So what have you liked about working here so far?
I love supporting employees in general. It’s been interesting to see the different types of employees. You have faculty employees, staff employees, research employees, student employees. All of them have different needs at different times, so it’s been interesting to serve in that capacity.
On the professional development side of things, what kind of activities have you done since you’ve been here?
I’ve taken a variety of classes. Most recently, I was invited to join the Professional Circles program, which is out of the Workplace Learning and Professional Development Department. It was a great networking opportunity to meet other people who were looking to get into management. We’ve continued to meet and support each other even after that program has ended. I met some great people.
I recently got accepted to the ASPIRE Program. It’s a new program as well. The program, again, is building leaders. It’s for people that don’t currently manage other people but are looking to begin to manage other people, and what does it look like to become a leader at Tech. That program is going to for the next three or four months.
Can you tell us more about the ASPIRE Program?
There were 140 applicants, and 68 of us were chosen. We had the kickoff a couple of weeks ago, and just this past Monday we had our first official in-person meeting. It’s a combination of in-person meetings, online modules of homework, reading and networking in between. It’s a 4-module program that teaches us how to collaborate, be creative, control and compete as leaders. It helps develop your leadership style as well as other leadership styles that may be weaker to you to help you become a whole leader going forward.
The goal is to reinforce that leadership mindset to prepare you to become a leader title-wise. It’s an interesting program, and I was drawn to it specifically because I’ve always considered myself a leader – title or no title. Even as a young child I’ve always been kind of a stand-out-front, get things done, think outside of the box type of person. I’ve served in several leadership positions in my life, and even in my HR career I’ve always been spearheading things. This program was right up my alley, to kind of put the education, experience and knowledge of how to become a better leader under my belt before taking on a title.
Is your goal to be more of a leader at Tech?
I do want to take on a leadership role. I think it’s time. I’ve kind of shied away from it, but I think it’s time to move in that direction.
Is there anything in particular you hope to learn from this ASPIRE program?
I want it to be a firming up of my qualities. I think I possess the qualities to become a great leader, but I want to really reinforce those things in some areas where I am weak. I want to enhance and improve upon areas that might be weaknesses of mine. We’re all human, and we all can grow.
Are there any reasons you think other people should get involved in professional development?
I think that everybody can benefit from professional development. It’s called professional development, but it often bleeds into your personal life. That’s why I encourage everyone to get involved in some form or fashion. You’re bound to learn something about yourself or someone else. That just makes for a better workplace all around.
It’s good to get out and network and learn. We don’t know everybody at Tech, and I just like to meet people, especially being in HR you meet a lot of people and serve a lot of people. I think everybody could use some professional development at some point in time.
In terms of it bleeding into your personal life, do you have any examples of that for you?
Oh my gosh, yes. My personal and my professional life are separate, but not really, because I think of myself as a whole individual. The way I am outside of work I bring here to work, and vice versa. I think that anybody is able to blend the two. With ASPIRE, we talked about a leadership mindset. I’m a mom, so I have to be a leader for my daughter. I’m a business owner, so I have to be a leader in that respect. I’m well-versed in community relations, non-profits and community service, so I’m a leader there. Some of the mindset and qualities a leader has, you exhibit those outside of just your 9 to 5. It’s kind of full circle. They definitely cross over. Even in real life, you’re still dealing with people.
Can you tell us a little about what you do outside of work? You’re a business owner?
I am. I own a small soap company that makes natural soaps and natural body products. I am a mom. My daughter is almost 2, so she is running our lives right now.
I was thinking through ways that I am a leader outside the class and outside of Georgia Tech. I also founded a nonprofit for community service goals. I am a sign language interpreter, so I serve in that way. I’ve got a lot going on outside of Tech! But my most important job is being a mom.
