An Interview With Vanessa Ogle
Leadership Development and Training Programs. No matter your career stage, there’s always room to grow. I just finished the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program. It was an amazing experience that, even after operating for almost a decade, taught me new things about my business. Employers should encourage employees to keep honing their skills and passions, and facilitate those trainings, as it can pave new ways for company expansion.
Despite strides towards equality, women remain underrepresented in leadership and management roles across various sectors. In this series, we would like to discuss the barriers to female advancement in these areas and explore actionable strategies for change. We are talking with accomplished women leaders, executives, and pioneers who have navigated these challenges successfully, to hear their experiences, tactics, and advice to inspire and guide the next generation of women toward achieving their full potential in leadership and management roles. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Ria Ruthsatz.
Ria Ruthsatz is an award-winning Director, and the Co-Founder of Tree9 Films, a St. Louis-based commercial film production company. She has produced and directed films for a diverse clientele, ranging from nationally recognized brands to local businesses, schools, and non-profits. Her work has garnered recognition through various awards, including a Regional Emmy, and she’s proud to have produced fundraising films that have successfully raised millions for vital causes on a global scale.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
I knew I wanted to direct films way back in high school. However, back then, the film industry looked vastly different from what it does today. It seemed like an inaccessible maze for a young girl in the Midwest, so I began my professional career as a Retoucher in the early days of digital photography. I’ve designed websites, directed theater, managed retail establishments, and conducted market research. Along a very winding career path, I inadvertently acquired an array of skills and experiences that have all played important roles in my success. By chance, I serendipitously crossed paths with my future husband. He had attended film school, and through a series of twists and turns, I ended up exactly where I had always wanted to be. It was Kismet.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?
In 2020, I was in the midst of directing my first documentary when the pandemic struck. Suddenly, my thriving career evaporated. Although there were brief, temporary projects, the documentary stood as the sole enduring presence during the pandemic, reflecting our shared challenges.
We were compelled to pause, reevaluate, and devise new work methods, pushing us to explore unanticipated avenues of creativity. Despite the challenges, we persevered and emerged stronger. Three years later, the documentary clinched a Mid-America Emmy, and I’m confident that the best is yet to come.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly influenced your path to leadership?
We lost a very dear friend years ago, which prompted my husband and me to reflect on our lives and aspirations. This introspection ultimately led to the most pivotal decision in my career. In 2014 I made the bold choice to quit my job and we founded our production company, Tree9 Films. I had many fears about the decision, but I was certain that to utilize my skills effectively, create an impact, and live life, I couldn’t simply take a job — I had to create one.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
I am forever grateful to my husband, my business partner, who believes in my ability to do almost anything — except sing on key. He grounds me when I soar too high and inspires me to dream bigger when needed. The journey of a business owner is filled with highs and lows, so having someone who helps strike that balance is invaluable.
Is there a particular book that made a significant impact on you? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
I was really struck by Edith Wharton’s “The House of Mirth.” The main character, Lily Bart, grapples with fitting into high society while overlooking where true happiness lies. Her tragic fate is linked to her inability to carve her own way amidst societal expectations.
Do you have a favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Do you have a story about how that was relevant in your life or your work?
“Call nothing little that the heart can give. By smallest deeds, our truest lives we live.” I found this inscribed in an old autograph book at an antique store. It was uncredited, but it remains etched in my memory. While bold actions may bring recognition, I do believe it’s the small daily deeds that truly garner respect and ultimately have the most profound impact on those around us.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
I have the privilege of working with non-profits and organizations striving to better the world. I know I’ve done my job effectively when their film helps them make progress towards their goals. While I support young creatives and filmmakers through initiatives like mentorships and events such as the St. Louis 48 Hour Film Project, I think my most impactful work happens behind the scenes when I can focus on showcasing the work and impact of others.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this report, only about 31.7% of top executive positions across industries are held by women. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from leadership and management?
As women, I think we’re constantly faced with the sacrifices needed to reach executive positions and forced to evaluate whether it’s actually worth it or not. For many it’s just not. Work-life balance is a myth. Life doesn’t pause at the office. We keep aging, our children keep growing, and work is just another part of our daily life. They can’t be kept separate.
The corporate system wasn’t designed for the life many desire, and remodeling a flawed system is no easy task. I admire the women changing things from within, but I think more should consider stepping outside the norm to build something new — aligned with their own aspirations and dreams.
This might be intuitive to you but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become leaders and managers?
It’s not as simple as saying “more women should be leaders.” Not everyone aspires to lead, and that’s fine. However, recognizing and nurturing the traits of effective leaders is crucial. This development could begin in schools or workplaces. Strong leadership, regardless of gender, is essential for building better workplaces and better communities.
Can you please share “5 Things We Need To Increase Women’s Engagement in Leadership and Management?”
1 . Mentorship. As leaders, I believe it’s our duty to guide and empower the upcoming generation. In the early stages of my career, I often felt viewed as a threat rather than an asset by fellow women. It was years before I encountered female leaders who generously offered advice and support, which was transformative. We need to foster collaboration over competition and provide the next generation with a helping hand.
2 . Leadership Development and Training Programs. No matter your career stage, there’s always room to grow. I just finished the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program. It was an amazing experience that, even after operating for almost a decade, taught me new things about my business. Employers should encourage employees to keep honing their skills and passions, and facilitate those trainings, as it can pave new ways for company expansion.
3 . Community. Being a leader can be isolating. I’m fortunate to have found groups like the 10,000 Small Business Program or Women Empowering Women but we need more accessible groups around the country. Whether you need to commiserate or celebrate, it’s important to have people you can share openly and honestly with. Interacting with fellow leaders from diverse fields can offer invaluable insights and support.
4 . Flexible Work Policies. This might include more flexible hours, or increased options for remote work to create a better blend of personal and professional life. This isn’t something you can take a cookie-cutter approach to. It require companies to look at individuals hollistically, and to consider what it will take for each person to do their best work.
5 . Small Business Support. The “2024 Wells Fargo Impact of Women-Owned Business Report” reveals that while women business owners make up 39.1% of U.S. firms, they only contribute to 5.8% of total revenue. The report suggests that bridging the revenue disparity between women- and men-owned businesses could potentially add $7.9 trillion to the nation’s economy. This deserves more support and attention. It’s where major change will happen in the structure of the workplace, and will ultimately benefit our entire country.
What strategies have you found most effective in mentoring and supporting other women to pursue leadership positions?
I think it’s important to be present in your community. Young women need to see what it looks like to be a leader, and that it can be a fulfilling role that empowers others.
How would you advise a woman leader about how to navigate the challenges of being a woman in a leadership role within a male-dominated industry?
As a leader, it’s your responsibility to set the tone. Expectations are crucial. I hold high standards for myself and others, regardless of gender. Your expectations can shape outcomes; and those who don’t meet them may not belong on your team.
How do you balance the demand for authoritative leadership with the stereotypical expectations of female behavior in professional settings?
Just as your expectations influence your team, societal expectations might impact you. Don’t let them. Don’t be Lily Bart in “The House of Mirth.” Every leader is unique. You have to work to discover and develop your distinctive leadership style, and assemble a team that aligns with and complements that style.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
I’d like to see a movement promoting and embracing creative career paths. It’s common to find talented creatives facing challenges in running their own businesses due to a lack of business skills. I’d love to see more support put towards business education for creatives so that we can move past the stereotype of the struggling artist and see these talented folks thrive both artistically and professionally.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
You can visit my production company online, Tree9 Films
Or follow me on LinkedIn
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
About The Interviewer: Vanessa Ogle is a mom, entrepreneur, inventor, writer, and singer/songwriter. Vanessa’s talent in building world-class leadership teams focused on diversity, a culture of service, and innovation through inclusion allowed her to be one of the most acclaimed Latina CEO’s in the last 30 years. She collaborated with the world’s leading technology and content companies such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO, and Broadcom to bring innovative solutions to travelers and hotels around the world. Vanessa is the lead inventor on 120+ U.S. Patents. Accolades include: FAST 100, Entrepreneur 360 Best Companies, Inc. 500 and then another six times on the Inc. 5000. Vanessa was personally honored with Inc. 100 Female Founder’s Award, Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and Enterprising Women of the Year among others. Vanessa now spends her time sharing stories to inspire and give hope through articles, speaking engagements and music. In her spare time she writes and plays music in the Amazon best selling new band HigherHill, teaches surfing clinics, trains dogs, and cheers on her children.
Please connect with Vanessa here on linkedin and subscribe to her newsletter Unplugged as well as follow her on Substack, Instagram, Facebook, and X and of course on her website VanessaOgle.
Ria Ruthsatz Of Tree9 Films On How We Can Increase Women’s Engagement in Leadership and Management was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.