Power Women: Candice Lawrence
Vice President of Programs & Partnerships for the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Associated Industries of Arkansas; Executive Director of Arkansas Economic Developers & Chamber Executives
What’s your secret to success?
Doing my best starts with thinking my best. Your thoughts empower your actions, which in turn generate your results. To achieve this, I start and end each day with a mantra I say in front of a mirror. In the morning, it includes bullet points such as: “Winning is contagious. When I help others win, I win too.” In the evening, I celebrate the day’s successes and give myself grace for the great work remaining to be tackled the next day. By choosing thoughts that generate positive actions, I am being very intentional about what I feed my mind.
What advice would you give to a young woman starting her career?
Know that momentum is messy, and feeling uncomfortable is just a sign that your old comfort zone is having a hard time keeping up with you.
What are your proudest accomplishments?
Being appointed to the Arkansas Workforce Development Board by Gov. Asa Hutchinson was a huge honor and one I don’t take lightly. I am also passionate about the work Junior Achievement of Arkansas is doing, and I am proud to serve on their Central Board of Directors.
How do you maintain a work/life balance?
The jury is still out on this one! Tips are welcome.
What obstacles have you had to overcome?
The biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome is myself. Once I realized that fear of failure was keeping me from achieving my dreams, my entire outlook changed. Fear is a debilitating illusion, and I refuse to give it power. That hasn’t always been the case.
What are you reading/watching/listening to right now?
Reading: “Soundtracks: The Surprising Solution to Overthinking” by Jon Acuff.
What do you love best about what you do?
I love serving Arkansas. I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the state’s finest. Currently, I am proud to lead AEDCE, an association made up of the state’s economic developers and chamber of commerce professionals. These are the individuals working to make Arkansas more competitive by bringing industry and jobs to the state. The way they create a quality of place within our communities seems effortless, but it’s not. It’s a tall order, and they do it well. It’s an honor to serve them as their executive director. As vice president of programs and partnerships of the State Chamber/AIA, I am able to impact change in a way I never thought possible. I really do have a dream job.
