In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re shining a spotlight on some of our amazing female volunteers and staff. Read our interviews to learn more about these female leaders who are helping the Y strengthen the foundations of community.

Interview with Mary Jane Dinsmore, Chief Human Resources Officer for the Merrimack Valley YMCA

How long have you worked at the Merrimack Valley YMCA? What branches and departments have you worked in? What is your current role/position?

I have worked for the Y for more than 20 years: 23 to be exact. I have spent most of my career at the Merrimack Valley YMCA. I was the first HR Director for the Association and developed the HR Department from the copy room.  We were about a $7 Million organization back then. We rapidly grew and doubled our size as we transformed the Y by expanding our operation, improving our facilities and equipment and adding more programming.

The Y continues to evolve as societal needs broaden and equitable solutions are scarce.

How has your experience been as a woman and an employee at the YMCA?

I cherish the wisdom given to me by strong women in my family who believed women could do anything and everything. I instill those beliefs in my daughters and I feel I’m a strong advocate for women at the Y. I’ve seen the Y evolve over the years and today the women at the table have a strong voice and it’s heard. I’m grateful to work for an organization with strong passionate people who support each other.

Who is your top female role model and how does she inspire you?

I’ve been fortunate to have many female role models through my life. My mother was the first and by far the most supportive. However, I didn’t realize how important it was to be the best version of myself until I had my two daughters. They inspired me to accomplish my goals and continue to try to achieve more so that I could ultimately be a good role model for them. That is what’s important to me. I also love Katharine Hepburn because she had talent that wasn’t obscured by her beauty. She had class and an attitude of, “what you see is who I am.”

What qualities do you believe make a great leader?

I believe that empathy and wanting the best for others is essential in being a great leader. Listening to people enough to hear what they need and supporting them to allow them to achieve their goals. This builds the trust that is the foundation of any good leader.

Can you share an obstacle you have faced as a woman in a leadership role and how you successfully pushed past it?

Obstacles in life have always energized me by lighting the fire under my feet and finding ways to get past them and find solutions. The big obstacles you experience by wanting it all; family, life balance and career are tricky. There are many times when these elements aren’t fairly being nurtured. They all need your time and attention to be successful.  Don’t put yourself last.

What advice would you give the next generation of women as they grow into leaders?

The ‘old boys network’ is a thing of the past. Women today can rule the world and support each other while doing so.

What part of your Y story do you believe resonates most with other women in a leadership role?

Keep investing in yourself. As fast as things change in the world today, there is always something new to learn.

Is there anything else we didn’t ask you that you would like to add?

You meet the most incredible people through the Y network. Expand your circle and lean in as you are always on the brink of something incredible.