The Shero team is proud to announce our co-founder Beth Shero’s new role as CEO.
Since our company’s inception in 2010, Beth has been a cornerstone in building Shero into the global digital growth agency it is today.
Leveraging her background in graphic design and UI/UX, Beth launched Shero with an emphasis on building authentic client relationships and delivering innovative digital solutions focused on growth, business transformation, and customer experience.
More than a decade later, Shero continues to deliver for clients as a proud woman-led company.
Keep reading to learn more about what Beth envisions for the future of Shero, and for the tech industry as a whole.
In what way does the move from COO to CEO feel transformative for you?
My transition to CEO feels transformative because I can focus on bigger goals, be less “in the weeds” and develop more in a transformation/innovation/leadership role. As COO I was often focusing on the business in a different way. Now I have the ability to think about the bigger picture and focus on a future-forward outlook, versus having to focus on implementation and deliverables.
My new focus is to become a global leader in the industry by researching the latest trends and determining what we need to get ahead of. I will have time to reflect on what we should be doing better, and really have the ability to broaden my lens, to protect the business and the team by identifying blind spots and getting ahead of issues.
Also, I am excited to focus on being a thought leader in the industry instead of worrying about operations, delivery, and profitability/keeping the lights on every day. I can focus on my passion and love for serving our clients and our team to do greater things. I’m excited to learn and grow.
What characteristics would you hope that your team would use to describe you?
I would hope that the team would describe me as self-aware, loyal and having their back, authentic, consistent, empowering, and a good listener. I’d hope I’m seen as someone who knows that we are all human, and someone who realizes that we all make mistakes. It’s what we do after the mistake to support people when they are down that matters. I would hope that they trust in my ability to identify issues without getting into their lane to personally solve them—instead, spotting red flags, warning the team, and offering support or advice, so they’re well positioned to handle the issues themselves.
Being a woman in business and in leadership can have a large impact. I realized a few years ago how much my leadership influences others. In the past, I’ve taken that influence for granted, but it really means a lot to so many people, in our business, and to women in tech everywhere. I know I am making a difference and representing women and people with disabilities.
I always like to say you can do almost anything you put your mind to if you have the right attitude, work ethic, and support around you. I don’t feel like I have to be small or hide who I am. I have grown in confidence to rise up. I think everyone can meet their fullest selves and still succeed, so it’s really about empowerment. Raising the bar and raising our people up to be their best selves, no matter who they are or where they come from, is important to me.
What excites you the most about where Shero is headed?
I’m super excited about our growth and being a diverse team. I have always dreamed of being a global company that offers quality to our customers. If they grow we can grow with them, and we can both change along with the dynamics of the tech industry. Having a diverse team—empowering and educating people who may not normally have a chance in tech—is incredibly exciting for me.
I want to see us grow and actually be that global leader as a woman-owned and disability-owned business. I feel like we finally have the right people in the right seats to make that happen, so this really excites me.
I’m also excited about adding new services; we’re broadening our focus beyond eCommerce. We’re really looking at a 360° view of our customers’ needs, getting ingrained in their businesses, and offering a holistic approach to their digital goals.
Why is it important to you to be designated as a woman in business?
This is near to my heart and speaks to my background and personality on so many levels.
To start, my mom always told me that she didn’t really have a choice in what she could be when she went into the workforce in the mid-1960s. Her mom always said that she could be a teacher or a nurse. She felt boxed in with no options. She was a super-intelligent woman. You don’t want to be put in this box, right? As I was growing up, she told me that if she’d had the choices women do now, she probably would have been a doctor. Her story planted a seed that always made me feel like I could do so much more—that I would never be limited by the standards of others. I want to empower women to be more.
My daughter is currently 11 years old. I could never imagine a world where she didn’t have a choice to be whatever she wanted to be. I want this so badly for her. I am willing to do whatever it takes to show that women can be strong. Women can run their businesses and they can be highly successful. They can stand up and be bold.
This is really where my heart and soul is. This is why it’s so important to me to be a woman in business and to represent anybody who feels like they are the underdog or they don’t deserve better. Everyone deserves better. We can set a new standard. I am paving the way for all women in tech.
Even as a kid on the playground, I was the one standing up for the kids who were always a bit different, the kids who would get picked on. I didn’t think it was fair for them to get picked on just because they were different. We all should be accepted for who we are, and we should learn from each other. We are all human. So I have always had this mentality of rooting for the underdog, that we will win. There’s no failure here; it’s about winning.
Being a woman in tech is a key driver to our success in this business. When we first started Shero back in 2010, being a woman in tech was something very new. I would attend industry events and at best, I’d see 5 other women there. I wish I could say it has gotten exponentially better, but we are still hovering below 30%. The numbers have increased, but that increase has been mainly in sales and marketing. So 12 years later, we still have work to do. Empowering younger generations of school-aged girls is a launching point. We need to continue to prioritize women not just existing in the tech space, but being truly valued and respected for their contributions to the industry.
What do you value the most about your team?
I value the knowledge and experience our team brings to the table and knowing they have my back. I feel fully supported by them so that we can all be successful as a team. They’ve also been very supportive and helpful as I’ve transitioned into this role as CEO. We all have strengths and weaknesses; I like to think that their strengths equal my weaknesses. By understanding this and working together, we can collaborate together to be a better Shero.
The things that keep me up at night are…
First, making sure we remain profitable and successful. Of course, any business leader would say that.
Second, making sure we stand behind our values as we grow. I want to ensure that we have a positive work environment. My key message to my team is: You have a seat at the table. You are important and we value your contributions. Anyone who brings toxicity to the team does not have a seat at the table. We cannot and will not tolerate harmful behaviors in our company. We want to empower our people and have a positive work environment.
Third, making sure I can succeed in my new role. I am a firm believer that if something doesn’t terrify you and push you to learn, you’re probably not trying hard enough. To be honest, being CEO challenges me. I’m super excited for the challenge, to learn and grow in my new role.
What are some of the most significant changes you have experienced since launching Shero?
First, I would say my personal growth. Genti and I were laughing about this the other day. We often reflect on how far we have come, from a small business running out of our extra bedroom/basement, to the global company we are today. He says I’ve turned into a shark. I’ve learned from 12 years of experience; I took every mistake as an opportunity to learn something, and to become stronger and wiser.
Second, the fast changes in the tech world. There have been a lot of changes in the eCommerce market. We have always been agile, but the pandemic has forced us to move faster and be more resilient as the standards change even more rapidly. Only the strong survive, and the ones who can keep up with the trends.
What is your wildest prediction for the future of commerce?
My wildest prediction for the future of commerce is that you would be able to order anything with your mind. We would have some sort of implanted chip connected to the world, allowing you to immediately purchase anything you could think of. Scary, but that’s something that could really change the world and how we see it.
I also predict that AI will increase in usage and either become beneficial or super scary. I always like to think optimistically, so I want to think that we can use AI in a beneficial way to help us grow as humans.
Co-founder & CEO
