What is one of your proudest accomplishments in this career?

I am truly proud of growing our engagement within our membership, which has been, and continues to be, one of my primary responsibilities. As a not-for-profit, most of our revenue comes from dues and events. When I joined the association two years ago, we were short-staffed and stretched thin; but, now we regularly sell out our events! That momentum has been great, and our team continues to build on that under our President & CEO Mufi Hannemann.

Seeing the increased participation from our members has been incredibly rewarding. It sounds a little cheesy, but building relationships with them is amazing. Providing opportunities for them to create change together—whether it’s personal, professional, or a little of both—definitely keeps me motivated to work harder every day.

What do you do for self-care?

I am not as good about self-care as I would like to be, but I think it starts with intention! I make a conscious effort to block time in my calendar to decompress and do the things that I want to do at least one evening a week. I know lots of people can relate to feeling pressure to constantly be out at events and “on” all the time—it can get overwhelming. Whether it’s reading a book, creating a floral centerpiece, or taking a dance class, it’s nice to make my own wants a priority. I also find it helpful to do something a little bit repetitive, like make dumplings. Some people find it monotonous or boring, but it can be really great to get out of my head and concentrate on something small.

How do you overcome fear?

I think I am always a little bit afraid, and I genuinely marvel at those who are truly bold and outgoing all the time. I was recently reminded of a Churchill quote, “Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.” The ability to choose to be courageous is within our own control. So, I try to focus on that! It also helps to break down why I’m afraid. If the answer is because it’s simply something new, then that’s not a good enough reason. Although, if I really need extra motivation, an “accountability buddy” pushes me to follow through despite my own fears. When I commit to a goal and tell someone about it, the obligation to that other person will inspire me to work regardless of my fear and achieve whatever goal or objective we set.