Title: Finance Associate, School of Architecture
What was your first position at Notre Dame? What is your current role? (If you'd like, describe your career path at ND):
Continuing my meandering career path, I began my service at Notre Dame as a Guest Service Associate at the newly renovated Morris Inn in July 2013, finishing my time at the hotel as a Rooms Manager in 2017, with responsibility for our group rooms and our valet service. From there, I joined St. Michael's Laundry as their Business Manager, and in 2019 I began my service as the Finance Associate for the School of Architecture.
What woman inspires you and why?
Condolezza Rice. After growing in the racially segregated South she served our nation as our first female African-American secretary of state, and she was the first woman to serve as National Security Advisor, before leaving public office to serve as an educator and share her wisdom and experience with future generations of leaders.
What is your favorite book, podcast or Ted Talk? What did you learn from it and/or how did it inspire you/why would you recommend it?
Simon Sinek's Leaders Eat Last. I first read it when I had stepped into a management role for the first time in my career, and it helped me better understand what makes a team strong, and reinforced a lot of lessons on servant leadership.
What's the most important lesson you've learned in your career to date?
That it's ok to take risks, and that sometimes failure is not optional - it's mandatory if you want to learn and grow as a person.
What's an accomplishment you're most proud of?
On a personal note, it was being sworn in as a U.S. citizen on Constitution Day in 2018. It was a very proud, very emotional day, that concluded a long journey for my wife and I.