FUNNY ANSWER: Some days, I have no idea!<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: I am the head of Human Resources. That can mean anything on any given day. Most days, I do a great deal of talking. Talking to employees. Talking to supervisors. Talking to staff. Talking to vendors. My preference is to approach my job as a way to find solutions, make lives a little better. It really isn\u2019t all about the problems.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
How long have you been at StorageMart?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: Too long!<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: The literal answer is a little over 3 years. I started May 15, 2017. Some people comment that it seems like I\u2019ve been here forever. I take that as a compliment \u2013 that I am a comfortable person to be around. At least sometimes.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Is there a particular turning point in your professional experience that really helped define your career path?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: If I followed all the turning points, who knows where I would be?!<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: There have been lots of little moments and big moments that have defined my career overall. But I started very non-traditionally \u2013 my first real profession as a Production Stage Manager for a number of theaters across the country. When I got into HR, my interview answer was \u201cIt\u2019s all drama, just different settings.\u201d All joking aside, the moments that have reminded me why I was in this profession are those moments when my advice, or perspective, or guidance made a positive difference. I have so many wonderful stories along those lines \u2013 where I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to learn the lessons of humility and strength from others.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To what or whom have you turned to for inspiration throughout your career?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: Stand-up comedians.<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: No specific \u201cwhats\u201d or \u201cwhos\u201d \u2013 throughout my life, I\u2019ve had friends who have opened my eyes, taught me something, subtly changing my direction like a rock in a stream.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What are some qualities of strong leadership that have proved important but are often overlooked in a professional setting?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: I\u2019ve learned a great deal about what NOT TO DO.<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: Listening, truly listening is one of the BEST qualities of strong leadership. People often think leadership is about guiding or bossing or telling. I think that listening is #1. And letting people try \u2013 a little failure teaches as much or more than a huge success. Providing feedback is a close #2. We all need real-time feedback on how we\u2019re doing, what we\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Based on your experience, what is one thing managers or execs could do better to support and encourage women in the workplace?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: Actually understand that women are fully functional human beings.<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: Stop making assumptions about what women can or cannot; will or will not do. And valuing the differing perspective that a woman may have. Just because it may be softer, doesn\u2019t mean it is not \u201cbusiness-like.\u201d Lose the conscious\/unconscious bias about how women should act \u2013 RBF is never applied to men. A woman is aggressive; a man is strong \u2013 really? Lots of that stuff.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What is one thing a leader has done to help promote women in the workplace \u2014 either organizationally or for you personally?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: The leader who said I couldn\u2019t just because I was a woman. I showed him!<\/p>\n
FUNNY ANSWER: If I followed all the turning points, who knows where I would be?!<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: There have been lots of little moments and big moments that have defined my career overall. But I started very non-traditionally \u2013 my first real profession as a Production Stage Manager for a number of theaters across the country. When I got into HR, my interview answer was \u201cIt\u2019s all drama, just different settings.\u201d All joking aside, the moments that have reminded me why I was in this profession are those moments when my advice, or perspective, or guidance made a positive difference. I have so many wonderful stories along those lines \u2013 where I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to learn the lessons of humility and strength from others.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
To what or whom have you turned to for inspiration throughout your career?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: Stand-up comedians.<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: No specific \u201cwhats\u201d or \u201cwhos\u201d \u2013 throughout my life, I\u2019ve had friends who have opened my eyes, taught me something, subtly changing my direction like a rock in a stream.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What are some qualities of strong leadership that have proved important but are often overlooked in a professional setting?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: I\u2019ve learned a great deal about what NOT TO DO.<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: Listening, truly listening is one of the BEST qualities of strong leadership. People often think leadership is about guiding or bossing or telling. I think that listening is #1. And letting people try \u2013 a little failure teaches as much or more than a huge success. Providing feedback is a close #2. We all need real-time feedback on how we\u2019re doing, what we\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Based on your experience, what is one thing managers or execs could do better to support and encourage women in the workplace?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: Actually understand that women are fully functional human beings.<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: Stop making assumptions about what women can or cannot; will or will not do. And valuing the differing perspective that a woman may have. Just because it may be softer, doesn\u2019t mean it is not \u201cbusiness-like.\u201d Lose the conscious\/unconscious bias about how women should act \u2013 RBF is never applied to men. A woman is aggressive; a man is strong \u2013 really? Lots of that stuff.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What is one thing a leader has done to help promote women in the workplace \u2014 either organizationally or for you personally?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: The leader who said I couldn\u2019t just because I was a woman. I showed him!<\/p>\n
FUNNY ANSWER: I\u2019ve learned a great deal about what NOT TO DO.<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: Listening, truly listening is one of the BEST qualities of strong leadership. People often think leadership is about guiding or bossing or telling. I think that listening is #1. And letting people try \u2013 a little failure teaches as much or more than a huge success. Providing feedback is a close #2. We all need real-time feedback on how we\u2019re doing, what we\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Based on your experience, what is one thing managers or execs could do better to support and encourage women in the workplace?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: Actually understand that women are fully functional human beings.<\/p>\n
SERIOUS ANSWER: Stop making assumptions about what women can or cannot; will or will not do. And valuing the differing perspective that a woman may have. Just because it may be softer, doesn\u2019t mean it is not \u201cbusiness-like.\u201d Lose the conscious\/unconscious bias about how women should act \u2013 RBF is never applied to men. A woman is aggressive; a man is strong \u2013 really? Lots of that stuff.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What is one thing a leader has done to help promote women in the workplace \u2014 either organizationally or for you personally?<\/strong><\/h2>\nFUNNY ANSWER: The leader who said I couldn\u2019t just because I was a woman. I showed him!<\/p>\n
FUNNY ANSWER: The leader who said I couldn\u2019t just because I was a woman. I showed him!<\/p>\n
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