Woman of the Week – Lisa Kozak

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My Name:  Lisa Kozak

My Current Job/Company: Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited – Global Recruiting Manager

My Birthday: 9/20/69

My Work:  Managing a recruiting team to hire technology professionals to support the technology and infrastructure of the Deloitte member firms

My Passion:  Cooking – I am no Iron Chef, but I really enjoy the relaxation that comes with cooking;  watching my kids compete in their various sporting events

My Family: Mike, husband of nearly 15 years, daughters Avery (10) and Cameron (7) and our dog Tucker (3) Brittney Spaniel

My Hero: My mother-in-law – Since her husband’s, my father-in-law’s, aneurysm nearly 12 years ago, she has been his sole care giver. He is partially paralyzed, cannot walk or do much for himself, so he relies on her for everything from eating to getting into bed.  She does everything she can for him and has the hope that one day he will walk again…maybe not in this life, but she knows he will walk again. Her undying devotion to help him see another day is truly amazing!

My Escape: House in Michigan; great place to relax and forget about the work week

My Pet Peeves: People who don’t play by the rules, in life and otherwise

My Indulgence:  Sweet Mandy B’s cupcakes in Chicago; thankfully it’s only an occasional indulgence

My Roots:  Born in Indiana, grew up in Ohio, moved to Illinois, specifically Chicago, other than a short stint in San Francisco, I have been in Chicago since 1995

My Future: Ever evolving – I hope to do something on my own one day – just don’t know yet what that is…

My Love(s): My husband, my children, my sisters and their families, doing triathlons, cooking, drinking wine & champagne and our Michigan lake house

My Movie: Shawshank Redemption – life is about second chances

My Quote on Life:  Hope is not a strategy

My Accessory: Handbags for sure

My Advice to Young Women:  Life is not a sprint, but a marathon; take your time and do things at your own pace, you are the one writing the rules, not the people before you…

How I Balance it All:  I take time for myself by training and working out regularly; once I have released my stress, my focus is so much sharper and my mind much more open.

Woman of the Week – Jennifer Fountain

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Each week, we feature a fantastic new woman we think you should know. Some of these women are clients, some are friends, some are women we’ve only just met. But they all have this in common: they are dynamic, interesting gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Jennifer Fountain

My Current Job/Company:
Fundraiser for OhioHealth

My Birthdate:
11.24.71

My Work:
I pair people who care with projects that empower.  My job is to make the match between generous donors with a passion for giving and grateful hospitals with a concern for our community’s well being.  I feel privileged to work in the field of healthcare philanthropy, where every dollar raised can directly impact someone’s quality of life.

My Passion:
Being passionate!  I’m all about loving what you love.  Why not?  Someone once told me you only go around once so why not roll down the windows while you crank up the AC?

My Family:
John (6th grade dance partner and husband of 7 years), Stella (5-year-old super charged daughter), and Crosby (2-year-old sweetie pie son).

My Heroes:
Anyone with moxie, mojo and dogged determination, as best exemplified by Scarlett O’Hara in Gone with the Wind.  I’m also a big fan of those with grace and poise, like Grace Kelly, who I wish to emulate.

My Escape:
Anywhere in the great state of Maine.

My Pet Peeves:
Slow drivers in the passing lane, the incredibly loud volume of today’s TV commercials, and sharing food.

My Indulgence:
Buttery Chardonnay and Swedish Fish.

My Roots:
I’m a hybrid between my parents, each having shaped who I am today.  My upbringing includes:  a hard-working YWCA Woman of Achievement award winner; an artsy, nature-loving architect; and, the most patient industrial engineer/part-time professor who dared to teach me my multiplication tables and how to drive stick shift.

My Future:
Fabulously undefined.

My Love(s):
Bruce Springsteen and Billie Holiday.  Music moves me.  These are two of the best because they sing from the soul.

My Movie:
The Usual Suspects, the 1995 cult classic about mysterious mob boss Keyser Söze, with Kevin Spacey.  My favorite flicks are those that pull the rug out from underneath you and make you question everything you’ve understood to be true.  I love a good conspiracy theory.

My Quote on Life:
“Leave it better than you found it.  Make sure all your actions and avenues are based in betterment.”

My Accessory:
Scarves…..they serve as a deflector shield and a power cape all in one.

My Advice to Young Women:
Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know.  Be aggressive to go gain the knowledge needed to do your job.  But understand that from then on, there are no excuses for not knowing the answers.

How I Balance it All:
I don’t— it’s not possible.  No one person can do it all.  I learned a long time ago that running with all pistons firing only leads to major crash-n-burns.  These days I try to be present wherever I am.  You have to learn how to drop the guilty mom feeling when you have an evening work event and can’t be home.  On the weekend, you have to leave the BlackBerry in the bottom of the briefcase and let the emails go unattended during family time.  It’s the only way to stay sane. That and a wonderful husband who loves to cook!

Woman of the Week – Michelle Devine Reese

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My Name:
Michelle Devine Reese

My Current Job/Company:
In transition… and loving it!

My Birthdate:
04.01.64

My Work:
I help organizations to be more successful. My favorite aspect of this is working with leaders and their teams to structure them for success and bring out the strengths of the team. My overall goal is to improve individual well-being on the job which leads to organizational well-being (including financial!).

My Passion:
Gratitude for life and those who share their lives with me, in service of lifting the lives of those who struggle (including a special place in my heart for those with Cancer or Alzheimer’s).

My Family:
Jim (Husband), Jack (12), Nickolas (9), Morgan (7), Natalie (5)

My Heroes:
My mom – she built my confidence at EVERY opportunity and exemplified hard work, good fun, and caring for others. My husband. Anyone who gives of themselves for the less fortunate. People living with and overcoming difficulties.

My Escape:
The ocean with a beach to walk on. When I can’t get there… a funny TV show or movie.

My Pet Peeve:
Poor customer service. Small mindedness. Discrimination. (Not in that order!)

My Indulgence:
Sweets, particularly dark chocolate. Special trips with girlfriends every few years (big ones, like Paris and the Grand Canyon!)

My Roots:
City girl (New York City). Full-time working Mom. Inter-generational household (lived with my Grandfather). Irish-descent. Friends were our extended family. Amazing, lifelong friends from my all-girls, Catholic high school.

My Future:
Who knows, but I’m grateful for every day and open to life’s possibilities.

My Love:
Jim, the love of my life. Remembering the days my children were born and every time they laugh, make music on pots and pans, say or write “I love you” or do something nice for each other.

My Movie:
Working Girl. Shows what hard work, listening more than talking, luck and timing, and a little moxie can do!

My Quote on Life:
I believe in “… the fierce urgency of now…Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

My Accessory:
Glass rings from Italy. Leg Warmers – oh wait, that was my accessory in the 80’s!

My Advice to Young Women:
Figure out what makes you uniquely you and never change those things for a job, a partner, anyone. Respect everyone. Listen to their stories. People usually have a good reason for what they do (except for poor customer service, of course!).

How I Balance it All:
First, I am blessed with an amazing spouse. He takes care of many things of which I am not particularly fond (like cooking and paying bills). I have changed my view of “perfect” – no longer a perfectly clean, organized house, for example, but rather, a family who loves each other and extends themselves to others. Lastly, I don’t expect balance on a daily basis in terms of time spent in one part of my life versus another, but rather look at a longer horizon (months or years) and how I feel about each part – am I my best self in each role? More time doesn’t get that in order. Focus, prioritization, reflection and prayer do that for me.

Woman of the Week – Renata Ramsini

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My Name: Renata Ramsini

My Birthdate:
November 2, 1983

My Passion:
Photography. I love taking photographs of people in particular and the best thing about photography is that you are always learning. You never master everything, there is always something new!

My Family:
My parents; my sister and brother-in-law; and my dogs (Sprout and Tonks).

My Heroes:
My experience in the political realm has given me a greater appreciation for historical figures and organizations who stood up against various injustices when they knew that doing so put the livelihoods of themselves or their organizations at risk. Thus far in my career, I have been incredibly fortunate to work with and for people and organizations who embody such courage, but I’m not sure that they are in the majority given the current political climate. I hope I’m wrong.

My Escape:
Although I don’t do it as often as I’d like, I absolutely love going to the movie theater to see a movie. There’s just something about the experience that I’ve always enjoyed. I think it’s also why I have a mild obsession with big screen tv’s and computer monitors!

My Pet Peeve:
Inefficiency.

My Indulgence:
Chocolate-covered strawberries!

My Roots:
As the daughter of a Christian Assyrian, I grew up with a strong sense of pride in my heritage and although I grew up in a small town, my parents made sure that I understood that there was an entire world outside my hometown that was filled with different people and different cultures.

My Future:
Unknown and uncertain.

My Movie:
I love thrillers and action movies!

My Quote on Life:
“He who speaks for the innocent, is eloquent enough.” (Publius Syrus)

My Accessory:
My Scosha bracelets. I never take them off and plan to add more!

My Advice to Young Women:
Surround yourself with people who believe in you and encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone. If you can say “if it wasn’t for ___, I wouldn’t have done ____” then they are someone worth keeping around. Life it too short to surround yourself with people who are consistently negative and/or apathetic. Such attitudes are toxic and will eventually bring you down and lower your quality of life.

How I Balance it All:
I try to take one day at a time and to not let myself get unnecessarily overwhelmed by thinking of the plethora of tasks I’ve yet to do. They aren’t all going to get done today, so I’m not going to worry about them today.

Woman of the Week – Andrea Cambern

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Andrea Cambern

My Name:
Andrea Cambern

My Current Job/Company:
News Anchor/WBNS TV

My Birthdate:
3/6/59

My Work:
Journalist, communicator, advocate.

My Passion:
My family, my community, my job, fighting cancer.

My Family:
Brett, my husband of almost 20 blissful years. Two Cats, Lily & Bamboo…although I like to think of them as children in fur coats.

My Heroes:
My mother, who was my best friend, loudest cheerleader, brutally honest critic, and champion. 
Although gone, her strength provides inspiration everyday.

My Escape:
Anywhere, anytime with my husband, without a phone, computer or television!

My Pet Peeve:
Negativity.

My Indulgence:
Trashy novels accompanied by sand in my toes!

My Roots:
Run deep in Columbus. While I’m not from Central Ohio, there’s no place else I would call home.

My Future:
A mystery!

My Love:
Houses! I’m a frustrated architect/designer!

My Movie:
Roman Holiday, I’m a sucker for love.

My Quote on Life:
“Follow your heart, not your head.” My mother’s quote, and the advice has never steered me wrong!

My Accessory:
Never met one I didn’t like!

My Advice to Young Women:
Persevere. Don’t ever let anyone tell you, you can’t.

How I Balance it All:
I don’t.  But I’ll never give up trying!

Woman of the Week – Toshia Safford

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Toshia Safford

Toshia Safford

My Current Job/Company:
President and CEO/The Center for Healthy Families

My Birthdate:
08-28-70

My Work:
I serve as the President and CEO for a local non-profit that engages pregnant and parenting teens in opportunities for growth and to achieve economic and social self- sufficiency.

My Passion:
Life, my children, my family, my friends and the community that I serve.

My Family:
Morgan Boyce (Driven and Loveable son-10), Mackenzie Chaser (Colorful and Amazing Daughter – 7)

My Hero:
My mother. (Patricia A. Williams)

My Escape:
A white sand beach with clear blue water.  Being submerged in earth’s most abundant resource (water) is powerful and healing; it allows me to rejuvenate.

My Pet Peeve:
Pessimism

My Indulgence:
Shoes and New York Cheesecake

My Roots:
Humble, Hardworking and filled with laughter.

My Future:
Full of opportunity and surprises

My Love:
Listening to my children laugh.

My Movie:
Shawshank Redemption; it speaks to the power of the human spirit and integrity; maintaining your feeling of self-worth when placed in a hopeless position.

My Quote on Life:
“…two roads diverged in a yellow-wood, and I, I chose the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference.” (Robert Frost)

My Accessory:
One special accessory that I rarely take off is my cross.

My Advice to Young Women:
Develop the Art of Being Yourself.  Socrates’ guiding rule was, “Know Thyself.”   It is only when we truly know ourselves that we can be open to accept others.  Dare to be different and to set your own pattern.  Develop your circle of 10; individuals that will be honest with you and help you grow and move forward.  Make sure the group is diverse.  Choose wisely.

How I Balance it All:
Taking my time, I put one foot in front of the other and exhale.    I recognize that I cannot be all things to everyone all the time.  I accept me for all of my strengths and short-comings.  My support system is great, I call them my Circle of Jewels; both men and women.  I value and cherish each individual for they are precious, rare, honest and bring a unique value to my life. I am a work in progress: constantly evolving and striving to be better than I was yesterday.

Woman of the Week – Christine Nardecchia

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Christine Nardecchia

Christine Nardecchia

 

My Current Job/Company:
Volunteer Resources Administrator/City of Dublin, Ohio

My Work:
I oversee service and volunteerism for the City of Dublin for groups, individuals, students, families and companies who what to engage in their community and enhance the quality of life.

My Passion:
Service to others.

My Family:
A huge group of people made up of my family and chosen family, here and throughout several countries.

My Heroes:
My parents. No doubt about it.

My Escape:
Asheville, NC, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

My Pet Peeve:
Gossip.

My Indulgence:
Spas.

My Roots:
First generation Italian American. I “know where I came from” and will never, ever turn my back on it.

My Future:
In God’s hands.

My Love:
Church bells. Early morning walks in the snow.  Random acts of kindness.

My Movie:
Moonstruck.  It’s one of the only moves about Italians that has nothing to do with the Mafia.

My Accessory:
A Smile.

My Advice to Young Women:
Listen. Learn. And don’t forget anyone along the way. Every one of us becomes a part of one another along that way.

How I Balance it All:
I don’t. I could use some help there!

Woman of the Week – Christie Angel

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Christie Angel

Christie Angel

Christie Angel

My Current Job/Company:
Vice President – Sean P. Dunn & Associates

My Birthdate:
02.4.64

My Work:
I am a government and community relations professional working with a broad range of clients from around the city and state to achieve their legislative and community goals.

My Passion:
My family, my community, my friends and my dog, Betty .

My Family:
Otto (my husband) and our very cute dog, Betty.

My Heroes:
My parents and the late Jerry Hammond. They taught me a great deal about community service.

My Escape:
Any place that I can unplug from technology and unwind with my friends and family.

My Pet Peeve:
People who see the glass half empty, as opposed to seeing it half full.

My Indulgence:
A day at the spa.

My Roots:
Steeped in community and public service with a love for Columbus.

My Future:
Full of possibilities, laughter and happiness.

My Love:
My family, friends and community.

My Movie:
I am a movie buff—political thrillers and bio pics are my favorites.

My Quote on Life:
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

My Accessory:
Unique pieces of jewelry—necklaces and bracelets.

My Advice to Young Women:
Get involved in your community, find your passion, and choose your friends wisely.

How I Balance it All:
I work hard to create a schedule that gives me quality time in the office and doesn’t keep me out in meetings every second of the day, every day of the week. (In my business this is very common.) When possible, I take time in the mornings to walk the dog, read the paper, and have a great cup of coffee with my husband. It is a great way to start the day.

Choosing the Right Type of Team

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Megan Kilgoreby Megan Kilgore

The word “team” can elicit a wide range of responses; some people thrive on human collaboration and ping-ponging ideas, while others shudder at the thought of time spent in groups.  Many companies, however, advocate teamwork.  And they should.  Team collaboration can produce quick work by allowing multiple voices at the table, each representing their unit’s respective needs, resulting in jointly agreed upon decisions or actions.  In highly successful teams, both individual performance and company performance can be elevated.

Not all teams are the same, however.  As a leader, it’s important to recognize what type of team you need.  I like to focus on three types of human collaboration:  workgroups, teams, and virtuoso teams.  None are necessarily more important than the other, but they do each provide their own unique set of pros and cons.

Workgroups are the most basic form.  They’re what we’re most familiar with in the course of daily business.  Workgroups will typically have one evident leader; there will be standard, perhaps long-term, meetings with discussion, decisions, and action plans.  Have you been asked to serve on an advisory committee?  Chances are that was a workgroup.  Many governmental councils or company committees can be considered workgroups.  What separates them from the other levels is their focus on individualistic work production.  Individuals will be primarily focused on meeting their own goals and will fail to consider the overall picture of the corporation or enhance the work production of others outside of their own unit.  Workgroups are often composed of individuals who are simply available versus those who may be best for the job.

To elevate to team status, a group must begin to produce collaborative and mutually beneficial work products.  Group members, many of whom will be specially picked to fulfill certain roles, will begin listening to one another.  Success is not measured by individual gains, but rather group members will recognize their role in supporting the total company.  There will be blurred leadership roles as many strong and talented voices will want to assist in guiding the team towards its goals.  The tone and feel to the meetings should also be enhanced; unlike rudimentary workgroups, teams will begin to synthesize and lively, but respectful, discussions will result.  Teams will naturally limit themselves to goal execution and will not look towards new ventures.

Virtuoso teams are a special kind of group ideally convened to tackle big challenges.  Unlike teams, they look beyond simple goal execution and search for one-of-a-kind ideas with big results.  The term, coined by well-known business scholars Bill Fischer and Andy Boynton, describes a team comprised of elite experts, all of whom bring high levels of experience, ambition, intensity, and fast-paced ideas to the table.  The difference between virtuoso teams and the others is that of timing, group composition, and personality.  Virtuoso teams are best utilized for short, term-limited projects as the amount of energy and focus required by the team can quickly result in burnout. Group members are chosen because they’re the best in their fields and their combination of pride, skill, and desire make them willing to take on a large challenge. Because of this, the group personality is often conflicting, given the amount of talent and ego in the room, but such outspoken opinions will quickly morph into a single-minded focus as team members begin to sync around the goal and share identity.  Results will often be extraordinary.

As leaders, consider the talents each type of group offers to your organization’s needs.  For tasks focused on reviewing an entity’s budget, a workgroup may be best.  Want to determine how best to launch a new digital media division?  A team is likely the best solution.  But if you need to accomplish enormous goals and transcend your industry’s “normal,” a virtuoso team is the way to go.

Megan is the Assistant City Auditor for the City of Columbus. Learn more about Megan by visiting her Woman of the Week profile!

Woman of the Week – Rebecca Wiggins

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Rebecca Wiggins

My Current Job/Company:
Director of Certification Programs, AFCPE (Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education)

My Birthdate:
04.27.1980

My Work:
Oversee and manage the certification program process, and coordinate implementation of grant funded financial education training programs

My Passion:
Faith, Family, Friends, Music

My Family:
Mark (Husband), Owen (3), Nora (8 months), Oscar (mini-schnauzer)

My Heroes:
My parents, Bob and Claire–taught me work ethic, loyalty and passion for making this world better

My Escape:
The mountains, especially in the Fall

My Pet Peeve:
Passive aggressiveness, narrow-mindedness, complacency, negativity

My Indulgence:
Wine, dark chocolate

My Roots:
Happy. Family. Friends. Music

My Future:
Open, optimistic, growth

My Love:
Listening to the kids giggle, quality time with family and friends, music, traveling

My Movie:
When Harry Met Sally, “when you know you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible”

My Quote on Life:
“One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

My Accessory:
Earrings and a smile

My Advice to Young Women:
Surround yourself with authentic, positive, encouraging people. Embrace life’s twists and turns–sometimes things don’t work out how we expected or planned, but we end up right where we’re supposed to be, learning and growing in the process.

How I Balance it All:
Day by day. Each horse in the race leads or falls behind as necessary. Be kind to yourself and allow the ebb and flow of roles and priorities. Trust your instincts.