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May 2019 : The OWA Spotlight: 5 Questions With a Leader

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(Sponsor Spotlight)

The OWA would like to thank our generous Platinum Sponsors for all they do to support our organization and its mission to enhance and promote the leadership role of women in the optical industry. In this new OWA newsletter series, The OWA Spotlight, we will feature one female leader from each Platinum Sponsor.

Millicent Knight

In this issue, we invite you to sit down with Millicent Knight, O.D., senior VP, Customer Development Group, and member of the leadership team at Essilor of America.

  1. Thank you for taking the time to chat with the OWA. What is your current position, and what areas do you cover/oversee at your company?

    I am the senior vice president of the Customer Development Group at Essilor of America and lead the charge on our eyecare professional relations, communications, eyecare professional and sales training efforts, and provide perspective on the point of view of the eyecare professional to the leadership team.

  2. Briefly, what is your background + how did you grow into your current role?

    I wanted to be an eye doctor since I was 8 years old. This was shaped by my early experiences with regular comprehensive eye examinations and vision therapy to address both myopia and an accommodative issue.

    I graduated with a Doctor of Optometry degree and a Bachelor of Science, Visual Science degree from the Illinois College of Optometry, as well as a Bachelor's degree in Biology from Augustana College. I have worked in a hospital-based ophthalmology/optometry co-management practice and owned two conventional practices.

    I started building an integrative eye wellness practice to complement my conventional practice, as a means of both differentiating the care I provided and meeting the needs of all of my patients. I also joined Vision Source many years ago to join other practitioners who were early adopters with innovation, technology, eyewear, and medical eye care.

    What also helped me grow as a person, and into my current role was completing three Fellowships: American Academy of Optometry, American Academy of Anti-Aging Regenerative Medicine, and a Kellogg National Leadership Fellowship.

  3. How would you describe your leadership style/focus?

    I was a point guard in basketball and the front leg of the 100-meter relays in college. In high school, I was captain of the cheerleaders. I called the cheers, tumbling routines, and formations. In all three cases, if one person on the team under-performed, our goal was not reached.

    My goal is always to provide clarity of vision, have the best people on the team functioning in roles that maximize their skill sets and interests, align on our team strategy, and provide resources, a structure, and then autonomy to make it happen. With the autonomy comes accountability and transparency.

  4. How do you mentor other women to grow into leadership roles?

    I heard someone say, grow where you're planted . . . and then continue to grow. I try and meet people where they are. Just as I did with patients in communicating with them in a manner that they could understand. That set the foundation for a lasting relationship of trust, and improved compliance.

    I think we have to broaden our image of leaders. Many people have something to give in this space but are stymied by not seeing other leaders who they feel they can emulate, and not seeing a path that supports their own leadership styles. Create the path.

    Let's also not get pigeonholed into thinking we can only learn from a specific type of leader, or only from other women. Lastly, a big part of leading is also knowing when and how to follow.

  5. What is your best tip for aspiring leaders to transition into this role in their careers?

    Bring your best and authentic selves. Be open to continuing to learn, so that you bring your best self to this and any other role. Genuinely care and network.

    You won't have all of the answers, but seek them through research and relationships built. Be available to people and also open to learning from a broad swath of people, whether they have a title or not.





Back to: May 2019 : President's Letter


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