Erin Inman Featured on Chicago Newsroom 2.0 Discussing Leadership Development for Women

Joining Erin on the panel were Diane Primo, CEO of Purpose Brand, and Nadya Mason, vice president for research at the University of Chicago. Together, they shared personal experiences, leadership lessons, and practical advice for women navigating the middle stages of their careers, when access to visibility, mentorship, sponsorship, and growth opportunities can have a lasting impact.

During the discussion, Erin emphasized that one of the most common obstacles women face is becoming indispensable in their current roles.

“As funny as it may sound, one of the obstacles is that women become exceptionally good at their jobs,” Erin said, noting that high-performing employees often take on more work while missing opportunities that build leadership experience and visibility.

She encouraged women to prepare others to step into their roles, seek stretch assignments, and communicate their career goals openly.

“Stop waiting to be discovered,” Erin advised. “Raise your hand, volunteer for that project, volunteer to do that presentation, and tell people what your career goals are.”

Erin also shared an important lesson from her own career journey: technical expertise alone is not enough for long-term growth.

“I wish someone had told me that doing a great job is not a strategy,” she said, explaining that leadership skills, business knowledge, and professional networks are just as important as job performance when preparing for the next leadership opportunity.

Those principles are reflected in the way Primera develops its people. During the interview, Erin highlighted several programs that help employees strengthen their leadership and business skills, including financial education through open-book management, situational leadership training, and participation in external leadership-development programs such as TNC’s Launchpad. She also emphasized the importance of creating clear career paths and ensuring employees have access to meaningful growth opportunities.

The discussion closely aligns with Primera’s commitment to investing in people and building a workplace where leaders at every level can grow. Today, women represent over half of Primera’s executive leadership team and nearly half of the firm’s larger management team, a reflection of the company’s longstanding focus on the importance of an inclusive workplace.

For Erin, leadership development is not simply a topic for discussion. It is a responsibility. By helping employees build new skills, take on greater responsibility, and prepare for future opportunities, Primera continues to strengthen the next generation of leaders across the organization.

As the panel concluded, Erin left viewers with a message that resonates far beyond the workplace: career growth requires intention, advocacy and a willingness to step forward when opportunity appears.

“It’s important to have mentors and advocates,” Erin said. “Sometimes you have to take that step to move up.”