How has your career shifted from the impact of the 2020 pandemic?

Every single one of us has been impacted by the pandemic in some form, whether personal or professional. I too can share about the negative impacts that COVID-19 has and continues to have on our business. However, the pandemic has also brought unintended gifts and opportunities! While I miss the in-person opportunities to engage with our clients, the shift from in-person meetings to digital formats has allowed us to “see” those across the ocean. So many businesses have expanded their communication through the use of video conferencing and in doing so, we were able to expand our reach and strengthen relationships by meeting “virtually.” For example, we have still hosted educational sessions and meetings over lunch that were delivered to our clients using local restaurants and delivery services.

What are the hardest lessons you’ve had to face in becoming a leading woman in power?

I have never seen myself as a “woman in power.” I have held various leadership roles over the past twenty years and am humbled by the invaluable lessons I have gained. The toughest lesson that I learned and still struggle with, is to accept failure as an opportunity to improve. Failure can be intimidating and destroy confidence, but I learned to view it as a learning experience to hone my craft. Failure happens more frequently than I care to acknowledge. Someone I admired shared with me, “Fail fast and fail forward.” I often remind myself of this in both personal and professional endeavors.

Related to the first lesson I learned along the way, I also was taught to appreciate all experiences along my journey. The good, bad, and the indifferent. All the setbacks and successes, large and small, have shaped me into the leader I am today. I am grateful for the opportunities thus far and look forward to more.

Did you always want this career track?

This question makes me smile because throughout my life, depending on when I was asked, I wanted to do so many different things! My parents will tell you that I always talked about being a flight attendant, a newscaster, attorney, schoolteacher, a politician, and even a college professor! Obviously, I ended up being none of those. I happened to find my career by stumbling through life, and I have loved it every step of the way!

If you are a mom, what is the reality of managing kids and family life with your career demands?

The pandemic has changed life and work in ways I could have never imagined. With the combination of my sons’ schools transition to distance learning, their extracurricular activities being cancelled, and me working from home, time and space collided. For me, the challenge is managing these events and putting up guardrails on our time. Sometimes I end up working longer hours at home and family time is interrupted. Other times, I feel the pressure of getting work done while I am enjoying the family time. The drawbacks are frustration and irritation with one another, and it often rears its ugly head! There is a time to work, a time to play and a time to rest. It is extremely hard to find that right balance and boundaries between all of these things.

What are two of the proudest accomplishments of your career?

Wow, tough question! While I cannot claim it as my accomplishment, I am proud to have been able to work for and with incredible leaders both male and female. It may sound like gratitude versus an accomplishment, but I am proud that in building my career, I earned the opportunity to be developed by truly amazing leaders.

In turn, I have been blessed with opportunities to develop others in my field—as a peer, supervisor, educator, or advisor. The opportunity to share my knowledge and experiences with others is extremely rewarding. Reaching a point in my career where I was trusted to help someone else develop their own will always be an accomplishment for which I am very proud.