Q: Tell us about yourself.
I am a wife, mom of two under two, and HR professional who loves her job and career. In my spare time, I love to be active and outside and I’m always up for reading a great book!
Q: What will you be speaking about at DisruptHR?
A: Sabbaticals.
Q: Why are you passionate about this topic? .
A: Having just returned from my second maternity leave, it occurred to me that there are limited ways in which you can take an extended period of leave from a company if you have been employed there for several years. You shouldn’t have to have a baby or be injured to take an extended period of time off, but rather have that be a benefit to you as you’ve shown loyalty to a company for so many years, the company can in turn express its loyalty to its tenured employees.
Q: What general business advice do you have for readers out there?
A: Always be open-minded to opportunities out there—you never know what is around the corner waiting for you if you don’t look.
Q: Can you share a specific experience that has significantly shaped your career?
A: Just recently, my family and I made the decision to leave Chicago and move to Fargo for the opportunity to advance my career. I moved while pregnant and moved away from family, and it paid off as I was recently promoted to VP of HR—I took a chance on myself, and in turn, the company is taking a chance on me, to which I am grateful.
Q: How do you stay motivated and inspired in your professional journey?
A: Have a passion and a reason for doing what you do every day, and remember/reflect on that every single day
Q: What do you think are the key traits of successful leaders today?
A: Passion, determination, resilience, and humility.
Q: How do you handle setbacks and challenges in your career?
A: Take one day/one decision at a time, and find the learnings/ blessings in the challenges.
Q: What advice would you give to young professionals looking to make an impact in their field?
A: Make connections with people—get to an office, go to coffee/happy hours, and build relationships.
