What has inspired you to stay at Bernstein for as long as you have?
There are two reasons that come to mind when I reflect on what has not only kept me at Bernstein this long but also kept me engaged and growing: the irreplaceable relationships that I’ve built with my colleagues and the opportunity to think creatively and own business outcomes. Ownership to me means being thoughtful about what we are doing, how we execute for our clients, internally and externally, and being accountable for outcomes, positive or negative. Being a part of a firm that encourages bringing fresh ideas to the table, while stressing accountability, incentivizes me to bring my A-game every day. I have been fortunate to work with colleagues who inspire me to stay relevant in every facet of my career—and build a business together that we are all proud to work for. While no workplace is perfect, on my most challenging days I’m still surrounded by caring colleagues and a firm where a solution exists for any problem encountered.
Share one of your most memorable professional accomplishments with us.
Several years ago, I had the privilege of building a leadership development program designed for high-potential employees. It was a competitive, 18-month program designed to build skills that will create influence and impact across the leadership spectrum. Since the program launched, we have merged the curriculum with a similar program for employees who aspire to be advisors. By merging these programs, we have created the ability for business and sales leaders to learn from each other, embrace different perspectives and build trusted relationships as the future leaders of the firm. The tenacity that this group brings each week to the sessions translates to my own professional growth, which I am amazed by every year. As a co-leader of this program, I am humbled by my unique position to maximize the impact of each person in the class and advocate for their careers.
What passions do you pursue outside of work?
As a working mom, my passions outside of work are very family-centric. My husband and I are high school sweethearts and have always enjoyed spending time outdoors running, kayaking or finding other ways to take in the fresh air. We are both natives to Minnesota, but enjoy exploring the other unique areas of our country. As nerdy as it sounds, we take long road trips...many times in excess of 20 hours...but make the most of the journey by identifying great places to stay and explore together as a family. When we are not running to football, basketball or baseball games, we enjoy connecting with friends. I am often teased by my family about how many hours I invest in my other passion, podcasting. I’ve met many people in the learning and development space through the podcasts I listen to, and I love how the podcasts intersect with my passions at work in developing others and finding new ways to enhance our culture.