Home: Westport, CT. Age: 52. Birthplace: Watertown, WI. Profession: Transformation expert, CMO, CXO, growth strategist. Organization: Party City Holdco Inc. (to December 2022). Title: Chief Marketing and Experience Officer. Pronouns: She/Her/Hers. Significant other: My husband, Mike Roehm. Alma mater: University of Chicago/Booth (MBA); Purdue University (BSCE). Languages spoken: English and passable Spanish.
Current project: Traveling with my family, especially rewarding now that we are empty nesters. Recent recognition: Awarded the OnCon Top 50 Marketer award for the second year in a row. Recent professional development: As a lifelong student, I constantly seek ways to be better in my profession and to stretch myself. What one trait do you believe has been most valued by the organizations where you have worked? My leadership style, customer and data orientation and innovation focus. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? The high-risk move to Party City. Unfortunately, the runway we built to transform the company proved insufficient, but the journey was worth the effort.
Latest contribution to others: I am proud of donating my kidney to my father last year. This sounds scary, and it is, but the gift is indescribable. Hobbies: Fitness, including spinning, Pilates, hot yoga, weight lifting and SolidCore. Recent travel or adventure: A family trip to Greece. My husband and I spent our honeymoon there 27 years ago and it was fun to retun and share it with our adult children. Last book read: Killers of a Certain Age, by Deanna Raybourn. Currently reading The Prepared Reader, by James and Wooten. Recently viewed and recommended: Yellowstone and the related prequels (Paramount+). And I can’t wait for Succession to return. Recent unique acquisition: A crepe plan for making crepes and galettes.
Personality profile: Variously tested as INTJ and ENTJ. My Print profile describes me as decisive, take charge, high energy, confident, courageous, self-reliant, compassionate, honorable, direct, action oriented, protective, strong, charismatic, determined, assertive, independent, hardworking, tenacious, risk taking, multi-tasking, spontaneous and able to handle pressure. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Charismatic. Moral compass: Is it the right thing to do? Pretty simple. How do you define a perfect friendship? Supportive, interested, understanding, compassionate, honest, loyal. How do you define an ideal business relationship? Collaborative, honest, direct. What is your greatest joy? My children and family. What is your greatest fear? Illness. What is your guilty pleasure? Food, jewelry, shoes, travel. What word or phrase do you use far too often? Exactly right. What natural talent have you neglected? Hair styling. What occupation, other than your own, do you most admire? I admire CEOs of all sorts. I’m also fascinated by the science of weather, so meteorologists. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Travel. What is at the top of your bucket list? Chile and Bali. How do you relieve stress? Working out. What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? I always have at least one walking food tour included, as there is no better way to immerse yourself in a culture than through the food.
What was your first paying job? Babysitting. What was your favorite college course? Wine tasting, a senior year elective. What movie have you repeatedly watched? The Godfather trilogy. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? Beach photos and family pictures. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? My BFF. What’s the best advice you received growing up? Be true to yourself. What’s the best advice you received in your career? You have two ears and one mouth, use them in that proportion. What is your favorite app? Weather Channel, Oura and scheduling apps for my workouts. What is your go-to source of news and information? The Skimm, WSJ, New York Times. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? Books, news, children. What company or organization do you most admire? Patagonia. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? The birth of my children and being fired.
What is your big idea?
Single presidential terms of six years, which would allow a president to get things done without the need to focus on re-election.
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Encouraging women to embrace and enter data science fields. I’m part of the Wharton Customer Analytics group and was a recent speaker at their Women in Data Science conference. What change would you like to see in the world? Peace, the acceptance of religious differences and the elimination of prejudice against those that are different than you. What message do you want to send out into the world? Do what you want, say what you think because those that matter don’t mind and those that mind don’t matter (Dr. Seuss). What widely held belief do you reject? That change is hard. What mega-trend most excites you? AI. What mega-trend most concerns you? AI.
What title would you choose for the movie about your life? It’s a Wonderful Life. What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Jessica Chastain, Julia Roberts or any other Academy Award winner! Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? God. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? An orthodontist. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? Our dog. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? With my family, sitting outside, looking at a beach, talking and laughing. What advice would you give your younger self? Trust your instincts. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? Early thirties.
Personal mission: I am dedicating my life to being the best person I can be, being as generous as possible and making an impact. Personal motto: "Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts" (Winston S. Churchill). Favorite quote: “Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow” (Mahatma Gandhi). Desired epitaph: She was loved.
