AWL Alumni Spotlight

Describe the six months you spent in the Bloombase experience for Advanced Women Leaders.
I was offered the AWL experience during a time of immense change in my life. A few months prior to starting this experience I had moved back to Indianapolis after spending the prior 3 years living abroad in Munich, Germany for a secondment opportunity with my company. “Change” was all around me including immersing (or re-immersing) back into the culture of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis work-environment, a new leadership position in an entirely different function, a team of direct reports and a need to find a way to balance work and home demands. To say it was “overwhelming” is an understatement. Based on the feedback from a couple of deeply trusted colleagues, I decided to add one more thing to my plate… the AWL experience… and I am deeply thankful that I did! The six months spent in AWL were some of the most fulfilling moments of my life. Each day-long session allowed for vulnerability in a safe space to dig deep, make deep connections with the other women in my cohort, to discover my personal values and to enable me to grow as a whole human. The AWL experience allowed me to take a break from an environment that was overwhelming me and to focus on my own personal development. This invoked a transformation in my entire life and instilled a rejuvenating energy that continues to fuel me even today.

Describe the benefits of the AWL Experience.
At a time when everything seemed to be happening to me, I learned through the AWL experience that I had a choice. The deep internal reflection into my life, my values and my desires allowed me to realize that I have power to make intentional choices and intentional connections. Applying “intention” to my life empowered me to grow as a leader and have deeper connections in all aspects of my life.
 
Describe the benefits of being a part of the post AWL community.
The AWL experience encourages you to be vulnerable in a safe space with the group of women in your cohort. This vulnerability allows you to establish raw connections and learn about each other, from each other and about yourself in a truly unique way. Being part of the AWL Alumni community allows you to expand those connections exponentially. This community supports you, pushes you to continue to grow, and of course, provides perpetual laughter.

What would you say to someone else considering this experience?
In many cases we naturally put the needs of others in front of our own. While this is admirable, there comes a time when in order to continue to give to others, you need to refuel yourself. This experience allows you to do that in a unique and intentional way by immersing yourself for one day a month for six months. Take the leap to carve out this time for yourself, to invest in yourself. The benefits will have a ripple effect on your life.

My favorite way to spend an afternoon by myself is… I’ve recently discovered a passion for Physique 57 on-demand workouts so my ideal afternoon would be to complete a workout and then curl up in a chair with a good book and a glass of wine.

To me, leadership is… cultivating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to be the best version of themselves and live their best life.

What gets you out of bed in the morning? A desire to make a difference gets me out of bed in the morning. Whether this be completing a project, making a positive impact on someone’s life through intentional connection or refueling my body through exercise. Each day is a new opportunity to do something great!

The values / behaviors that are important to me are… in all aspects of life, time is sacred (and there’s never enough of it). We all make choices on how to spend our time. Be intentional in your choices and present when you make the commitment.

Something that makes my life ridiculously fun is… traveling and exploring the world with my fiancé Brandon Wright. We took full advantage of our 3 years in Germany by exploring nearby countries, castles, beer gardens, music festivals and local food and wine cuisine. Now that we are back in America we continue our exploration through annual ski trips with friends with the goal of skiing in a different location every year.