This Monday, we are featuring Junior League of Charlotte, Inc. (JLC) member Betsy Conway as part of our Member Monday series. Betsy is the Junior League of Charlotte Foundation President and currently works as the Director of Social Responsibility at Novant Health. Read more about the Charlotte native below.
1) Thanks for taking time to share some personal insights with us today. Can you give us some background information about you?
I am actually from Charlotte! I was born at Presbyterian Medical Center, which serendipitously, is where I work today and where my son was born 14 months ago. I left Charlotte after high school to attend UNC Chapel Hill, where I majored in Journalism. I never imagined that I would come back, because at that time, Charlotte was a banking-only town and uptown shut down at 5 p.m. It was a snooze fest. There weren’t cool things to do like the Whitewater Center, the greenway (it was an ugly mall!), breweries or even the Panthers. After college, I worked in Chapel Hill in the nonprofit sector and then moved to Chicago for grad school where I studied integrated marketing communications. I decided the lake effect snow wasn’t for me, so I moved back to Charlotte and found it had really changed for the better. I got a job working in public relations for a defense contractor and lived uptown. I eventually met my husband and have been here ever since! I currently lead the community affairs team at Novant Health for the greater Charlotte market.
2) What is the best and worst decision you’ve ever made?
I think moving to Chicago to attend graduate school was one of the best decisions I have made. It required lots of student loans, but it has paid off in my career as well as some very strong life-long friendships. I also learned how to drive on packed snow and enjoyed the fact that life kept on going when the weather was bad. Hard to think of bad decisions, but what comes to mind is that when I was early in my career, I wanted to be involved in the community as much as possible, and I overcommitted. I learned the importance of prioritizing and why it’s important to say no sometimes.
3) What woman inspires you and why?
My mom is my inspiration. Growing up, she taught me the importance of caring for the community and giving back. Prior to having children, she worked in the healthcare industry, so I think she is driven help others. She was a mentor to several students at my elementary school – almost four decades later, she still keeps in touch with those former students and their families.
4) From start to finish, what would your ideal day be like?
An ideal day would include sleeping in, reading a book outside on a sunny morning, having a fun adventure with my husband and son, going out to dinner with good friends, good food and wine and then getting into bed around 9!
5) What keeps you up at night?
My 14 month-old son! He’s actually a good sleeper, but I want the world to be a safe, equitable and positive place full of opportunity for him and for every child. That is what keeps me up at night.
6) If you could tell your 23-year-old self one thing what would it be?
Not to spend time trying to predict the future and then worrying it about. You have a path – just trust in it and have fun along the way.
7) One thing people would be surprised to learn about you?
I have a minor in French and studied abroad in France in college.
8) How has the Junior League helped you develop your potential, taught you something unique, and/or given you an opportunity that you never would have had otherwise?
Over the past 13+ years, the Junior League has been a major part of my life. As soon as I moved back to Charlotte, joining the League was the first thing I did. As a young professional, I wanted to get involved in the community and develop my leadership skills. The League has afforded me so many opportunities to expand my leadership through programs like Leadership Development Institute and the Public Policy Institute. I’ve led committees, served on the JLC Board and had the honor to serve at the Association level on the AJLI Governance Committee. Over the years, I have loved to see women I sponsored or mentored as young professionals grow and develop into our League leaders. Above all, the League has connected me with so many wonderful women, both in Charlotte and across the U.S. and our international leagues. As I reflect on my years as an active, the League’s legacy to me would be the countless deep and strong friendships I’ve gained. It’s a special bond that we all share.
Written by Marielle Harris
