Emily Reber Porter of MacNaughton on Embracing Uncharted Territory, Valuing People, and Community Leadership

As a part of our series about Inspirational Women of the Speaking Circuit, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Emily Reber Porter, Chief Operating Officer, MacNaughton

Emily Porter is the Chief Operating Officer at MacNaughton, a family-owned, award-winning hospitality and real estate investment, development, and management firm headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In her role, Emily oversees corporate operations and MacNaughton Hospitality, providing strategic expertise and leading teams, and guiding the company’s growing portfolio of hospitality assets including Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head, Hotel Waikiki and Hotel Renew.

A dedicated leader with exemplary accolades, Emily brings 15 years of prior legal and business experience in Washington D.C., California, and Hawaii to her position.

Emily’s passion for hospitality is matched with her dedication to and presence in her community, where she supports meaningful causes and initiatives. She has received awards for her work by the American Lung Association of Hawaii, Omidyar Fellows’ Hawaii Leadership Forum and Hawaii Business Magazine, among others. She has been named a “Woman of Distinction” by Girl Scouts of Hawaii, a “Woman to Watch” by Pacific Business News, and a “Corporate Counsel Awards Rising Star” by San Francisco Business Times.

Emily is a graduate of Harvard Law School, Princeton University and Honolulu’s prestigious Punahou School, and was a Fulbright Scholar in Japan. She serves on the boards of Young Brothers, Kualoa Ranch, Punahou School, Oahu Transportation Services, Outrigger Canoe Club and MacNaughton Foundation, and on the advisory boards of the University of Hawaii at Manoa Shidler College of Business and Kupu Hawaii. She has served previously on the boards of Child and Family Services, Hawaii Women’s Legal Foundation and Domestic Violence Action Center.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Our readers would love to get to know you a bit better. Can you tell us the story of how you grew up?

I grew up as a studious beach girl — my textbooks all had sand between their pages! My family resided on the southeast shore of Oahu, where I enjoyed endless hours of bodysurfing, surfing, dancing hula and Tahitian, sailing, playing piano, and riding my bike around the neighborhood with my younger brother and sister. I also studied a lot and trained in classical piano.

This balance of leisure and discipline ingrained in me a love for Hawaii and a strong work ethic, both of which have helped me tremendously over the years.

Can you share a story with us about what brought you to this specific career path?

My career trajectory has been like the chapters in a choose-your-own adventure book. Law initially led me into disruptive technology, disruptive technology then led me into innovative real estate development, and now — 23 years later — real estate development is leading me into the hospitality realm. Each chapter has flowed from the prior one, into the next, and all have similar themes running throughout — hard work, a proclivity toward trying new things, curiosity, valuing people, innovation, and growth.

Can you tell us the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

A defining moment since the inception of my career was my transition from law into technology. After the birth of our second child, I became hungry for a new focus in my professional career — away from litigating and more toward growing a business. I applied to a San Francisco based start-up inspired by its brilliant leadership and mission “To help people,” which led me to becoming their first in-house attorney, eventually joining the executive team and growing into a cross-functional executive of a substantial multinational company. As I grew into the cross-functional role, I felt like more of my character was embodied within my work — not just my analytical brain and persuasive communication skills learned in law school, but more of my interpersonal skills, creativity and even diplomacy.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

In 2008, after making the transition from a large Washington DC law firm to a 20-person San Francisco start-up technology company, I made the mistake of bringing my hard copy calendar to the young tech company. This was not just any hard copy calendar, but a wall-hanging, month-at-a-glance calendar, complete with gorgeous photos of flowers and beaches from Hawai`i.

I was ridiculed incessantly for not having an online calendar, until I finally embraced one, which broke the ice and showed that I was willing to change and embrace innovation in my own life too!

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

My parents have been my pillars. My father’s strategic acumen and my mother’s selfless sacrifices have profoundly shaped my personal and professional ethos.

For most of my life, I have said that my dad was my biggest role model — he’s brilliant, humble, and thinks strategically. Approaching half a century in age now, I feel disappointed in myself that I did not also give due credit to my mom. She was a child piano prodigy who gave up fame and a life of adventure traveling around the world, to raise me and my two younger siblings, and support my dad in his career. I owe my strong value system and success in large part to both of them.

You have been blessed with great success in a career path that can be challenging and intimidating. Do you have any words of advice for others who may want to embark on this career path, but seem daunted by the prospect of failure?

Embrace roles that stretch your capabilities. That 10–20% of uncharted territory in a job will ignite your curiosity, growth, and keep you sufficiently collaborative and humble. This is also true for hiring. Make sure to hire people who have 10–20% headroom in the role and are excited by that.

What drives you to get up everyday and give your talks? What is the main empowering message that you aim to share with the world?

I am energized by a desire to clear a wider path and invite more diverse people with extraordinary talents to come along with me. Speaking helps me to communicate inclusively, share some tips I have learned along the way, and provides me with a platform to speak on matters of importance to me.

For me, seeing other women and diverse people in leadership, has helped me to feel like I can do it too. So, I am happy to add to that diversity in leadership. This has been especially true in areas I have gravitated to thus far: litigation, technology, and real estate development. Also in my community work, I have made a point to serve on boards that have not traditionally been particularly diverse, and also serve on their nominating and governance committees to support their efforts to further widen the candidate fields.

Can you share with our readers a few of your most important tips about how to be an effective and empowering speaker? Can you please share some examples or stories?

Speak from your heart. Why? First, that will grow connection, which will result in more resonance of messaging. Second, your audience is looking for your unique perspective, a new piece of information, something they have not already read or heard before — so dig deep and share something unique to you.

As you know, many people are terrified of speaking in public. Can you give some of your advice about how to overcome this fear?

Prepare meticulously and trust in your preparation. I find comfort in knowing that I did my best … since it’s hard to blame yourself for an outcome when you maximized what was under your control.

Use power poses and mindfulness to calm nerves and project confidence. I have found that the mind-and-body connection is real.

Ok, thank you for all that. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective Public Speaker?”

1 . Evoke Emotion. Strive to create a lasting emotional connection with your audience.

Applicable to public speaking, I believe, is this adage: “People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” If you evoke emotion in your public speaking, you have a much better chance of having your audience remember you and your key messages.

2. Repeat Key Messages. Ensure your audience remembers your message through repetition.

How easily could you recount what a speaker yesterday said to you, how about a speaker a week before, or a week before that? If you can recall, it is likely not in detail. Repeat the main messages, to give your audience the best chance of leaving with some semblance of it.

3. Be Bold. Use your platform to discuss significant, impactful issues.

Recently, I was interviewed on a podcast, primarily about my style of leadership. In preparing for the interview, I asked my older son whether he thought I should talk about my volunteer work relating to intimate partner abuse, aka domestic violence. I acknowledged this was not a happy topic. My son quickly commented that I had worked hard to reach the level of someone having the floor to speak to a broad audience, so why would I not use it to speak about what is important to me and could help many people?

4. Share a Message That Matters. Focus on delivering content that can foster change.

I am working on a Healthy Relationships curriculum for high school students and young adults, in collaboration with experts in the field. I have served on the boards of non-profits that spend enormous resources coming to the aid of survivors of intimate partner abuse, aka domestic violence, and it is heart-wrenching that this problem has not lessened over time. Preventative measures are sorely needed, and great, simple messages to share are key. “Everyone has the right to be in a relationship with equal power” and “Disrespect me once, shame on you; disrespect me again, I’m gone” could be simple phrases that, if adopted in belief by many young adults, could dramatically reduce the number of unhealthy relationships in the future. I have spoken on a variety of topics, and am continuing to tie in this messaging.

5. Repeat Key Messages. Sorry for the repetition. Just thought I would emphasize the point!!

You have such impressive work. What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? Where do you see yourself heading from here?

MacNaughton is a multi-sector real estate development and investment company, in its second generation of family ownership. Our team is currently increasing its hospitality holdings and management sector, acknowledging that tourism is a significant component of Hawai`i’s less-than-optimally diversified economy. To do this authentically and with pride, we are creating new brand standards based on our brand pillars aimed at delighting our guests based on our unique values.

We closed over $1 Billion in sales for our last ultra-luxury condominium project Park Lane Ala Moana, on the front side of Ala Moana Shopping Center overlooking Ala Moana Beach Park and the Pacific Ocean. That project reached over $1 Billion in sales and its resales continue to break records in Hawai`i.

At MacNaughton, we are venturing into hospitality, integrating our core values into new brand standards. The success of Park Lane Ala Moana is a testament to our commitment to innovation and excellence in all that we do.

Can you share with our readers any self care routines, practices or treatments that you do to help your body, mind or heart to thrive? Please share a story for each one if you can.

Walking in the sand by the ocean grounds me, reminds me of my rather carefree childhood, and reminds me of how lucky I am to live in Hawai`i.

Spending time with my family and friends remind me that people are the most important facets of life, and to always act in a way that respects humanity.

I also try to learn new things along the way — this is a form of self-care for me. Most recently, I was trained in executive/life coaching, which took me more than 100 hours of education and practice. I equate the experience to a plant growing new leaves and flowers.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Always do your best.” This maxim has been my guiding principle, focusing on maximizing efforts within my control. There is something about this that bring me confidence and peace as well.

You are a person of huge influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I would end violence in the world. And, specifically, I would end intimate partner abuse, aka domestic violence. In individual’s closest and most intimate relationships, they should have the right to feel safe and secure, respected and appreciated. That opens all the possibilities of humanity.

Is there a person in the world whom you would love to have lunch with, and why? Maybe we can tag them and see what happens!

I’d be honored to dine with the Obamas. Their journeys, aligning with my educational background, childhood geography, and many shared values, inspire me, and I’m eager to learn from them about their multiple life journeys.

Are you on social media? How can our readers follow you online?

Yes! Please connect with me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyreberporter.

This was so informative, thank you so much! We wish you continued success!

About the Interviewer: Douglas E. Noll, JD, MA was born nearly blind, crippled with club feet, partially deaf, and left-handed. He overcame all of these obstacles to become a successful civil trial lawyer. In 2000, he abandoned his law practice to become a peacemaker. His calling is to serve humanity, and he executes his calling at many levels. He is an award-winning author, teacher, and trainer. He is a highly experienced mediator. Doug’s work carries him from international work to helping people resolve deep interpersonal and ideological conflicts. Doug teaches his innovative de-escalation skill that calms any angry person in 90 seconds or less. With Laurel Kaufer, Doug founded Prison of Peace in 2009. The Prison of Peace project trains life and long terms incarcerated people to be powerful peacemakers and mediators. He has been deeply moved by inmates who have learned and applied deep, empathic listening skills, leadership skills, and problem-solving skills to reduce violence in their prison communities. Their dedication to learning, improving, and serving their communities motivates him to expand the principles of Prison of Peace so that every human wanting to learn the skills of peace may do so. Doug’s awards include California Lawyer Magazine Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year, Purpose Prize Fellow, International Academy of Mediators Syd Leezak Award of Excellence, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals Neutral of the Year. His four books have won a number of awards and commendations. Doug’s podcast, Listen With Leaders, is now accepting guests. Click on this link to learn more and apply.