Tell us about your experience in the Talent Development space including places you've worked, roles you've held, and organizations you're a part of.
Though I'm an engineer by training, I've been a people leader for most of my 25+ years - across three continents, seven companies, and 17 jobs (12 of them at Bayer, in North America and Europe). People have been my joy, and sometimes my frustration!
I've been part of ATD KC since 2021 and joined the board as a volunteer in 2022, serving as VP Finance and then VP Membership. I currently serve as President-Elect.
As a people leader I realized early that my team members had a much better grasp of the technical side of the business than me - but most of them struggled with the rest of it. From simple things like how to take no for an answer, to strategic ones like how to negotiate and secure a headcount for six months from a function that doesn't report to you, to reflective ones like learning to leverage criticism for growth. That's where I found my calling: helping people engage, grow, and thrive at work, one individual at a time.
What are some of your interests, strengths, and unique
qualities that would help others get to know you better?
I love to connect over coffee or beer - every conversation enriches me. I
enjoy early morning exercise, and recently joined the local F3 group; we meet
at 5:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, at open spaces nearby. I'm a bibliophile,
which is why I buy way more books than I will ever read! I love music across
most genres, though the Blues speak to my heart. And I'm an avid fusion cook
who likes to experiment with ingredients (be warned!). I'm a Rotarian, and a
Scouter - planning to do the Boundary Waters High Adventure in 2028.
What "work related" accomplishment(s) are you
the most proud of?
I once inherited a strong technical specialist who wasn't landing with the
team - enough friction that the conversation had already turned to whether it
could work at all. The easy call was to agree with the room, but I hadn't
actually asked the specialist yet, so I did. Three months of conversations
later, they'd arrived at something none of us had considered: the problem
wasn't their skills, it was the role they'd been put in. Clear on that, they
had the confidence to find a role that fit - outside the organization - and
have thrived since. Helping someone find their way off my own team isn't the
accomplishment I expected to be proudest of. It's the one I am.
Favorite quote
"Those who are not dissatisfied will never make any progress." -
Shigeo Shingo
Are there specific people in the Talent Development space
you follow?
Honestly, not many of the well-known names. The people I learn from are people
I've worked with - former supervisors, mentors, peers, several of my own direct
reports, and now my colleagues at ATD KC. I've yet to walk away from one of
those conversations without something I didn't walk in with.
Do you have a lesson you've learned in your career you'd
like to share with others?
People show up every day to do the best they can, given their
circumstances, abilities, and challenges. Approach them with curiosity,
kindness, patience, and empathy.
Do you have any favorite books or resources that you
think others would find helpful?
The Mom Test - asking better questions so that even
your mom won't be able to sugarcoat the answer!
