed out. “Who’s going to take that risk on you in a regular corporation?”

Dawson, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Austin Area Research Organization, Envision Central Texas and The University of Texas at Austin’s Evening MBA program, added that contacts made through community service can pay off by enhancing your professional network and your company’s reputation.

Perhaps most importantly, if immeasurably, giving back feels good.

“I often tell people, you can pay a whole lot of money to spend an hour a week in therapy, or you could pay nothing to spend an hour a week teaching a kid to read,” Dawson said. “I think it feels a lot better to be teaching someone to read.”

Community service can supplement a career, but a focus on community can also be integral to a career, as it is in Athens Group, Dawson said. An employee-owned company, Athens Group prioritizes the satisfaction of those who work there.

“We try to be living proof that supporting employees and their families, and being involved in communities, is not harmful to business goals,” said Dawson. “In fact, it can be very aligned with business goals.”