December 13, 2020
Women Who Play
Wanji Walcott is the Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel for Discover Financial Services. Responsible for the company’s legal organization, Walcott spends her workday handling the legal and regulatory side of the business along with managing government relations.
As a budding young lawyer in 1995, Walcott was introduced to golf by her boss at Lockheed Martin, Bob Downing, who often took his lunch breaks on the driving range along with several other men from the company. “I didn’t know where they were all going,” says Walcott, “and one day I just asked him about it and he asked me, ‘Do you play golf?’” Walcott had to say no at the time, but it sparked interest, so she borrowed a set of clubs from her Mom’s neighbor and signed up for a few lessons at a local club.
“I was hooked,” smiles Walcott.
With help from the pro and a few practice sessions later, Walcott was ready to participate in the driving range lunch sessions, and she let Downing know. “I had developed enough of a comfort level and then I just joined in,” says Walcott. “I think the men appreciated me trying, and as I got better, I started getting invited to outings. It actually changed the trajectory of my career in terms of relationship development.”
Walcott was so enamored with the game early on that she tried to recruit her husband, Clive, to join her at the range, but he showed little interest at the time. “Two years later I bought him lessons for Christmas,” says Walcott. “Now he plays better than I do!” With the kids grown and out of the house, the Walcotts often take morning walks together and discuss how to improve their handicaps.
“I’ve always loved the challenge of golf and being out in nature,” says Walcott. “Each course has its own beauty no matter where it’s located – it could be by a highway or in Hawaii. I just enjoy being outside and experiencing the highs and lows of the game.” Walcott adds that due to the pandemic, she has played more golf this year than ever before and discovered yet another benefit: the social aspect.
Splitting time between Illinois and Florida, Walcott sometimes plays with women’s groups or other couples along with her husband at their respective clubs, Conway Farms in Lake Forest and Fiddlers Creek in Naples. After a job change and relocation a year and a half ago, Walcott also found the game helpful in quickly forging new business relationships. “Golf is a great way to meet and get to know new people,” she notes.
Strong off the tee and confident in her ability to get on or near the green in regulation, Walcott admits her short game needs work. “Sometimes I’m 3 or 4-putting, so there’s definitely opportunity there,” says Walcott, who will likely remain in Florida until next spring. “I used to be better than Clive because I started sooner and played a lot more,” recalls Walcott. “His handicap is now lower than mine, but I’m working on changing that. I’m competitive. I’m on his heels.”
Walcott’s Take-Aways on Leadership:
Leadership is the ability to inspire people to follow one’s vision. Bob Downing, my boss at Lockheed Martin, was a respected leader and many sought his input. He inspired me, took me under his wing and told me I would be a General Counsel someday. He exemplified these qualities, and I emulate them in my own leadership role:
- Be present and available to your team and colleagues.
- Care about and inspire other people.
- Be rigorous about your vision and your expectations. Hold people to the standards you set, and you will find they adhere to them even when you are not around.
Walcott’s Take-Aways on Networking:
- Find a connection in the initial meeting – for example, golf – and act on it. Set up golf dates with new contacts you meet through networking and build a relationship.
- It’s a two-way street. Think about what you can get out of a connection and what you can offer. Realize the mutual benefit. I always think of connections as “reason, season or lifetime.” It could be a one-off, or it could become a long-term relationship.
Article originally published KPMG Women’s Golf Clinics newsletter
