“If you try to imitate someone else, you will just be a poor copy.”

“A quick no is better than a prolonged yes.”

“Beware of ruinous empathy.”

These were some of the words of wisdom shared at the Keck Medicine Women’s Initiative Network (WIN) Speakers Forum, “Leadership Luminaries,” held March 27 at Keck Medical Center of USC.

The event, attended by some 100 Keck Medicine of USC employees, featured three female trailblazers: Sherry Lansing, a film executive and philanthropist who served as president of 20th Century Fox and later as chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures; Joan Marron, who has managed Morgan Stanley’s not-for-profit health care investment banking group since 2008; and Karen Dahut, CEO of Google Public Sector, who manages U.S. government agencies and educational institutions.

Lansing was the first woman to head a major film studio, Marron began her investment career in the mid-70s when “women were supposed to stay in their office in a support role,” and Dahut earned her leadership chops in the 1980s and early 1990s as a U.S. Navy officer.

During the discussion, which was moderated by Keck Medicine’s chief strategy officer Shawn Sheffield, the speakers shared stories about their success in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Without female role models at that time in Hollywood, Lansing forged her own path. Her leadership style included building an open, trusting workplace, returning every phone call, and saying no quickly and decisively when she knew a project wouldn’t fly, rather than stringing a would-be filmmaker along.

Marron talked about getting ahead by learning to advocate for herself, an important lesson for women today. She also made it a point to mentor and help others be successful, winning the respect and gratitude of her peers and superiors.

Dahut found that by discovering her “superpowers” — a clear vision and her own unique voice— she developed confidence as a leader. She also had workplace mentors to help her along the way.

“You need to ask yourself, is this mentor offering honest, hard criticism or, alternatively, ruinous empathy,” she said. A good mentor is more than a shoulder to cry on, but someone who will give you direct feedback to help you get better, she added.

As part of the discussion, the panelists dissected the notion of work-life balance, concluding that the concept is a myth. “I tell women to aim for [work-life] integration,” said Dahut. “Only you know what that integration looks like. Make deliberate choices that work for you.”

Lansing had another piece of advice for the audience she wished she’d told her younger self: ““Stress less and have more fun.”

The event was the third in a series of WIN speaker forums featuring successful and inspiring women businesswomen.

You can learn more about WIN here.

— Alison Rainey