As Stanislaus County's Chief Executive Officer, Monica Nino had plenty of advice to share with attendees of the recent Women’s Leadership Forum at California State University, Stanislaus.

As the CEO of Stanislaus County, Nino works under the direction of the county Board of Supervisors to oversee all aspects of Stanislaus County government, including 26 County departments, an operating budget of $891 million, and over 3,700 employees.

Stressing the importance of clearly defining and communicating one’s core beliefs and values, Nino discussed the significance of modeling success for future leaders, as well as encouraging women to be their own best advocate while pursuing leadership positions.

“As women, we need to be conscientious about mentoring and bringing women along behind us,” said Nino. “We need to share our knowledge and provide insight.”

Nino’s keys to success in leadership positions included the following:

– Know yourself: Understanding one’s own core values and beliefs informs decision making and gives one the confidence to take risks, an important ability for leaders.
– Commit to transparency: In an effort to better understand the public’s perception of county offices, Nino used the building of her own home as a way of evaluating the process of securing building permits. “In county government, we can never forget that we serve the public every day,” she said.
– Chart your goals for the future: Nino said building a career is similar to building a house. “Having a plan can help you decide what’s most important to you, where to focus and how to spend your resources.”
– Think rationally, and lead by example: “Model the values you want to see in your organization,” she advised the audience. “Effective leaders educate, inform and anticipate.”

Nino was appointed to the post of Stanislaus County CEO in January 2012. For the seven years prior, Nino served as the county's Assistant Executive Officer. She began her local government career in 1988 as an accountant with Stanislaus County.

Born and raised in the county, Nino earned her AA Degree from Modesto Junior College, her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from CSU Fresno, and her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from CSU Stanislaus.

The third annual Women’s Leadership Forum at CSU Stanislaus was hosted by the university’s College of Business Administration. Guests at the event included CSU Stanislaus business students, staff and members of the community. Previous keynote speakers at the event have included women such as E&J Gallo Winery Vice President of Marketing Stephanie Gallo, Former Riverbank Mayor Virginia Madueño, and property management firm owner Paula Zagaris-Leffler.