This Women’s History Month, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance welcomed newly appointed Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Estella Patterson to discuss her path to leadership, the mentors who shaped her career, and the legacy she hopes to leave. The event was part of the CLT Alliance Power of Women program.
‘Driven to serve’
“I think I’ve always been a person who has been driven to serve,” Chief Patterson said.
In a conversation moderated by Blair Stanford, executive director of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, Patterson began by touching on what she referred to as a “calling to help people and serve.” At first, she didn’t see herself becoming a police officer, she said, but one day she went to a job fair, saw a woman in uniform, and said she could see herself in that role. She started taking criminal justice classes and the rest was history.
Patterson’s career began 30 years ago as a CMPD recruit. She said when she became a police officer, she wasn’t thinking about becoming chief. She just wanted to be in the community, helping and serving in ways that strengthen what makes Charlotte a great place to live.
“What helped you become Chief Patterson?” Stanford asked.
Patterson pointed to her time working for former CMPD Chief Kerr Putney. She was grateful for his leadership style because it prepared her for what she was going to face in the future.
Chief Putney advocated for her, which led to a leadership role in the chief’s office. Later, she oversaw patrol services.
“If I’m truly going to make a difference, [I] have to be at the top leading the organization,” Patterson said of that point in her career.
After that, she accepted the chief of police role in Raleigh, where she stayed for four years before retiring. In December, she came back to the Queen City as Charlotte’s first female chief of police.
Advice
Stanford asked what advice she would share with the room full of mostly women.
- “Always strive for excellence,” Patterson said.
- “You have to take a selfless approach,” she said, later adding, “You need to care about the people you’re serving.”
- “Compete but don’t cheat.” She said women should support and be there for each other, reminding the audience that there’s enough room for everyone to reach their goals without cutting each other down.
‘One team with one mission’
Patterson shared a change she’s already made since joining CMPD as its chief in December. She said senior executives in the department wear white shirts that distinguish them from the rest of the department. She joked that one lesson she learned during her deployment in Iraq was that when leaders stand out visually, they often become the target. On a more serious note, she said she also wanted to show solidarity with her colleagues.
“We are one team with one mission… why does there need to be a distinction?” she asked.
She decided to change the rule so that now, everyone wears the same colored shirt.
When asked how else her service in the military influenced her career, Patterson noted that it taught her how to lead – out front, confident, and by example.
“That has shaped who I am as a leader,” she said.
Patterson pointed out the distinction between being a manager and a leader, something she said is outlined well in Colin Powell’s book “It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership.” She said leaders have a vision and look far into the future, but a manager handles immediate issues. Leaders create a plan and strategy, but managers execute. Leaders also use their influence to get things done, not their authority. She said she’s internalized that at CMPD and has adjusted titles to reflect leadership instead of management.
Legacy
Stanford asked Patterson what she wants her legacy in the region to look like.
“I want my legacy to be that we transformed Charlotte. And not just me, because it’s a team effort,” she said, later adding, “…transformed Charlotte to be the safest large city in the nation.”
She also hopes to see women united — authentically supporting one another and working together to build each other up.
