Bossing It: Why Being Open and Authentic Leads to Trust with Karen Silver

Karen Silver has spent the last 35 years making short format films.  

The main thing Karen strives for or desires is how do we become more community based again. 

Karen Silver is a founder and MD of Sterling Content in Canada. 

Karen is also a photo artist that believes there is much more present than meets the eye.

LBB> What was your first experience of leadership?

Karen> I was working for a commercial company whose owner was handling 2nd unit on a movie for Columbia pictures with Kevin Bacon. I was 25 and had just started line producing TV commercials. I asked to go as a PA on the unit to experience that. Well I arrived and found out my boss had told the team I was the UPM  - not a clue what that meant. Anyway I had no choice but to step up and lead as a small 2nd unit white water rafting scene of approx. 20 people turned into an 80 people team with 12 vehicles, a lear jet and a helicopter. That taught me to lead, quite quickly I might add!

LBB> How did you figure out what kind of leader you wanted to be – or what kind of leader you didn’t want to be?

Karen> I was working at the same company I mentioned above and the other owner/EP would walk on set and all the crew respected him and he was always very fair about everything. I thought I wanted that when I walked on set too.

LBB> What experience or moment gave you your biggest lesson in leadership?

Karen> I am not sure of one main lesson more than a series of them. But I do remember being young in my producing career and I had four people standing around me all wanting an answer for something that they felt was the most important thing at that moment and I remember my brain saw more multi dimensionally than linearly and frankly that taught me how to lead and know who to answer first with what is most important at that moment to address to move forward. I think that is taking charge which is in essence leading.

LBB> Did you know you always wanted to take on a leadership role? If so how did you work towards it and if not, when did you start realising that you had it in you?

Karen> I think yes I was always a bit bossy as a kid and was the captain of the sports teams and a leader quite young. I feel I have had it in me since as long as I can remember really…

LBB> When it comes to 'leadership' as a skill, how much do you think is a natural part of personality, how much can be taught and learned?

Karen> I think we can always learn more and be taught if willing to listen and pay attention. I also think part of leadership is inherent in one.

LBB> What are the aspects of leadership that you find most personally challenging? And how do you work through them?

Karen> When I don’t know the answer and have to come up with a solution and people are counting on me. I know that is my main job and mostly I am pretty good at it but sometimes a solution just doesn’t come as quickly as it needs to. I work through that by posing to the trusty team of production I surround myself with. It’s a collective doing what we do so asking for help works!  

LBB> Have you ever felt like you've failed whilst in charge? How did you address the issue and what did you learn from it?

Karen> Oh yes for sure, how else does one learn except by making mistakes. I think admitting you messed up and owning it is the only way to learn from it.  

LBB> In terms of leadership and openness, what’s your approach there? Do you think it’s important to be transparent as possible in the service of being authentic? Or is there a value in being careful and considered?

Karen> I think being open and authentic leads to trust. And in terms of leadership I think the main ingredient is having folks trust your suggestions and decisions.

LBB> As you developed your leadership skills did you have a mentor, if so who were/are they and what have you learned? And on the flip side, do you mentor any aspiring leaders and how do you approach that relationship?

Karen> Oh my gosh YES a few – first Nell Frair – she said anyone can produce but to be really good at it you have to learn to finesse your skill set and have people respect you and your decision. Then Harve Sherman he gave me a 26 day shoot when I had just produced only three and four day shoots and that taught me you sink or swim. I swam.

I would say my teaching style is through osmosis not so much “taught”. And yes I see a few leaders around me and I take the time when something goes wrong or a problem comes up they don’t know how to solve by asking them how they could do it differently or sharing thoughts on how to be open to seeing or doing it differently or another way that might work. In other words to expand their experience to think outside their box.

LBB> In continually changing market circumstances, how do you cope with the responsibility of leading a team through difficult waters?

Karen> Trusting my own gut. And truly the only way through anything is one step at a time so remembering that really helps me.

LBB> As a leader, what are some of the ways in which you’ve prioritised diversity and inclusion within your workforce?

Karen> Building awareness by questioning our own bias, helping to train people coming into the workforce on the opportunities that exist, those are some of the ways. We also practise empathetic leadership. Also doing what we do these days and really being authentic about it, feels only possible by bringing a collective from different cultures together and that truly can bring unparalleled experiences into practice.  

LBB> How important is your company culture to the success of your business? And how have you managed to keep it alive with increases in remote and hybrid working patterns?

Karen> I believe it's critical to our success. Being integral and honest, doing production at as seamless a level as possible and having fun are all the components Sterling strives for.

Being able to be flexible and figure it out in any situation are the ingredients that make us still relevant. So the pandemic brought challenges but production always brought solutions. That is what I still love so much about what we get to do.

LBB> What are the most useful resources you’ve found to help you along your leadership journey?

Karen> I feel what has helped my leadership journey the most is in my own humanness i.e. own up to making a mistake, to be open to continually learn and ask when you don’t know. In other words to never become arrogant or egoic enough to think you know everything. To remain confident but humble. And of course the best and useful resource - people and my contact list.