NH Business Notebook: Wisdom from wise leaders
Highlights from NH Business Review’s Powered by Women panel
NH Business Review’s Powered by Women event is one of my favorite gatherings. Each year, five accomplished women from a variety of educational backgrounds and professional disciplines share their journeys and what they learned along the way.
It’s like a backstage pass to listen to the kind of personal stories that rarely emerge in other business settings. After presentations from each of the participants, Managing Editor Amanda Andrews moderates a panel discussion that builds on everything that came before, leading to spontaneous moments that make each event memorable.
Here are highlights from the panelists, culled from the Nov. 13 event at the Manchester Country Club.
Mackenzie Fraser, senior vice president, EVR Advertising, on taking risks and finding work-life balance:
“The first thing that comes to mind to me is bet on yourself 100% of the time, because if you don’t have that you don’t have anything. Bet on yourself 100% of the time, and you’ll probably win 100% of the time if you just be yourself.
“In terms of balancing all of the things … you can’t. I am the least qualified person on this panel to talk about balance and boundaries; I have none. Never heard of them. Cannot hold a boundary with anything in my life. And I let work creep over way too much in my life and often prioritize that before myself.”
Dr. Stephanie Ihezie, neurosurgery medical resident, Dartmouth Health, on what motivates her: “At the core of it all, I want to help people directly. I want to play a small role in making someone’s life better and uplifting someone. Everyone here in this room is amazing in our various walks of life, but you really can’t go after anything if the health isn’t there. I still believe that is the way that I can make an impact in people’s lives.”
Geri Eisenman Pell, co-founder, Rise Private Wealth Management, on the importance of mentorship and role models:
“I did most of my career, a large part of it, as a single mom. But I took my son and my daughter everywhere that I could. And it came back to me in a wonderful way. Eventually my son said to me, ‘Mom, you’re the one that taught me about resilience. You’re the one that taught me about diligence, about hard work.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my god, I thought I was just schlepping you all over the country.’”
Donna Daneke, director of human resources, Summit Packaging Systems Inc., on managing conflict:
“When I was in law school, one of my favorite classes was administrative law, which I think is why I ended up being a litigating attorney for worker’s comp claims. But I also loved mediation, because in mediation you are supposed to be open to resolving issues without somebody else doing it for you. You’re supposed to come to some agreement with somebody else.
“One of the most favorite things I did was at Dover Middle School and the school in New London, Kearsarge Regional Elementary. My friend and I, who was in law school with me, we implemented peer mediation programs. It was wicked cool to see fifth graders asking ‘why’ questions: ‘Why did you push him on the playground?’”
Kristi Baxter, associate executive coach, Sojourn Partners, on her morning routine:
“One of the things I like to say is ‘Win the morning, win your day.’ “For women, one of the things I’ve learned from myself and through my clients is we give so much during the day that it’s really important to start your day with something that kind of serves and feeds you.
“I’m a workout girl. I’ve been doing it for my entire life. I was on a Peloton at 5 o’clock this morning so I could get a workout in before I came here, and that is sacred for me.”
Save the date: The 2026 Powered by Women event is scheduled for Nov. 12. See you there.
