As the world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, we want to shine a light on a few of the female leaders who shape, inspire and grow Experian. From sales to strategy, to people management, big data and beyond, women are a driving force in every industry – and their stories deserve to be told. Throughout the week, meet some of the “Women of Experian.”
Today, we feature Jennifer Schulz, group president of Experian’s Health, Auto and Targeting businesses. Learn about her typical day, sources of motivation and perspectives on leadership and innovation.
What do you do at Experian? What’s a typical day like for you? 
I’m Group President of Experian’s Health, Auto and Targeting businesses – definitely a diverse industry mix to manage. As such, no two days are alike, and that is one of the things I love most about my job. On some days I meet with clients or partners, and on others I dedicate my time to reviewing the progress of our growth strategies, or focusing on budget and risk topics. I love the variety of industries and topics that are involved in this job. It keeps things interesting.
How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?
I stay motivated by remaining connected to my clients and employees. I’m always striving to understand how our products and company have helped the businesses and people we serve.
What are some patterns you’ve noticed over the years about women at work, and things they could be doing better to advance their careers?
I once had the opportunity to listen to Indra Nooyi, CEO of Pepsi, and she said something that really resonated with me. I’m paraphrasing, but basically she shared that women need to be more direct in their feedback with one another, always pushing each other to do better. Essentially, if you see a female (or male) colleague struggling or doing something that is undermining their impact (e.g. not speaking up in meetings) – reach out and help them. Give them that feedback in the moment so they can be more successful.
Where do the great ideas come from in your organization?
In all of the Experian’s businesses, I’ve found the most consistent source of product ideas come from our clients. Our users provide great enhancement ideas, so we work to consistently capture that “voice of customer” feedback. With that said, I believe we have some of the most innovative employees as well. Every day, I see examples of our people thinking big and pushing ideas forward.
What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?
Integrity.
Check back to learn more about “Women of Experian” throughout the week.