Mary Anne Gale - Understanding the importance of Trust

"I knew then that trust mattered as much, if not more, than skills and experience."

Copied with permission from the Preface to the book Running for Office, Getting yourself elected to the career you really want by Mary Anne Gale with Shelley Cowan

Continued from Sharing Insight

When I was hired at Proctor & Gamble's Cheboygan, Michigan plant, I was the first woman with a college degree to fill a non-technical position. In making the job offer, the plant manager told me that, even though I came with excellent recommendations and a strong record of delivering results, my degree in retailing and my skills and employment experiences did not match the desired profile. He explained that he hired me because of my confidence in myself, and the way I came across as a person. He said, "I hired you because you gave me reason to believe you could do the work."

I knew then that trust mattered as much, if not more, than skills and experience. And I knew that the reason he trusted me was because I showed him who I was a a person.

His trust continued to inspire me throughout my career. It inspired me to prove that anyone who extended his trust to me was making a wise investment. It inspired me to believe in the value of getting to know those in positions of power, and showing these people who I am as a person. And as my rank and responsibilities increased, his trust inspired me to extend my trust to those who shared their confidence and enthusiasm with me in an honest and straightforward way.


Learn more aboaut how Mary Anne managed a very successful career while raising three children:

• Mary Anne Gale on Balance
• Mary Anne Gale on Making Tough Choices
• Mary Anne Gale on Sharing Insight

​Mary Anne Gale is President of Careerscape, held VP roles at Proctor & Gamble, and is co-author of the book Running for Office, Getting yourself elected to the career you really want by Mary Anne Gale with Shelley Cowan. A graduate of Michigan State University, she has been recognized as one of their Distinguished Alumni.

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