Johanna, a Pensacola native, will make her NASCAR Nationwide Series debut on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. At age 19, she’ll be the youngest female driver in history to start the engine in a Nationwide Series race. But, while this move will bring her further into the national spotlight, in some ways it’s just another step in what’s been an already impressive racing career.

Johanna caught the driving bug early. As early as the age of five, she watched her father race around the Southeast in the old NASCAR All-pro Division, and by age eight she was racing her own go-karts. Since then, she’s gone on to win track championships, race at 18 on the NASCAR Truck Series, break barriers and earn respect. She closed out 2010 with a victory in the Snowball Derby, the nation’s most prestigious Super Late Model race.

Perhaps most amazing, Johanna has achieved all this while keeping a reputation for being a kind, down-to-earth woman. Her interview below certainly seems to affirm that characterization.

Johanna Long
Occupation: NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver / ML Motorsports
Education: Florida Escambia Virtual School / 2011 Graduate
Website: JohannaLong.com + @JOHANNALONG

What sparked your passion to become a professional race car driver?

I grew up watching my dad race so I was always around some type of racing. I got the racing bug when I was about 5 years old, but my dad was racing at the time so I just kept on begging him and finally when I was 8 he let me have my turn behind the wheel in go-karts. After my first go-kart race I was hooked!

Tell us a bit about your journey. How did you go from a young girl who dreamed of becoming a race car driver to a woman now racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series?

To be completely honest, I never imagined or thought about racing in NASCAR when I was a little girl. I mean, racing is all I’ve ever wanted to do, but I just focused on one race at a time and my career just kept on progressing to something bigger and bigger. I went from go-karts to Legends cars to Late Models pretty quickly. By the time I was 16, I won my first major championship in the Late Model Series at my hometown track Five Flags Speedway. Once I started winning races and championships in the Late Models, that’s when I knew that I could possibly do this as a career if a team or sponsor took a chance on me.

I owe all my accomplishments to my family. Because of them I’ve been able to race all of these years and develop a talent for the sport. They’ve sacrificed a lot of time and effort to get me this far in my career. Furthermore, I never thought that I would get the opportunity to race in the Nationwide Series, but because Mary-Louise Miller, my new team owner at ML Motorsports believed in me, my dream has come true and I have an opportunity of a lifetime to do what I love. I couldn’t be more excited for this season! I still have to pinch myself to make sure it’s a reality!

What is your typical day like? How often are you in practice, versus making media or sponsor appearances?

I travel A LOT, so I never have the same schedule; it’s constantly changing from day to day. My team, ML Motorsports, is based out of Warsaw, Ind. so I travel there at least twice a month for two to three days.

During race week, I work out with my trainer for an hour Monday through Wednesday, and then I’m traveling to my next race on Wednesday night. We get a two hour practice session before each race and as far as appearances goes that usually varies as well. I have a personal PR rep that handles all of my at-track appearances and interviews and the team PR rep schedules stuff as well, so there is always cool stuff going on! My favorite part about appearances is meeting my fans. I can’t thank them enough for all of their support!

What has been one of your most rewarding moments or memories so far in your career?

Winning the Snowball Derby was by far my most rewarding moment! It’s the “Super Bowl” of short track racing, and it is known to be the most prestigious short track race in the country. My dad tried for 13 years to win, and I brought home the trophy for the both of us on my third attempt. I will never forget pulling up on the front stretch after crossing the finish line and seeing all of the fans on their feet cheering for me and then having my dad with me to enjoy it. It was by far the best feeling! It was what we both worked for a long time and we accomplished it together.

What challenges keep you awake at night?

Just the fact that every time I’m in the race car I have to perform and prove myself because there are so many drivers that would love to be in my position. It’s a highly sought after sport/career that can’t be taken lightly. I’m constantly thinking about how I can be better on and off the track. In this sport, you have to have people that believe in you and take a chance on you, and the only way that is going to happen is if you prove to them on and off the track that you have what it takes.

What is the biggest personal sacrifice you have to make because of your job?

Being away from my family has been one of my biggest sacrifices. I have an extremely close family, so it’s always hard being away from them for a long period of time. I moved from Pensacola, Fla. where my family lives, to North Carolina (racing central) to be more involved with my team. My parents come to all of my races, so I get to see them every other weekend, so that is a plus.

What is one lesson you’ve learned through racing that sticks with you?

Respect isn’t something that is handed to you; it’s something you have to earn. Regardless if it’s your competitors, team or fans, you have to prove yourself and earn your way into the sport.

What are some of the rules you live by?

Never give up! In racing you’re going to have a lot of frustrations and let downs, but you have to keep your head up and press on. The beauty of racing is that one really good race will offset all of the bad ones.

Who are some of your mentors? Why?

My dad has always been one of my biggest mentors. He was a racer so he understands what I’m going through and he always has great advice.

My driver coach and spotter David Green is my newest mentor. He drove in NASCAR for several years and has a lot of wins and a championship under his belt so I’ve learned a lot from him. He has a lot of experience and knowledge of the sport.

What advice do you have for other women who want to become professional race-car drivers?

Always be true to who you are and never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. With hard work, dedication and perseverance, anything is possible. Believe in yourself, even if no one else does, and remember you had that dream for a reason, so never let it go!

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

I always focus on the present, but it would be pretty neat to be a successful NASCAR driver in the Cup series.

P.S. We’re dying to know…what does it feel like to go 100+ mph  next to the wall and with other cars going just as fast as you? What’s going through your head?

To be completely honest, I don’t really think about It. The need for speed has always been in my blood. I’m at a high when I’m going 100+ next to the wall with cars all around me; it’s a crazy but cool feeling. Definitely hard to explain!

Throughout middle school and high school I did everything within my power to make that dream a reality. I created two issues of my own magazine, served as the editor-in-chief of the high school newspaper and yearbook and even had the opportunity to contribute to some of my favorite magazines, including CosmoGirl! and YM. But I also knew I needed to add newspaper writing to my clips portfolio.

The editor-in-chief of the high school paper before me had a gig penning articles for the paper, so I wanted to follow in her footsteps and do the same. I was talking about this one night at my movie theatre job, and my good friend, Carrie, told me there was an opportunity to cover the races at Mission Valley Speedway, our local track.

I was instantly intimidated. I knew nothing about racing. But, since I had covered high school basketball a time or two, I felt like I could at least give it a shot.

The next weekend I was at the track, and I was instantly sucked in. There was something about the smell of burnt rubber mixed with hot dogs, the colorful cars circling the track under the lights, the magnetic pull of my eyes to the pole and, of course, the cars going faster than I had ever dared and the wrecks drivers magically seemed to escape from.

This passion was taken to another level when I had the chance to interview the drivers post-race in the pits. These weren’t your typical high school players who I had math class with and who gave me quotes about a solid team effort. No, these were men my dad’s age, sweaty, swearing … and eager to talk to me. Why? After one nasty accident two drivers with different opinions on the wreck wanted their story told. As I was writing the story that week, even though it was more like a race roundup and nothing as in-depth as what you’d see on Fox Sports, I felt like I had a story to tell. And I knew I had found the setting for those stories.

Around the same time another good friend of mine and Carrie’s named Heidi was staying at our house. I looked up to both of these girls. They always treated me like I was on their level, even though I was years younger. And they both had the same passion for Mission Valley Speedway, and both worked there. Heidi would convince my parents that we had to watch the NASCAR races on TV. And suddenly Dad and Mom were into it, too.

Fulfilling a Childhood Dream

After graduating college my early dream of becoming a magazine editor became real. At 22 years old, I was the youngest-ever editor-in-chief of the Montanan, the alumni magazine at The University of Montana, with more than 83,000 readers. For three years, I poured myself into this publication. My last issue was a glossy paper copy of the vision I had set out to create for our readers, and UM, three years earlier. I knew my time had come to go to the next step of my career. I loved the magazine, but interviewing so many successful alums, people who were leading Nike’s product and merchandising, designing the sets of shows like “Friends” and “Two and a Half Men” and starting Google offices in India, had changed me. I wanted to follow my passion in a bigger way so I could one day count myself among their company and inspire others like they had inspired me.

This meant taking a leap into social media, which was emerging in a big way throughout my tenure at the magazine. Through an alumni connection, who ended up later becoming my boss, I was offered a job as a digital strategist at WDCW, an advertising agency in LA. Switching industries was one of the scariest, and smartest, things I ever did. (More about that in a future blog post.)

I had many incredible opportunities while at WDCW — from creating a social media strategy for one of the largest names in sports to ghostwriting and placing articles in major media outlets about the importance of vaccination. I even pitched one of the largest quick service restaurants … on TV no less (AMC will air it this spring in a forthcoming show after “Mad Men”), and got a dream assignment of flying out to Detroit to collect insights for the re-launch of a major automotive brand. Growing up, I had never thought advertising would be a dream job of mine, but it grew to be. And beyond the sexy and not-so-sexy clients, it was all about the team I worked with and the leadership skills I acquired through the job. The leadership team at the agency is among the finest of any I’ve ever seen, and they led by example, mentoring me and giving me just enough rope to hang myself or tie a knot that would help me survive.

My colleagues also, quickly, realized I had another passion. Yes, this girl who always had a new “it” color on her nails and carried electric pink bags was into NASCAR. And despite being an office of around 60 to 70 people and working with guys who write the College GameDay commercials for ESPN, I was the solo NASCAR fan. And on more than one occasion I stated it was my goal to somehow bring a piece of NASCAR-affiliated business to the agency. After all, I wanted to fuse my passion and my career.

The Seed That I Kept Watering

Before I even thought of working in advertising, I was home one weekend watching a NASCAR race. I was tweeting with a fever because I hadn’t gone home to see my parents that weekend and had nobody to watch the race with. But I found a community in Twitter. And one day, for some reason that still feels kismet, the then-director of marketing communications at International Speedway Corporation, Lenny, started following my Twitter account. I instantly sent him a direct message and asked if he’d be willing to let me pick his brain about how to get a job in the sport. He said yes.

We had a phone call a few days later, and he gave me some incredible advice in that call. While a lot of it was standard information about where to find jobs in NASCAR, what tracks look for when hiring someone, what types of jobs exist in the sport, etc., he told me he would help me however he could and to send him my resume. There were no jobs working for him at the time, and to be frank, deep down I didn’t feel I had the right experience just yet. But Lenny became more than just someone who granted me an informational interview; he became a mentor whose advice I valued, and above all, trusted.

When I left UM to work at WDCW I also had another job opportunity at a PR firm in Portland. I sought Lenny’s advice on the situation, asking which would be better for an eventual career in NASCAR. When I moved to LA and suddenly found myself within driving distance of four tracks, I knew I had to meet my mentor in real life and pick his brain on a deeper level now that I had a more in-depth knowledge of the sport and business in general. In one whirlwind, less-than-24-hour drive to Las Vegas, I met with Lenny and other members of the ISC team who were in town for Champion’s Weekend. I got to know people’s names. I asked questions. I shared my love of the sport and opinion on its social strategies, and I left Vegas knowing more people in the sport who were willing to stay in touch. Many of those people are now friends. They’ve introduced me to other people. They’ve given me pit passes for races. They’ve followed me on Twitter, which gave me a little more cred in the sport, and slowly other people within the industry who I followed began to follow me.

I made sure I stayed in touch with everyone I met at the track. I made sure to always send thank you notes when they went out of their way for me. I wanted the relationships to be mutually beneficial, so I would offer up social media advice where I could.

The Seed That Turned Into a Flower

Last November I was at one of the last races of the season at Phoenix International Raceway. And it was in Victory Lane where I met the track’s then-consumer marketing manager, Kristie, through a mutual friend who not only had a Montana connection (+1), but who also told me about a few openings at the track. That night at dinner I talked to my best friend and my guy friend. They told me I had to apply. I was happy at my job, but they knew — and I knew — that this was something I had to pursue.

Another whirlwind trip to Las Vegas for Champion’s Week, a few phone calls and a trip to Phoenix later, and I knew I wanted this job more than anything else I had pursued up until this point in my life. The team felt like a fit. My future boss has every quality I look for in a leader. Obviously the industry was a fit. I just was hoping I would be offered the right position that challenged me and where I could grow and really lend my skill set to not only raising the bar for the track, but setting it, too. That call came while I was in Detroit for the agency. Being around my favorite automotive company all week, made me even hungrier to be a part of the sport I loved. And now, I’m writing this post from my new apartment in Phoenix, and tomorrow I start my job as consumer marketing manager at Phoenix International Raceway.

This long blog post is to say that you can make your dream job become a reality. But, first, you need to conquer three areas to the best of your abilities:

1/ Networking – It’s not a dirty word like many people think. It’s about building relationships with people, which is something we do every day. Then it’s about thanking these people, staying in touch with them and providing value to them where you can. And never underestimate the power of Twitter. It’s where all of my strongest connections in the sport began. And the access it provides is unmatched – yes, even over LinkedIn.

2/ Cutting Your Teeth – I didn’t work in NASCAR right out of college. I pursued one dream job and it led me to another. Each job I took along the way taught me business and communication skills that have made me who I am today. I was fortunate in that every job I’ve held, I’ve felt like I’ve been the luckiest girl ever. But I’ve also worked my ass off in each position, never settling for “good enough.”

3/ Passion – Get to know the industry you want to be in intimately. Look for holes in strategies, successes likely to be repeated, and look at similar industries for inspiration. I feel like I bring a unique skill set to the table at the track because I have a background in advertising. Also, go where the industry is. I was at every NASCAR race I could go to in a season. And at each race I learned many new things, met many new people and grew my understanding of the moving parts of the sport. Most importantly, I realized it actually was a fit for me, which is crucial for happiness in any job.

I know you can do this, too. And if you ever need encouragement or want to pick the brains of someone in your dream industry, our team is always here via email (iwantherjob[at]gmail[dot]com) or on Twitter.

And I hope you enjoy this week. Last fall before I knew my current job was even a possibility, I decided I wanted to share my favorite sport with all of you. So, I began working on developing NASCAR Week leading up to the biggest event in the sport, the Daytona 500, which takes place this weekend. Coincidentally, it’s also the week I’m beginning my dream job in the sport. Thanks for reading my story, and I can’t wait to introduce you to the phenomenal women who make NASCAR the best sporting event for fans that there is. And keep dreaming, the job I’m about to embark on is proof those dreams do come true.

Do you love to compete? Do you love making relationships and talking to people? If so, chances are good Skyler Mattson has the job you want. As the managing director at WDCW, Skyler is the one who gets to help court new clients for the agency through new business and public relations efforts, and she’s a pro at pitching WDCW’s A-team talent. In addition she oversees the account department and makes sure their needs and financials are in place.

Skyler was an instrumental part of WDCW’s “Gossip Girl” success [See the case study here], and she’s even appeared on “America’s Next Top Model” as a judge on behalf of the agency. (But she’s not one to brag. I had to work with her four months before I learned that juicy fact!) Skyler’s idea of a perfect weekend includes spending time with her husband, John, and her son, Cashel. And she’s a sucker for a relaxed Sunday afternoon.

Skyler Mattson
Occupation: Managing Director / WDCW
Website: wdcw.com
Education: Communications / UCLA

How did you discover your current job?

A friend worked at WDCW and told me about the position. I always admired the agency’s creativity.

What has been your path so far to get you where you are today?

I started at Dailey and Associates and worked on Nestlé for two years. I came to WDCW as an AE (account executive) and then worked my way up.

Was there any one situation that helped you along your way?

Every situation that pushed my comfort level, whether a new business presentation or pushing back on a client that was heading down the wrong path, has helped me grow along the way.

What do your day-to-day responsibilities include?

In my position as managing director my goal is to ensure our agency is running profitably, that our clients are happy with us as partners and that we are proud of the work we are doing. On a daily basis this means overseeing the account services team, reviewing account financials and managing our public relations and business development efforts.

What traits do you look for when interviewing candidates for the agency?

In terms of experience, I look for candidates that have worked at agencies with an excellent creative reputation and on brands that do relevant, insightful work. I want to know about specific contributions to strategy development and the creative process. And I want to know how the candidate cultivated relationships with both their internal team and external partners and clients.

From a personality standpoint I’m most encouraged by candidates with a deep passion for the industry. I also look for well-rounded individuals because hobbies and interests outside of work provide a richer background of experiences to bring to what we do for our clients.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Winning a new account.

What is the most challenging part?

Not winning a new account that we worked tirelessly to pitch.

What is one lesson you’ve learned in your job that sticks with you?

There is no situation that doesn’t have a solution.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge for women today, particularly females in your industry?

The agency business historically works 24/7. Now that I have a little one it’s harder to stay at the office late nights.

Who are your role models?

My mom is my inspiration. [Editor's Note: Skyler's mom is an I Want Her Job alum. Find out what she does here: Carrol Mardian] She ran a business with my dad and raised four amazing kids. I always admired her for working but never felt like we were a second priority.

What has been your favorite moment in advertising, and why?

I’ve been lucky to have had several moments when I’ve been in awe of the people I work with and the ideas we come up with together. My most recent memory of this was in December, working on a pitch for a very high profile prospect. It was almost midnight, music was playing, and there were 20 people running around the agency with the energy and passion that said there was nowhere else they’d rather be. At that moment, there was nowhere else I’d rather have been either.

What advice do you have for women who want to be in your industry?

Take an entry-level job and work your way up by impressing people with your natural enthusiasm and talent!

It’s been said here before — yesterday, in fact — but it we’re going to say it again: Internships really can be your golden ticket. Jessica Tade interned at the ad agency WDCW (Wong, Doody, Crandall, Weiner) as a digital strategist for three months before a position opened up in the account management department. A familiar face and known quantity, Jessica was able to snag the assistant account executive gig.

Jessica’s position keeps her running. On any given day, she’ll spend her time trying to track down contact info for a celeb’s agent to researching new products. She loves the variety and appreciates that the job lets her work with people across the agency. And when she’s not working, Jessica enjoys music, cooking and the arts.

Jessica Tade
Occupation: Assistant Account Executive / WDCW
Education: International Business + Marketing / University of Montana
Website: wdcw.com + @jesstade

How did you discover your current job?

I interned as a digital strategist at WDCW for three months when I found out there was an opening in the account management department. I eagerly applied and was so thankful to be given the opportunity to continue working at WDCW as a full-time employee.

What is your typical day like, and what types of things do you do in your job?

Every day is different. Whether I’m hunting down contact information for Ice Cube’s agent or learning about a new product or category for a client, I love it because it keeps me on my toes and has taught me to be flexible in every way.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

By working in account management, I’m able to collaborate with every department in the agency; from our wonderful art directors, designers, copywriters and electronic production artists to our ever-talented production team and super-savvy digital strategists.

What challenges keep you awake at night?

I either work late nights or wake up early to get a head start on the day in order to let my mind rest when my head hits the pillow.

What is  the biggest personal sacrifice you have to make because of your job?

Moving to California from Montana and giving up precious time with my family and friends has been challenging. However, I recently celebrated my one year anniversary of living in LA and I couldn’t be more thankful for the wonderful people I’ve met along the way; people who have made my transition to California life that much easier.

What is one lesson you’ve learned in your job that sticks with you?

Be ready and prepared for anything.  You really have to learn to be flexible and approach each change or challenge with excitement, curiosity and vigor.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge for women today, particularly those in your industry?

Finding balance between your work life and your personal life can be challenging at times, but you must always make time for you and your needs, whether it’s going to the gym, making that dentist appointment or taking your cat in for a checkup. Work can be overwhelming, but you shouldn’t let your life become chaotic because of it.

Who are your role models?

I’ve been fortunate enough to grow up with some extraordinary people in my life who not only taught me the importance and necessity of hard work, but also showed me how giving back can be the most rewarding experience.

What are some of the rules you live by?

Laugh every day and enjoy the little things!

What advice do you have for women who want to be in your industry?

Whether it’s in work or your personal life, surround yourself with people you can learn from. Having a mentor or someone who’s willing to guide you can make a world of difference.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

I hope life takes me on a path where I can be challenged and pushed to learn and grow every day.

What are three things you love aside from your job?

Music! Playing the piano, violin, tenor saxophone, bassoon or my latest interest, the ukulele.

Cooking for friends and family. I have a killer enchilada recipe.

Enjoying the arts. I love live music, plays, art shows and walking around the weekend markets in LA.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

A quote I love from Albert Einstein:

“The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.”

Sydney Chernish went from college intern to full-time employee in the position of her dreams: a planner for ad agency WDCW (Wong, Doody, Crandall, Wiener). Sydney spends her days unlocking the connection between consumers and brands and working to bring them closer through creative solutions. She combines her fascination with anthropology and sociology in order to figure out what’s going on in our culture and explain why it changes.

You’ve heard it from us before, but we think it’s worth repeating: intern, intern, intern. Once again, Sydney’s living proof that being a rockstar intern and getting your foot in the door can lead directly to landing your dream job.

Sydney Chernish
Occupation: Planner / WDCW
Education: B.A. International Studies / University of Chicago
Website: www.wdcw.com

How did you discover your current job?

I originally came to WDCW through a college internship. Once I graduated, there was a position open in client partnerships. After working in that department for a year and a half, I made the transition over to account planning, a research and strategic-based cousin of account services.

What is your typical day like, and what types of things do you do in your job?

Every day brings a new assignment, a new challenge and another opportunity to explore something new. The main task of the planner is twofold:

1) Unlock the insight that connects the consumer with a brand.
2) Bridge the business challenge of the client with the creative solution.

To achieve these goals, there are many day-to-day tasks that feed knowledge and insights — from research to consumer research to keeping up-to-date on what’s happening in culture.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

A huge component of my role is knowing what’s going on in culture and digging down to understand the changes. I’ve always been fascinated by anthropology, sociology and culture, so it’s a pretty much a dream come true.

What challenges keep you awake at night?

Since planning is a bit of a science and a bit of an art, sometimes the pieces don’t fit together perfectly. Sometimes it takes a lot of research, mulling and chicken scratch to get to the “ah ha” moment where everything clicks together.

What is the biggest personal sacrifice you have to make because of your job?

Advertising is a deadline-based industry, so there are a lot of late nights and tricky social scheduling.

What is one lesson you’ve learned in your job that sticks with you?

Always challenge yourself to do better by going outside of your comfort zone. Oh, and proofread. Proofread 10 different ways. Read it out loud to yourself. Print it out. Have someone else proofread it.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge for women today, particularly females in your industry?

I think it’s a challenge for women across all industries to strike a balance between work and family — and likely always will be.

Who are your role models?

An amazing woman and entrepreneur, my mother is my number one role model. Also, I’ve always loved the women who led before anyone thought it was possible: Susan B. Anthony, Eleanor Roosevelt and, of course, Jackie O.

What are some of the rules you live by?

• You catch more bees with honey than with vinegar.
• “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” -Coco Chanel
• Always say thank you.

What advice do you have for girls who want to be in your industry?

Be a sponge and learn as much as possible. Take classes, get internships and part-time jobs, tap into your network and keep building it up. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people in the industry and ask them out for coffee to get more information.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

If I only knew!

What are three things you love aside from your job?

1) Fashion and art

2) Exploring neighborhoods and restaurants

3) Friends, family and Pickles (my snowshoe tortie)

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Always put one foot in front of the other and always write thank you notes.

[Editor's Note: Have you ever wondered what it's like to work in an advertising agency, as well as what different types of jobs you can hold at one? All week long we will be featuring stellar females from WDCW, an advertising agency with offices in Seattle and Culver City. Our founder works there and can tell you firsthand, these ladies embody what IWHJ stands for. Enjoy!]

Avoid burning bridges with past employers. It’s age-old advice that can be hard to follow, especially under extenuating circumstances. But truly, you never know when a good relationship will come in handy.

Case in point: Megan Blacksher, senior director of human resources in the Seattle office of ad agency Wong, Doody, Crandall, Weiner. Megan got her current gig after WDCW’s president called her out the blue to let her know they were hiring. Her hook-up? A former boss who had sent him her way.

Megan spends her time at WDCW doing everything from recruiting and training to employee relations and communications. But her favorite part of the job is helping people solve conflicts and finding the next great employee who’s a perfect fit for the team.

How did you discover your current job?

I got a phone call from the president, Pat Doody, to let me know they were looking for an HR director. He was referred to me by a former boss of mine in the ad industry and apparently, it was meant to be!

What is your typical day like, and what types of things do you do in your job?

What I love about my job is that I don’t really have a typical day. My areas of responsibility include recruiting, employee relations and communication, coaching, training, HR and business strategy — to name a few.

What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Honestly, I love the WDCW team. Getting to work in a creative environment with smart people where I can use humor to get through the day makes it fun and rewarding to come to work. When I can help people solve conflicts or find the next great candidate who’s a fit for our culture and an asset to the team, that’s even better.

What challenges keep you awake at night?

At this point in my career, I try not to let work keep me up at night. Right now, my 11-month-old does a good enough job.

What is the biggest personal sacrifice you have to make because of your job?

Well, as a working mom, this isn’t unique to me, but time away from my family is the biggest sacrifice. But I CHOOSE to work because I really enjoy it. My work is an important part of who I am, and I think that my satisfaction with that part of my life actually helps make me a better mom.

What is one lesson you’ve learned in your job that sticks with you?

One of my most valuable lessons that applies to work and beyond is that there are always two sides to a story; two perspectives to a situation. We all have our own filters that affect our perceptions and one of my favorite things to say is, “The truth is always somewhere in the middle.” This reminds me to be objective in a career that naturally has me straddling fences on a pretty regular basis.

Who are your role models?

My mom, because of her kind and loving spirit in everything she does.

What are some of the rules you live by?

In no particular order (and I’m sure leaving some important ones off the list):

- Be grateful. Practicing gratitude is pretty powerful.

- Write goals down. Something about the written goal makes it so much more likely to happen.

- Try not to go a day without a genuine belly laugh.

- Don’t misuse your and you’re. Ever.

What advice do you have for women who want to be in your industry?

The same advice I have for people who want to be in any industry: NETWORK. The very best way to get a job is to find people you know in the industry, ask lots of questions and get a realistic view of what the career choice entails. Then do some serious soul-searching about how that career or industry fits your own personal and professional goals. If it’s not a fit, keep NETWORKING!

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

I hope to still be at WDCW and part of the company’s growth as a top agency in the U.S.