Woman of the Week – Tracy Harrison

Here at Executive Elements, we like to introduce you to fantastic women 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 people who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

My Name:
Tracy Harrison

My Current Job/Company:
Director, Business Development/Battelle for Kids

My Birthday:
09.22.1963

My Work:
I work in sales and client engagement for a not-for-profit education consulting organization. My focus is to ensure that our clients (which are large school districts) are happy with our services and solutions. I am a relationship manager.

My Passion:
Helping others tap into their strengths, connect with others and reach their goals.

My Family:
My husband Dave, Julie – 23, Mark – 21, and Sam – 18.

My Hero or Heroes:
My superhero husband. He believes in me and us. With him on my team, I can’t lose.

My Escape:
Warm temperatures, sunshine and water (preferably a lake) to sit by and chat with my husband, kids and friends.

My Pet Peeve:
People who would rather whine than take action. Meetings that go nowhere.

My Indulgence:
Binge-watching Netflix in my PJ’s.

My Roots:
Middle-class and just enough drama to keep things interesting.

My Future:
Endless possibilities (which can be scary at times).

My Favorite Quote:
For my current journey – “I am willing to put myself through anything, temporary pain or discomfort means nothing to me as long as I can see that the experience will take me to a new level. I am interested in the unknown, and the only path to the unknown is through breaking barriers, an often painful process.” – Diana Nyad.

My Accessory:
Shoes that work with great clothes, that look nice paired with the right bag, which works perfectly with a pair of sparkly earrings and…outerwear is fun too.

My Advice to Young Women:
You don’t have to have it all figured out today. You just need to know your next right move. This idea of “follow your dreams” can feel overwhelming. Instead ask yourself “How do you eat an elephant?”

How I Balance it All:
I don’t believe balance is what I hope to achieve. Balance sounds a bit “comfortable” for my personality. I am at my best when I am really busy. I work hard at being present with the people who are important to me and prioritizing my week to include as much as time with each of them as possible. Some weeks I do better than others, but when my relationships are working, the rest of my life falls into place.