Paige Turnes ’94

Paige Turnes values three elements of leadership: doing herself what she asks of members of her team, remaining humble throughout mistakes and unknowns, and always being ready for the next step.

"Act the part, be the part, and you will have the part," says Turnes.

Most of her career has been with Apex Systems, a global technology services company. She joined the company in 2001 as assistant controller and was promoted to chief financial officer in 2015.

Since she joined the company, Apex has grown from $38 million in annual revenue to over $2 billion. Headquartered in Glen Allen, Virginia, it began as a privately held IT staffing services company and later merged with and became a division of ASGN, Inc., then a NASDAQ-traded IT services and solutions company. Turnes was on hand for the opening bell when ASGN moved to the New York Stock Exchange. Apex Systems is now in more than 70 markets around the world.

Asked how she contributed to this growth, Turnes noted her deep understanding of the industry and financial agility. She also values investing in relationships and fostering a collaborative work environment, something she experienced while a student at Longwood and a member of the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi.

"I learned a tremendous appreciation for my talents and, more importantly, my voice. When you speak, you want to make sure it's meaningful," she said, adding that taking risks, when warranted, also is key. She credits these insights with helping her achieve success in a predominantly male field, and she pays it forward by mentoring and developing women throughout ASGN.

"My best gift to the world is helping women to grow both professionally and personally, become financially independent and have great careers," Turnes said.