Natural Leaders: Lean in With 2023’s Class of Most Powerful Women

Janet Kurtz,
Janet Kurtz
Editor-in-Chief

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Karin Mathis

Karin Mathis
Managing Editor
Aug 31, 2023
Aug 31, 2023

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Natural Leaders: Lean in With 2023’s Class of Most Powerful Women

As Nfocus reveals 2023’s Model Behavior honorees, our sister publication, the Nashville Post, spotlights community luminaries with their Most Powerful Women program. We honor these leaders at a celebratory luncheon and a panel discussion — where 2023’s Most Powerful Women share stories of growth and success.

This year, the Nashville Post celebrates another powerhouse class: Adrienne Battle, Deana Ivey, Jennifer Turner and Candice Lee. Though their careers and skill sets may vary, the one thing that unites them is their commitment to serving others. Here are some of their thoughts on leadership, management and lessons learned from successful careers in the sectors of arts, education and outreach.

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Karin Mathis

Director, Metro Nashville Public Schools

A Nashville native, Dr. Adrienne Battle has spent almost her entire career with Metro Nashville Public Schools. Adrienne — an MNPS graduate herself — was unanimously voted to be director of MNPS in March of 2020. She has since shepherded MNPS through its recovery from the spring 2020 tornadoes, as well as the district’s ongoing response to a global pandemic. Adrienne developed an effective leadership framework to achieve consistent qualities across all levels of MNPS staff, and she works tirelessly to make sure everyone in the district understands how much they — and their critical work — are valued.

Adrienne hopes that it will be easier for the next generation of female leaders to take on these positions because many women are paving the way, reaching back to mentor and promote younger women. She adds caution to that encouragement, though: “Politics in education are hard to avoid. ‘Why you entered this field’ can seem pretty far away if you’re not grounded and strong in your convictions.”

Adrienne’s teachers inspired her career path: “When I came back to teach, I didn’t have ambitions to be the superintendent — I didn’t see anyone who looked like me in that role. But there is a first for everything, and I’m honored and proud to be the first Black woman to lead MNPS.” From heads of state to heads of nonprofits — and the many spaces in between — Adrienne believes that women are plenty “tough enough” for leadership, saying, “We’re not going to be rolled over at the expense of the people we lead, the causes we champion or the results we’re working to achieve.”

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Janet Kurtz

President & CEO, Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp

Deana Ivey came to Nashville — and the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp — in 1997, having previously served as executive director of the Gatlinburg Chamber of Commerce. Though she recently stepped into the role of president of the NCVC, Deana is no stranger to the organization or to the leadership skills needed to promote one of the most vibrant cities in the country. Deana has led multiple successful initiatives throughout her time with the NCVC and has been a powerful force behind the attraction of Music City.

Her secret to successful leadership is simple: “I look for hidden talents among our team and push them to reach their potential. When someone has confidence in you, it can bring out something you didn’t even know you had.” This pillar of leadership action has helped her develop her team into a cohesive unit, allowing all members to reach their full potential. Though Deana will admit that promoting the hidden talents of her team is a core outward belief, she also understands that all leaders need internal courage to excel.

Her hope for the not-too-distant future is that more women have a seat at the table. She is thrilled to see that with each year, the number of women in leadership throughout Nashville is increasing. “If our organization is any indication,” Deana says, “the future of female leaders is promising.”

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Karin Mathis

Vice Chancellor & Athletic Director, Vanderbilt University

When Candice Lee was younger, she wanted to be many different things — a teacher, a lawyer, a therapist. Candice arrived at Vanderbilt Peabody College as a first-year student in 1996, and she never left. Twenty-four years later, Candice was named as Vanderbilt’s vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs and Vanderbilt’s first female athletic director. Not content to shatter just one glass ceiling, Candice is also the first Black woman to head an SEC athletics program. On leadership — which regularly demands hard things — and on growth, she says, “Courage is essential.”

In what could be considered a controversial take, Candice doesn’t agree with the concept of work-life balance, “But please don’t misunderstand!” She clarifies: “I strongly believe in self-care and taking time for what’s truly important. I believe in keeping things in perspective, but to think that we can commit ourselves to any greater purpose or passion and believe that all things will be balanced seems unrealistic.” Years ago, she overheard someone say “work-life integration” instead of “work-life balance,” and that shift resonated with her. She intentionally and consistently tries to support working parents because — with appropriate boundaries and a little creativity — work-life integration is achievable.

Of the next generation of female leaders, Candice hopes women won’t have to contend with the scrutiny that accompanies the glass ceiling — and the burden of its shattered pieces — because those limitations should no longer exist. Candice says, “As we fight to succeed, you can develop a chip on your shoulder from the constraints we currently navigate as women. I hope the next generation are accepted in all spaces and feel they belong.”

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Janet Kurtz

President & CEO, Tennessee Performing Arts Center

Two tenets of leadership that Jennifer Turner, president and CEO of Tennessee Performing Arts Center, holds dear are helping team members show up to work as their authentic selves and treating everyone who works at TPAC with kindness and respect. Her goal is to show those who work at TPAC that it is ok to share who they are both in and out of the workplace. “We are juggling many things between our work and personal lives, and sometimes that takes place in a hybrid environment with kids and pets popping on the computer screen. We need to know our employees in order to understand their challenges and best support them.” That distinction builds a motivated, productive and engaged team.

Her inspiration to lead came at a young age. She once thought of becoming a lawyer and arguing cases before the Supreme Court. This dream grew in the 1980s, as she watched the appointment of Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female Justice to sit on the Supreme Court.

As often happens, her dreams changed in high school when her drama teacher introduced her to performance theater and helped her forge a new path. Today, she is thrilled to see the number of women in leadership in her field.

Jennifer is optimistic about the future of women in leadership and hopes that more women will understand the value they bring to an organization. She also helps up-and-coming leaders to understand the value of remaining curious: “If we are not constantly growing, evolving and learning, I don’t think we can be effective leaders.”