Carrie Zimmerman
USA Olympian; Co-Founder and former CEO, The Zimmerman Agency
Carrie Zimmerman vaulted from being an Olympic gymnast in the 1976 Montreal Games—the first American woman to score a 10 in floor exercise—to the boardroom as a global entrepreneur. With her husband Curtis, she co-founded The Zimmerman Agency, an integrated marketing firm headquartered in Tallahassee. One of the top three largest hospitality public relations agencies in the U.S., The Zimmerman Agency represents clients in 36 countries and employs 134 professionals.
Zimmerman says her “Wow!” business philosophy was based on disruptive thinking and fearless enthusiasm inspired by executives across the globe. She was named one of Microsoft’s Top 10 Savviest Businesswomen, and Inc. magazine has featured her as a Gold Medal Millionaire Entrepreneur. She also served as a board member and president of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Association and twice has addressed the United Nations on the powerful synergy between elite athletics and global entrepreneurship to a forum of worldwide leaders.
Describe a defining moment in your career.
Our team was presenting year-end highlights when I noticed the client was staring at me, instead of the team. I asked why, and his response stunned me. “I just love how incredibly proud you are of your team,” he explained. “Your face shows such admiration and respect for them.” The brilliance of our team is inspiring; it humbles me.
What motivates you?
My motivation is unapologetically simple; I love to win, but honorably, with no compromise on integrity or ethics.
What advice do you wish you’d been given before entering your industry?
When I started in business, I was told “temper your enthusiasm, slow down, contain your energy, don’t suggest things which are impossible.” Thankfully I wasn’t a good listener and believed adamantly and confidently in disrupting the norm.
What advice do you have for young women pursuing their careers?
My immediate answer is to remove the “young” and “woman” from the question. Advice for women is no different than the advice for men: Be curious. Be confident. Be hopeful. Be fearless. Be inspired. Be passionate. Be brilliant. Be bold. Be creative. Be crazy. Be relentless. Be strong. Be thankful. Be happy. Be yourself.
Tell us about a time when you were met with a crossroads decision and how you faced it.
A couple years ago, I began to “phase forward” with succession on my side of the business—an easy task as our leadership team had been in place for decades. It was
a huge personal decision not to work for the first time since I was 15 years old. Allowing a team who was so talented to take the well-deserved spotlight trumped my own desire for intensity and constant pressure.
Videography by Boo Media
