High-Stakes Leadership

Chapter 5

Grounded in Values

Susan Nethero’s mother and grandmother provided her with powerful models of elegance. They dressed well, paid attention to fashion, and encouraged Nethero to do the same. She says they were elegant, and when she says it, the look on her face shows admiration and pure delight.

As Nethero matured, her mother realized that the intimate apparel options available to her daughter in their town were not going to work. The solution? Trips to New York City, where specialty stores were very different from the department stores closer to home. They had better products, broader selection and, most important, women who were expert in helping to choose and fit their customers. These stores’ inventory included products from Europe ...