At her first job out of college, at a Wall Street brokerage firm, Christine Beauchamp wore an Ann Taylor dress. It's brought her a long way: She's now president of Ann Taylor Stores (a division of the corporation), with an office overlooking Times Square. The former CEO of Victoria's Secret Beauty and mom to a little boy has a unique perch: Female leaders remain a minority in corporate America. Only 15 Fortune 500 companies have women at the helm. These are the strategies that took her to the top; steal them and watch your career gain muscle -- instantly.
1. Speak up
"Women in their twenties have the most innovative, fresh, breakthrough ideas -- that's what bosses want," says Beauchamp. "But young women can get too polite at meetings, overthinking whether or not to share their thoughts." Contribute something to every meeting, she urges. "I love getting ideas from my youngest staffers!"
2. Have a life
"A mentor once said to always be in the moment," she says. "So when I'm at the office, I give it my best. When I'm not, I turn off my BlackBerry and spend time with friends and family fully. You bring more to work if you have a robust life outside it."
3. Don't be a fashion victim
Beauchamp swears by her "life in a bag" bag, above, which holds everything. No dainty purses for work -- they don't scream "power"! Her power shoes? "Platform pumps." But comfort comes first: "Our days are too long not to wear comfortable things."
4. See the big picture
"It's easy to get caught up in the weeds of the day-to-day and just getting through," acknowledges Beauchamp. "But if you take one minute to think about how every task you are doing adds to your career goals overall, you'll be able to accomplish things on a much more major scale."
5. Consider challenges a way to up your game
"If you approach them with a positive, creative mind-set," she says, "you'll end up doing more innovative work."
6. Find inspiration, and keep it close
Beauchamp stashes notes from colleagues and friends in a box on her desk. "It's inscribed, 'Tutto è possibile' -- everything is possible -- a message I believe in," she says.
7. Work hard, have fun and be kind
That's what Beauchamp's father used to tell her, and she says it's "the best piece of advice I ever got. It's how I try to live."
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