Shoot
Like A Girl is reinvigorating our “Women of Inspiration” Article Series. As we continue to empower women to
participate in shooting sports with confidence, we want to highlight ladies who
have and continue to push through glass ceilings in the shooting sports
industry so that others may follow! We
hope you are inspired!
Recently,
at the National Rifle Associations’ Women’s Leadership Forum Luncheon, I ran
into our friend Liz Sharp, Vice President of Investor Relations at Smith & Wesson. I was very impressed when she
introduced two other women who were also corporate executives from Smith &
Wesson: Deana McPherson, Vice President and Corporate Controller; and Anne
Bruce, Vice President of Human Relations.
It was an honor to meet these three accomplished women, and a privilege to
introduce them to you through Shoot Like A Girl’s “Women of Inspiration”
article series. We hope you find
inspiration in their words and accomplishments!
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| Women of Inspiration with Governor Bobby Jindal From left: Deana McPherson, Liz Sharp, Gov. Jindal, Anne Bruce |
SLG: How long have you worked in the industry?
ES: 10 Years
SLG: What made you decide to work in the gun
industry?
ES: I was unfamiliar with guns or the gun
industry in general. But as I was doing some independent consulting in investor
relations, a friend told me about a new public firearm company (Smith &
Wesson) that had an opening. I thought
it was intriguing so I pursued. Long
story short, I signed up full time, and began to learn a lot of wonderful
things about our industry and I’ve been hooked ever since. Now I shoot every
chance I get and I love bringing other newcomers, particularly ladies, into the
sport.
SLG: Why do you think it is important to encourage
women to participate in shooting sports?
ES:
I think the shooting sports are very well suited for women. There is obviously a self-protection element
that I think is important for every woman to master. But beyond that, it’s a sport where women can
rally explore a new skill set, excel, and develop wonderful comradery with other
women shooters.
SLG: If you could tell ladies one thing about the
key to your success, what would it be?
ES: Remain open minded to new opportunities and never stop learning new things.
SLG: Would you please make a comment about
shooting safety?
ES: There is absolutely nothing more important in
the world of sport shooting than the element of safety. It must permeate every situation where a
firearm is present. I strongly recommend availing oneself of every opportunity
to take any and all classes available to help keep safety concepts fresh
and “front of mind” when shooting.
Deana
L. McPherson, Vice President and Corporate Controller, Smith & Wesson
SLG: How long have you worked in the
industry?
DM: 8 years
SLG: What made you decide to work in the gun
industry?
DM:
For me, it wasn’t a decision to work in
the gun industry. It was a decision to work in a dynamic, strong, fast-paced
environment, in a publicly traded company with other hard working and fun
people. I just took for granted that the company made a constitutionally
protected product and didn’t think much more about it than that.
SLG: Why do you think it is important to encourage
women to participate in shooting sports?
DM:
The sporting aspect of our second
amendment rights is a great way to enable women to become more comfortable with
the operation and safety regarding their weapons. We all want women to become more empowered to
protect themselves and this goal is really furthered when they feel confident
that they know how to handle their firearm of choice. And, besides, once we get a handgun in their
hands, they realize how fun it really is!
SLG: How did you get introduced to shooting sports?
DM:
I was lucky enough to not only work for
a firearm company, I also had a great co-worker who really wanted the other
women in the company to participate in shooting. She made it a priority to schedule range time
with the other female executives and gave us an opportunity to learn in a low-key,
safe, a non-judgmental environment. We
didn’t have to feel like “silly girls” in a man’s environment. I will always credit her with taking the time
to show me how fun shooting can be.
SLG: If you could tell ladies one thing about the
key to your success, what would it be?
DM:
I think, to be successful, you have to
play on the same field as the men do. You can’t make excuses or expect to be
given anything. You have to work just as hard (and sometimes twice as hard).
There will always be something to prove and someone that doesn’t think that a
woman can measure up. I have the confidence to believe that I more than measure
up.
SLG:
Would you please make a comment about
shooting safety?
DM: Safety is so important. To pull out my inner Star Wars geek, Yoda
says, “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”
You cannot try to be safe. You must be safe.
Anne
Bruce, Vice President of Human Relations, Smith & Wesson Holding
Corporation
SLG: How long have you worked in the industry:
AB:
2.5 years
SLG: What made you decide to work in the gun industry?
AB:
From a career perspective, I have always
chosen to work for companies with strong, highly recognizable brands. Additionally, when I met the leadership team
here at Smith & Wesson and learned about the strategy and the business, and
I was hooked. To work for a company that
has meaning and makes a difference is very important to me. From a personal standpoint, I grew up on a
ranch, and have been around firearms my whole life, whether it was hunting or
other activities. Additionally, my family is heavily military – my grandfather
was a Rear Admiral in the Pacific during World War II, my Uncle was a Captain
in the Navy, and my father was a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy as well. The importance of firearms was always
stressed from a standpoint of maintaining individual liberties but also for
shooting sports. It was always
communicated to me in the context of history, learn from past mistakes.
SLG: Why do you think it is important to encourage
women to participate in shooting sports?
AB:
As the mother of two teenage daughters
and as the daughter of parents who always encouraged me to break barriers – it
is really important to me that women feel empowered to participate in
activities that they choose to or pursue opportunities that are interesting and
fulfilling. Shooting sports is fun –
it’s a lifestyle sport much like tennis or golf. It also takes skill and to
master a skill is definitely empowering.
From a personal safety standpoint, knowing that you can take care of
yourself and not have to rely on another person is a very empowering
feeling. Being able to be independent in
today’s world is very important, knowing you can go places and do things
because you CAN is a phenomenal feeling.
SLG: How did you get introduced to shooting sports?
AB:
I was introduced as a child, I think I
received my first gun – a pellet gun when I was about 5 or 6. After several lessons and a stern talking to
by both parents, we were allowed to target shoot and take guns out with limited
supervision. Target shooting was
acceptable, but we were also told never kill anything unless you were going to
eat it! With several older siblings who
liked to hunt as well as, parents firearms were fairly common in our household. Safety was a priority. While I don’t shoot enough – my husband still
hunts often to this day and our girls shoot when they have time. I am not interested at this point in formal
competitions but it’s a great family activity and I really enjoy introducing people
to the shooting sports.
SLG: If you could tell ladies one thing about the
key to your success, what would it be?
AB:
I don’t know that there is one thing
that would make any one person successful.
I can tell you I have always given this advice to men and women alike:
·
There
is no such thing as “normal” – do not subscribe to stereotypes, do not subject
yourself to stereo types.
·
Life is
a series of balancing acts – having it “all” is a myth, realize that sometimes
you will short your family and sometimes it will be your career, but be aware
of where you are at.
·
You
will find opportunities and help where you least expect it – take the jobs
others don’t want, ask for advice from the people who are hardest on you, opt
them into your solutions.
·
The
right thing to do is rarely the easy thing to do – learn how to and be
comfortable making hard decisions, that in and of itself will distinguish you
from others.
·
Keep a
sense of humor and keep things in context.
SLG: Would you please make a comment about
shooting safety?
AB: Can you ever say enough about safety! There really is no in between. You are or you are not, take it seriously and
be comfortable ensuring others take it just as seriously.
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