Mary Winston is an experienced corporate board member, SEC financial expert and former C-Suite executive, who currently serves on the boards of Acuity Brands Inc., Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., Dover Corporation, and Domtar Corporation. Winston also serves as Board Chair of the NACD Carolinas Chapter and is a past director of Plexus Corp, Supervalu Inc. and a number of nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.

Ms. Winston served as interim CEO at Bed Bath & Beyond and previously served as EVP and CFO at Family Dollar Stores Inc., Giant Eagle Inc., and Scholastic Corp. Ms. Winston also held executive-level positions with Visteon Corporation and with Pfizer, Inc., after starting her career in public accounting with Arthur Andersen & Co.

Among other honors, Winston has been named among the Most Powerful Women in Business, the Most Influential People in Finance, and the Most Influential Black Corporate Directors.  

Q. Given your platform and success, how do you demonstrate your responsibility to help inspire others? Be it through your real-life actions, social media, etc.?

With great success comes the responsibility to lead with integrity and represent the positive image we would all aspire to. For me, that means being "human", approachable and willing to assist others through mentorship, sponsorship and providing guidance whenever possible.

Q. How do you ensure that you stay "charged up," in both the inspiration/motivation sense, as well as physically, in energy?

I stay "charged" by focusing on both intellectual and physical health. I enjoy reading and exploring new places, things and challenges. I also enjoy being physically active and working out most days.