9 Traits

Problem Solver

When I was a little girl, I constantly asked my Mom, “Why?”. I have an intense intellectual curiosity and a deep desire to understand how everything works. My passion for knowledge provides insight and mental flexibility to uncover subtle patterns and connect information in unusual ways.

When I designed our kitchen, I found beautiful handmade tiles and discovered they were $250 per square foot. Undettered, I began researching how tile is manufactured. I convinced the head of the ceramics department at the local rec center to permit my enrollment in a 6-month independent study. I rolled out hundreds of pounds of clay with a slab roller.  Next, I used a pizza cutter and a wood template (fabricated from wood scraps in my garage) to shape each tile. I learned how to create a screen print with a photosensitive emulsion, which allowed me to recreate my application of the glaze pattern.

Few things bring me more joy than solving challenges and utilizing my creative skills.

Creative

My great-grandfather was a furniture designer. As a little girl, my Grandma would tell me stories about his unique inventions. Although I never met him, I feel connected to him. We share many of the same hobbies, including oil painting and carpentry.

An artist’s ability lies in their strength of observation. I see the world in patterns and logic puzzles.  In carpentry, I carefully inspect the wood and observe its properties.  I notice the grain patterns and visualize myself assembling the boards before building.

In data, I inspect the features and create a mental map of the diverse components. I vividly picture how the numbers interact and use my spatial reasoning to envision data movement and patterns in my mind.

Driven

The power of the modern queen chess piece is attributed to Queen Isabella of Castille. The Queen reorganized the government, drastically reducing crime and unburdening the kingdom of the debt her brother left behind. Additionally, Isabella unified Spain through her union with Ferdinand II of Aragon. Most significantly, she paved the Age of Exploration by supporting Christopher Columbus.

As a female, the word “driven” can have negative connotations. If you look up the definition of the word driven you will find the following:

Strategic

My determined personality ties directly to my strategic nature.  Within the field of data analytics, I have been networking to understand the skills in greatest demand that set me apart when applying for positions.

The concept of Ikigai helps an individual brainstorm a career strategy by identifying the overlap of their interests, strengths, and market demand.  I love math and enjoy solving complex problems; therefore, I have developed a strategy for a career in data science and statistical analysis.

My educational outline is documented in Excel and includes objectives and an action plan for completion.

Collaborative

Everyone has a different currency.  Some operate with a desire to earn money; for others, their most valuable currency is time.  My most valuable currency is knowledge, and collaboration is a key source.

Ada Lovelace was the first computer programmer, but her research would have been impossible without her partnership with Charles Babbage. Throughout my career in consulting, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with great minds, including marketing specialists, psychologists, financial experts, and strategists.  These collaborative efforts enriched our lives, and I am forever grateful to those willing to coach me.  As I build my skills, I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with others.

The world benefits when we share our knowledge and seek to understand the viewpoints of others.

Adaptable

The healthiest plants have many adaptations to help them survive in nature. Native prairie grasses develop deep roots to survive periods of drought.  Maple and oak trees are the strongest types of lumber because they grow slowly over time.

For me, adaptability has come with maturity. I see the importance of flexibility. There are problems we seek to solve that have no solution, and some situations outgrow their usefulness.

Wisdom and experience help you identify your life’s trajectories and pivot when necessary. Like prairie grass, pivoting becomes more manageable with well-established roots.

Dynamic

I am enthusiastic about new ideas and love to brainstorm.

Change is a necessary part of growth; I refuse to stagnate.  I will take risks to achieve my goals, including closing a small business and returning to school to pivot my career.

In the garden, I try a few new plants each year.  Some will inevitably fail, but I have discovered countless unique varieties over the years by being willing to try unexpected varieties.

“Failure is success in progress.” ~Albert Einstein

Futuristic

Growing up, I was fascinated by the concept of psychohistory in Isaac Asmiov’s Foundation series.  When making decisions, I carefully consider the future effects.  Selecting a vehicle, I create a spreadsheet of features and maintenance costs, carefully calculating the long-term financial impacts of my decision.  Actions have consequences, and the impact of our choices must be carefully considered.

AI will revolutionize our world, and women are underrepresented in technical fields.  Without a diverse demographic building these mathematical models, our future could be fueled by bias and lead to devastating consequences.

Communicator

The best communication comes from observation. I notice people’s words and the context and circumstances surrounding spoken language.

Effective communication comes from action. Proactively understand your audience’s needs; seek to understand. Good communicators ask questions and listen.

Final Thoughts

As a consultant, I have had the privilege of working with a wide range of talented professionals. I designed this page to help fellow collaborators and clients better understand my strengths and capabilities. 

Feel free to reach me at [email protected] or via LinkedIn.

Monty (my wheaten terrier) appreciates my ability to work from home.