Most Influential Women 2007: Laura Ward

“I’ve always believed it’s not enough to demonstrate leadership,” Ward said. “Instead, leadership must be lived and integrated into every aspect of your life.”

Ward has celebrated with hundreds of graduates in her seven years with Webster University. She is proud of the small part she has had in so many changed lives.

“Knowing our students have achieved goals they set for themselves gives me great pride,” Ward said. “I have the honor of getting to know personally most of the students who attend Webster University.”

That sense of leadership and pride in the success of others carries over to her community involvement as well.

“I have a passion for community service and find satisfaction in the many leadership roles I have taken,” Ward said. “It is always amazing to me to see how a hard-working group of leaders can bring about positive change.”

Working with young women and high school students through Changing Prisms, a program of Boys and Girls Town of Missouri, has been a humbling experience for Ward.

“I truly believe success is largely a product of the opportunities we make for ourselves,” she said. “My influence is merely opening the doors to education and opportunity.”

Ward is on the board of directors of the Springfield Southeast Rotary Club, the board of trustees for Boys and Girls Town of Missouri and an active volunteer for United Way of the Ozarks. She also serves on the Citizens Advisory Board for Probation and Parole and on the Looking Beyond High School committee of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Seeing good projects come to completion and reaching out to her community are perks of the job for Ward.

“I consider myself lucky that Webster University has such a strong community focus,” Ward said. “I can feed my passion for community service and civic involvement through my job.”

One-on-one with Laura Ward

What advice do you have for young women preparing to enter the work force?

Find a mentor in your chosen career. Really listen to what they say, and find ways to learn from her every day. Keep your commitments, and you will build credibility among your peers.

Beyond the Golden Rule, what philosophy guides you?

This quote by Eleanor Roosevelt has stayed with me for many years: “We gain strength, and courage and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face. ... We must do that which we think we cannot.”

When you were young, what did you want to do when you grew up?

When I was 4 years old, I told my dad I wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder. … I thought her life was completely cool, until my dad told me that she only got an orange, one peppermint stick and a pair of mittens for Christmas. I told him that was not right and moved on to the “paramedic” stage of my youth.

Please tell us about your family.

I am single. My mom lives here in Springfield and my sister and her family, including my nephews Ben and Alex, also live in Springfield.[[In-content Ad]]