Todd:
Welcome back to the podcast. Today we have a very special guest. We have Laura Lynn Smith, who's a division vice president and general manager at ADP. She also happens to be our incoming chair, and she'll be starting her term just in a few days, and so wanted to invite her to speak to you and for you all to get to know her a little bit. Laura Lynn, welcome.
Laura Lynn Smith:
All right, well, thank you Todd. Pleasure to be here.
Todd:
Absolutely. Maybe just as we start, I know a lot of people know you out in the community, but maybe something about yourself that we wouldn't necessarily find on your bio online.
Laura Lynn Smith:
I can walk on stilts.
Todd:
Really?
Laura Lynn Smith:
Yes. I learned how to do it as a child. My grandfather built us stilts and all the grandkids learned how to walk on stilts.
Todd:
I think that's the most unique one I've ever heard. Can you still do it?
Laura Lynn Smith:
Yes.
Todd:
Wow.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Yes, I can.
Todd:
That's amazing.
Laura Lynn Smith:
If anybody has any stilts, we'll give it a shot.
Todd:
Well, my kid keeps growing. I might need to get some lessons for every time I hug him. I'm at his armpit level, and I'd like to get some more height, so that'd be nice.
Laura Lynn Smith:
There you go. We'll work on that.
Todd:
So obviously a really great career and a lot that you do in the community, but maybe talk to us a little bit about your journey that got you to where you are today and your role.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Yeah, so I started at ADP in 1994, so I celebrated my 30th anniversary a couple of weeks ago.
Todd:
Congratulations.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Thank you. Thank you. Three decades and during that time, held different roles in sales, implementation, leadership, business operations. Started my career in Orange County, California out of our La Palma office, and moved here in 2017 when we opened one of our large locations here in Arizona, which is known as a One ADP location.
Todd:
Well, that's wonderful. In terms of professional or personal experiences that have impacted your career path, can you speak to that a little bit?
Laura Lynn Smith:
So I really do believe in the power of stepping outside of your comfort zone and also the power of networking. So when I think back about times when I did step out of my comfort zone and got involved in stretch roles or stretch assignments where I had the opportunity to demonstrate my knowledge or leadership with people who maybe I didn't regularly work with and present to, maybe leaders who I hadn't met before, really gave me the opportunity to grow that brand and that network while doing something new that may not have just naturally fallen in my wheelhouse. And never underestimate the power of that network and the advocacy and sponsorship that that network can really give you when you're thinking about career growth.
Todd:
So you felt the fear, but you did it anyway.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Yep.
Todd:
That's wonderful. And maybe you answered this partially, but other folks that are coming into the job market or into their careers, what advice would you give them as they start that path? Or even maybe they're looking to make a change?
Laura Lynn Smith:
Yeah, I think it's understand and know your strengths and really focus on those because that's where you're going to really shine and grow and then ensure that others around you recognize what strengths you bring.
Todd:
Absolutely. So this is your sixth year on our board of directors. It's been a pleasure. We actually kept you on an additional year, so you could be our chair, but describe your experience at the Chamber, including some of the work you did in our DEI committee.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Yeah, sure. So I mean, the Chamber really has so many amazing programs and initiatives to help the business community in the greater Phoenix area, as well as the community at large. So when we think about what the Greater Phoenix Foundation is doing regarding workforce development, career development with high school students and underserved communities, I think just making such a great impact. And it was my honor to lead the DEI Forum for a couple of years and am thrilled that the Chamber was able to provide a forum for businesses to really come together and have a place where they can connect about DEI initiatives, share best practices with each other, learn from each other.
And when we think about the toolkit, and the toolkit is being a resource for businesses no matter where they are on the DEI continuum, to have that resource available to help support them. And the fact that the Chamber has been recognized nationally and won an award for the DEI Toolkit, I think is just so exceptionally representation of what the Chamber can really bring. And I know the Chamber made a conscious decision to offer it to other chambers who were asking about it at no charge. And I think that that really demonstrates not only the power, but how this Chamber really leans in and leads with all chambers and helping support other chambers with DEI in their communities.
Todd:
Well, and it does speak to the leadership component, given the fact that it was almost entirely done by members of the board and the executive committee, which tells you that there was a lot of skin in the game.
Laura Lynn Smith:
You had a lot of businesses come together and share their best practices to create that toolkit.
Todd:
So obviously it's been a big year. What are some of the things that you believe we've accomplished this year and this fiscal year and actually going into the next fiscal? What are some of the things that you're going to prioritize as our chair?
Laura Lynn Smith:
Yeah, so when I think about, I mentioned the programs and initiatives that the Chamber offers to businesses, whether it be the Economic Outlook Forum every year, which I think is such a great way for businesses to really get that lens of what's going on in the economy, both nationally and locally, programs that we do for women, the Power Women Alliance, and then also the Athena Awards, where we recognize women in the community who give back and really make an impact.
Todd:
That's an amazing program.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Which I think is fantastic. Valley Young Professionals, which is really creating and helping grow that next generation leaders in the Valley. Economics Insight Dashboard that was just launched recently. That is just such a wealth of information around the economy, housing, workforce in the greater Phoenix area. And then of course everything that the foundation is doing with Elevate Ed and Connect to Work and growing the workforce. I mean, just so many amazing accomplishments for the Chamber and really exciting that as we go into 2025, really looking for ways that we can have more business involvement in all of those initiatives. We have such a great foundation on some of them, and just grow them into more impactful programs in the Valley.
Todd:
Well, we're a finalist for Chamber of the Year, and I think I would just like to take that video and say, here you go. Here's why we should get Chamber of the Year. So I think one of the things that I find interesting is how members of the business community, leaders in the business community see this chamber. From your perspective, why is it important to be a member and what do you get out of it?
Laura Lynn Smith:
So I'm very passionate about getting involved, and when we think about the way that what the Chamber does really does advance not only the business community, but our community at large, I think one of the things that's important is having businesses really lean in and help support and get involved in a lot of these programs. So what I'm really excited about is even more participation, which I know we have a lot of interest from the business community in the areas that the Chamber is focused on, because with that, the Chamber really does help create pathways for businesses to be successful and thrive in the Valley.
Todd:
Absolutely. Well, we're certainly looking forward to a great end of this year and a terrific next fiscal year with your leadership and that of the board. We can't let you go without a quick lightning round.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Lightning round.
Todd:
You know me. So we're going to start with first job?
Laura Lynn Smith:
First job. So my first official job was with ADP. However I, growing up, spent summers on my grandfather's farm and I picked raspberries and cherries, and we sold them. So I was out picking raspberries and cherries.
Todd:
What'd you learn?
Laura Lynn Smith:
Yeah, I learned that you have to pick a lot of cherries to make $2.
Todd:
Yes, I can only imagine. And then of course there's the loss from eating them probably along the way.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Yes, we ate a lot. Yes. We ate a lot of raspberries and cherries, and the dog used to eat a lot of them too.
Todd:
Sure. The dog was pleased. Excellent. Okay. And we'll finish up with first car?
Laura Lynn Smith:
First car was, it was a Saturn, which I don't even know if they make any more.
Todd:
They don't, but those were cool cars. And actually I have one more. First concert?
Laura Lynn Smith:
First concert, U2.
Todd:
All right, well that's very respectable. That was my first concert as well. Well, second but close enough.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Where did you see yours?
Todd:
Tampa.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Oh, Tampa. Okay. I was in LA.
Todd:
First was Journey, but I like to say U2. Well, thank you for spending the time with us today.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Thank you.
Todd:
Thanks for all that you've done with the Chamber, for the Chamber of our community, and we'll look forward to a very successful next year.
Laura Lynn Smith:
Yep. Looking forward.