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Accomplished attorney Liz Stamoulis, partner at one of Sarasota’s most prestigious law firms, has worked for years to overcome a big problem: She has an unbelievably hard time saying no. That’s especially true in "just one more" situations, from helping a partner to going above and beyond for a client.
“I say yes (so much) my colleagues bought me a no button,” Stamoulis says, speaking during a presentation at the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professionals Summit held Aug. 19. “If you’re not going to say no, they said, then this button will do it for you.”
Saying yes, of course, has led to some remarkable successes for Stamoulis: At 35, she oversees intellectual property law at Williams Parker, working with clients from entrepreneurs and real estate developers to authors and illustrators. Prior to Williams Parker, Stamoulis, a Stanford Law School graduate, worked for a Global 100 law firm in New York City.
Although getting to yes has its benefits, Stamoulis, a Business Observer 40 under 40 winner in 2019, has learned that a strategically-placed ‘no’ has been one of her biggest ways to grow as an attorney, colleague and a leader. Her path to learning how to say no (and dealing with being told no) was the crux of her Chamber presentation, “Overcoming the Fear of the First Step.”
Stamoulis’ presentation was followed by another a Sarasota young leader, Nate Beachy, president of Sutter’s Quality Foods. The company, with 100 employees, includes a food distribution line with eggs, meats, dairy, cheese, ice cream and more, in addition to Main Street Creamery, an ice cream shop in downtown Sarasota.
Listening to Beachy, 35, and Stamoulis, two different elements of leadership struck me. One is the future of the Sarasota business community is in good hands with energetic, empathic and entrepreneurial leaders like Beachy and Stamoulis. The second element? Growing as a leader, at any age, requires an ability to overcome the fear of the first step.
Some of the best leadership wisdom, wrapped around overcoming fear, from Beachy and Stamoulis includes the following nuggets:
Stamoulis has learned to be strategic about it. She advises others to do their research, come prepared and tell your bosses why the idea or plan would benefit both yourself and the organization. Timing is important, too. “I don’t want it to be something that’s just a drive-by, passing somebody in the hallway,” she says. “I want to know the when, where and how.”
More advice: Be patient. “Don’t expect an answer right away,” she says. “You are planting a seed.”
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