Home: Gwinnett County, GA (Atlanta metro). Age: What we do while we’re here matters more than how long we’re here. Birthplace: Ohio. Profession: Consultancy. Organization: United Minds, part of The Weber Shandwick Collective. Title: Executive Vice President, Culture, Equity & Inclusion, Behavior and Systemic Change. Pronouns: She/Her/Hers. Significant other: My husband, David. Alma mater: Baylor University; University of Cincinnati.
Recent recognition: Featured in PRWeek on the United Minds addition to the Weber Shandwick Collective. Recent professional development: Becoming a member of Chief, the only private membership network focused on connecting and supporting women executive leaders. Latest accomplishment: Built foundational eco-systems to enable employee participation and management accountability. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Transitioning from corporate I&D practitioner to consultancy. Enables me to work with multiple corporations simultaneously to further advance their commitments and footprint with employees, customers and partners in this space. Recently viewed and recommended: Manifest (Netflix). Challenges what you think you know and opens a door to possibilities beyond your imagination.
Personality profile: Socially informal, interested in people, relationships and teamwork. Strong sense of urgency; risk-taker, flexible, not easily discouraged. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? They would all agree that more than one word is needed! I’ve been described as ambitious, fearless and not boring. Moral compass: Would I want this making the front page? How do you define a perfect friendship? One that passes understanding over judgement and embraces candor, honesty and trust. What is your guilty pleasure? French fries. They are soooo hard to resist! What ingredient is essential to your perfect vacation? My family and friends. They bring joy, frustration, laughter, good times and great memories. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
What three emojis best describe you? 🌴🎬🌈.
What was your first paying job? Babysitting my little cousins and walking younger neighbors to school. What was your favorite college course? Marketing. I changed my major after the first class. What book have you repeatedly read? The First 90 Days, by Michael D. Watkins. What movie have you repeatedly watched? The Usual Suspects. What’s prominently featured on your home or office wall? A plaque reading: I will WALK BY FAITH even when I can not see. 2 Corinthians 5:7. What’s the best advice you received in your career? Stay curious and open to possibilities. People will often see something in you that you don’t yet see in yourself. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? Being adopted by my step-father and maintaining a relationship with my birth father. I’ve been blessed to have a loving mother, two caring fathers, ten siblings and a host of nieces and nephews. Blended families are the best in my opinion!
What change are you working on to effect in your profession or field? Going beyond the numbers to drive behavioral and systemic change. Understanding that systems designed to recognize, hire and promote diverse talent can be the same ones that diminish, discard or ignore it. What change would you like to see in the world? Greater respect, dignity and appreciation for our differences. Replacing fear of difference with curiosity and a genuine desire to learn more about the things and the people you have limited exposure to in your everyday life. What mega-trend most excites you? Corporations stepping up to do what’s right for their people and humanity, as well as the business.
What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Angela Bassett. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My ancestors, to learn more about their experiences, hopes and dreams. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A teacher. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? The heart pendant necklace from my childhood best friend, Monica. How would you choose to spend tomorrow, if you knew it was your last day on earth? On a beach, with the people and pets I love, having fun in the sun, making lasting memories with good food, good drinks and lots of laughs. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? The birth of my children. The experience of giving birth and meeting my children for the first time is one I’d re-live repeatedly (the epidural helped!). What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? None. Each of the ups and downs has provided invaluable life lessons.
Personal mission: Leave the world and the people in my orbit better. Personal motto: Make it happen. Favorite quote: “Pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you” (Maya Angelou).
