Dana Weber is one of the few female leaders in her industry, but the CEO of Oklahoma-based Webco Industries looks forward to the day when she’s no longer one of the firsts.
“When somebody tells me I’m the first, I want to make sure that I really do a good job at what I’m doing, so that there will be many others who follow behind me,” Weber told 315 students, faculty, alumni, and business leaders Wednesday during the monthly Friends of Finance Executive Speaker Series luncheon hosted by The University of Tulsa’s College Collins of Business.
In 2011, Weber (B.S.B.A. ’79, J.D. ’83) took the helm at Webco Industries, where she had worked since she was just 13. Her father, Bill Weber, started the business in 1969. Today, it is the leading provider of pressure tubing and the most diverse specialty tubing manufacturer in North America.
During her presentation on Webco’s cultural journey, she explained that while the culture emanated from the founder, teaching that culture became harder as the company grew to 1,500 employees. Weber shared the company’s 16 Guiding Principles, which are used to clearly communicate Webco’s culture, and then focused on three: trust, teamwork, and engagement.
“I know working in teams can be challenging,” said Weber, who is currently a member of UTulsa’s Board of Trustees and was the first woman to serve as board chair. “I remember what it was like in college. It can be challenging in life, too, but please embrace it. Get really good at it. It can really help your career, and successful teams can be very effective and empowering.”
As a board director to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Oklahoma City Branch, Weber said data and analytics are important, but it’s also imperative to understand what the data means.
Weber also said networking is critical because it creates opportunities. Though difficult for some people, she said, networking has benefits. “They’re going to welcome you, and they’re going to want you to participate,” she said during the question-and-answer portion of the program. “And so, if you do that, opportunities will come your way.”
Asked whether Webco has any plans to move its headquarters, Weber said no. The company is firmly rooted in the Tulsa area. “We love Oklahoma, and we love Oklahomans,” she said.
The keynote for the next Friends of Finance Executive Speaker Series luncheon will be Miratech CEO David Zenthoefer on Nov. 20. The event is open to the public, and registration may be made online by Nov. 15.