I study strong women. As a teenager, my mom gave me a key chain that was engraved with a message that said, "My name is Tahira Hayes and this is 20/20." She gave it to me because I wanted to be a television news anchor and I greatly admired Barbara Walters, a pioneer for women in broadcasting.

As a teenager, I would also watch Oprah Winfrey and study her interview style. These women were my role models. They were strong women, and I knew I wanted to be one too. Now, in my full-time job, I work for a woman who was recently nominated to serve as the next Air Force Surgeon General. If confirmed by the Senate, she will become the first nurse and the first woman to serve in the position.

So when I talked to Florence Rogers recently, I immediately knew her type. Rogers is one of those women you don't forget. She has endless energy and a sense of humor that keeps you laughing, and naturally puts you at ease. Her personality and presence command attention, not because she demands it but because you want to hear what she has to say. I automatically knew she was a strong woman – one of those whom I had studied so much in my youth. So, it's no surprise that she's the former president/CEO of Federal Employees Credit Union, now known as the $259 million Allegiance Credit Union in Oklahoma City, Okla.