farragutpress

Women leaders share real talk on balance, resilience

February 25, 2026 by Tammy Cheek

What does it take to be a woman and business leader?

Farragut West Knox Chamber of Commerce delved into that issue by talking to three community female business leaders at its 2026 Speaker Series, Women in Leadership: Balance| Self-Care | Resilience, which took place in Embassy Suites by Hilton Knoxville West, 9621 Parkside Drive, Wednesday Feb. 18.

Emceed by Amanda Hara, WVLT-TV anchor, a panel consisting of Chrystal Armstrong Brown, United Way of Greater Knoxville president/CEO; Tammy White, Leadership Knoxville president/CEO; and Missy Wallen, Pinnacle Financial Partners Knoxville chair, fielded questions about how they juggle their careers and family.

“We are so thrilled to be presenting this first one to you all,” FWKCC president/CEO Julie Blaylock said.

“We are delighted to be a sponsor of the Chamber’s event today featuring this extraordinary group of women leaders,” said Natalie Radcliffe, area manager of Pinnacle Financial Partners, the presenting sponsor for the event.

Looking at the “crucial role women play in leadership,” she said, “We couldn’t agree more with women representing over 65 percent of our workforce.”

PFP joined community sponsors, Lapis Insurance, Main Event, Embassy Suites, Euphoric Cheese Shop and Water Into Wine.

To stay grounded, each panelist has a ritual they use. “When I’m having a rough day or I’m buried in budget, oftentimes people on other floors will see me appear, Wallen said. “I’ve always had a unique interest in people and getting to know them.

“And I think the only way you can manage and lead people is to understand them and to know what their likes and dislikes are,” she said. “[The bank staff] are what energize me and also calms me down.

“I actually retired once 12 years ago, and one of the things I missed were the friends at work,” said Wallen, who has been in the banking business for 53 years and came from a banking family.

“My family owned, and still owns, a small community bank [in Scott County],” she said.

“I’ve loved every minute of it. It doesn’t feel like a job,” said White, who will be in her 17th year in March in her role with Leadership Knoxville.

White advised, “You can work somewhere and it doesn’t feel like a job, you are living a dream, working your passion.”

Regarding her ritual, White replied, “I think we go through seasons in our lives. I remember fondly being a single mom, getting my daughter to school and the conversations we had … tell me one thing you are grateful for.”

She recalled those conversations helped keep her grounded. Now, her ritual is, when she gets up in the morning, to snuggle with her dog and play a mind game on the computer.

“I think we have to embrace where we are in that season of life and figure out what works for us and what gives us sparkles of happiness,” White said.

Regarding network of support for her family, Armstrong Brown said she found a sisterhood of other mothers “in the same journey in life.”

“Moving back to Knoxville, my family is three-plus hours away,” she explained. “Coming back, I recognized that Crystal I knew no longer existed … I found a community that was radically different from how I’d grown up but where felt like their journeys were similar to where I was in my journey in life.”

“During COVID, I became part of that community,” said Armstrong Brown, who just completed her first 100 days with United Way. She is the first woman to lead United Way of Knoxville.

She also found support from other parents at her daughter’s school.

Growing up in Middle Tennessee, she was the daughter of a pastor. She also got called to ministry.

“This [role with United Way] has been my passion, my calling,” Armstrong Brown said. “Everyday, I consider it a privilege and an honor to lead the work.”