Woman of the Week: Dina Tantra

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Here at Executive Elements, we like to feature 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 gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Dina Tantra

My Current Job/Company:
Today I wear multiple hats, President/Trustee of Advisers Investment Trust, General Counsel of Beacon Hill Fund Services, Chief Compliance Officer of BHIL Distributors…I also pick up the mail, water the plants and take out the recycling. We’re a full service organization!

My Birthdate:
10/19/69

My Work:
Aligning with strategic partners, we manage and grow our clients’ mutual fund business so that they can focus their time and attention on what they do best – picking stocks and finding shareholders.

My Passion:
Strategic planning – a mixed blessing and a curse (ask my husband) as I’m always trying to think five steps ahead.

My Family:
My husband, Brian. In 1997 when I moved back to Columbus from Kansas City my girlfriend said, “You have to meet Brian Kolda, he’s the NICEST guy.” She was right. Next year we are celebrating our 10th anniversary.

My Hero:
My grandfather, who passed away in 1989. He told me to enjoy life to the fullest, but practice moderation.

My Escape:
Traveling with my husband, either exploring or simply going for a long bike ride.

My Pet Peeve:
People who are oblivious to any perspective except their own.

My Indulgence:
Travel with my family, because we have enough “stuff” and I would rather invest in experiences and memories which last a lifetime.

My Roots:
Having a trusted safety net which has afforded me to luxury of being able to take calculated risks along my life roadmap.

My Future:
This saying is framed on my wall, “She wasn’t where she had been. She wasn’t where she was going…..but she was on her way.”

My Quote on Life:
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost

My Accessory:
My pedometer. Every morning I wake up with an opportunity to hit my goal for the day and I wake up the next morning, hit the reset button, and start again with a clean slate.

My Advice to Young Women:
Identify your “genius” – the quadrant where high skill and high energy intersect, and spend your time in your area of genius. Know yourself well enough to know that if you are not there, be willing to take a risk to make a change.

How I Balance it All:
I view my life as a piechart and for every wedge that gets larger, the others get squeezed into smaller slices. Every once in awhile, step away, re-evaluate and make sure you make time for yourself. Continuous improvement requires investment in your soul.

How Do You Want to be Remembered?

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by Chasity Kuttrus

Today I read an article that gave me a different way to consider work-life balance, success, purpose and how and what we choose to do with our lives.

The Huffington Post head honcho, Arianna Huffington, penned this piece, asking readers, “Are you Living Your Eulogy…or Your Resume?”

In it, she urges us to consider our own personal definition of a “successful” life and whether or not we’re living it.

“Have you noticed that when people die, their eulogies celebrate life very differently from the way we define success in our everyday existence?” Ms. Huffington asks in the piece.

Good point.

It’s so easy to get caught up in a harried existence, reacting to each thing that comes barreling at you. Some of it’s work-related, some of it’s personal stuff and some of it is just self-created stress that you can easily dump if you set your mind to it.

Take a few minutes today and think about how you want to be remembered someday. What do you want your kids, spouse, family and friends to remember about you when you’re no longer around? Or, if you don’t want to go there, think about how you’d want your loved ones to describe you to someone else. Make a mental note of those things. Or, even better, make a real note and keep it somewhere nearby.

Then, when you’re juggling priorities, use those things as part of your compass to guide you into setting boundaries and determining how to spend your time. It just might make some decisions easier for you.

Read the entire article here. And come back and let me know what you think!

Laura Cooke

Woman of the Week: Laura Cooke

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Laura CookeHere at Executive Elements, we like to feature 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 gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Laura Cooke

My Current Job/Company:
Assistant Head for Operations/The Wellington School

My Birthdate
02.28.72

My Work:
The Wellington School helps children discover and develop their unique potential. I lead the business side of the school with a talented and fun team that makes the school more effective and efficient so that our teachers can do their work of inspiring, mentoring and preparing our students for the world. Oh, and I teach the Leadership and Business class to our upperclassman. I believe every child deserves to find their passion and place in life and feel fortunate to have the opportunity to work on behalf of our students with incredible people and for an amazing organization.

My Passion:
My family, helping others,and tennis.

My Family:
My husband and 4 amazing daughters. I pinch myself when I write this because I feel so incredibly blessed! Chris (best friend/soulmate/husband), Caroline and Christine (twin daughters – age 10), Emma (age 7), and Elizabeth (age 4) – oh and Murphy, our 1 year old dog. My life is full of love.

My Heroes:
My mom and dad – Julie and Jeff Wilkins (married for 47 years) and my grandmother, Eileen Gard (soon to be 96 years young).

My Escape:
I love the mountains and the beach! Dessert Mountain, Arizona and Kiawah Island, South Carolina are both paradise to me. Solo walks with my dog.

My Pet Peeve:
Long lines and people with bad energy.

My Indulgence:
Starbucks, any drink with St. Germaine, and Lindey’s Post Mortem dessert

My Roots:
Family first! Friends I can trust. Laughter. Entrepreneurship.

My Future:
Endless possibilities.

My Love:
Watching my kids’ eyes light up when they share something with me. Teaching. Seeing my husband make the girls laugh. Working out. Helping others grow. Witnessing children find things they love.

My Quote on Life:
“When we fearlessly fight for what we believe in and remain hopelessly optimistic about life, love and the future, we create an authentic connection with all in our path. Most importantly with ourselves.” – Gary Friedman Chairman & CEO of Restoration Hardware

My Accessory:
iPhone (does that count?), Anything from Thread right now.

My Advice to Young Women:
Dream Big! Know and believe in yourself. Then, find mentors and relationships that make you better and help you fulfill your dreams. Smile – it is your gift to others.

How I Balance it All:
I try to keep my focus on my priorities and stay organized (My Cozi family calendar is my lifeblood) I have strong support system from family and close friends. I recognize I am human. And, I try to let go of having everything be perfect all the time. A rotisserie chicken for dinner is OK in our house but we won’t give up sitting down for dinner or having that time together. I know that true balance in my life right now is impossible so instead I try to remember to live in the moment and laugh!

Woman of the Week: Jess Sparks

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Here at Executive Elements, we like to feature 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 gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Jess Sparks

My Current Job/Company:
School and Clinical Counselor at Kae Avenue Elementary School
Council Director of Girls on the Run of Franklin County

My Birthdate:
7.30.79

My Work:
I provide short term mental health counseling and linkage to community resources to students and families of Kae Avenue Elementary to eliminate non-academic barriers to educational success. I also serve and lead the volunteers, girls/families, and supporters of Girls on the Run of Franklin County in fulfilling our mission of inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experienced-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

My Passion:
Serving others: my family, my community, humanity.

My Family:
Chris, my soulmate. Our “family” also includes 4 siblings, “inlaws” or as we like to call them “outlaws,” and 8 nieces and nephews.

My Heroes:
All of the amazing women and men who have mentored me (parents, relatives, teachers, coaches, and formal mentors). They have always guided me and challenged me to go in the direction that allowed me to learn from my mistakes and take pride in my hard work.

My Escape:
Water, mountains, trees, where I can run, hike, kayak, scramble, or just be. Favorite quote by Rachel Carson,”Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”

My Pet Peeve:
Plastic grocery bags and inauthentic people.

My Indulgence:
Dark Chocolate and OYO cocktails.

My Roots:
Modest servant to those around me, especially the most vulnerable; children. Raised on hard work and high expectations. Mischievous shenanigans perpetuating happiness to friends and family.

My Future:
Wide open to possibilities not even imagined yet.

My Love:
The shared dedication based in our love for each other that I have with my husband to improve the lives of children, by making the time they spend with us as leaders/teachers, aunt and uncle, and people in the community the best time they have in a day.

My Quote on Life:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
-Marianne Williamsen

My Accessory:
Pearl studs every day, everywhere.

My Advice to Young Women:
Write advice letters to yourself and follow your own path! Take time and space away from relationships that cause you to make unhealthy choices for yourself. Do whatever you can to expand on your self awareness, i.e. meditation, yoga, counseling, which will allow you to fulfill your potential.

How I Balance it All:
A deep and profound love of organization and technology. Work smarter not harder so that you can accomplish the really important stuff!

Shauna Latshaw Portrait

Woman of the Week: Shauna Latshaw

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Shauna Latshaw PortraitHere at Executive Elements, we like to feature 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 gals who have agreed to share with us their insights and secrets to success.

Shauna Latshaw

My Current Job/Company:
Vice President/ Cardinal Health

My Birthdate:
2.11.71

My Work:
I lead a team of incredibly talented people that enable business capabilities through technology. I help our organization deliver results through IT partnership, leadership, and talent development. I believe our talent is our greatest asset to win in the marketplace.

My Passion:
My family, my work, and watching college football.

My Family:
Jon (Amazing husband and best friend), Cole (My baby even at 13), Sammi & Miles (Our dogs that believe they are people)

My Hero:
My Dad. His work ethic, values and ambition have been the forces that have made me who I am today.

My Escape:
A run to keep me grounded and clear my head … and a sunny beach with a good book to truly escape.

My Pet Peeves:
The words “I/ we can’t” and “… that is how we have always done things.”

My Indulgence:
Champagne. Jordan almonds.

My Roots:
Hard-working. Grounded. Simple.

My Future:
Fun and filled with new challenges and opportunities.

My Loves:
My husband and his brilliant mind that helps me experience life in a way I never imagined. Watching my son grow into a man. He amazes me each day with his dreams and opinions of the world. I cannot describe in words the joy and pride it brings me.

My Quote on Life:
“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.” (Bill Cosby)

My Accessory:
My laugh. Mascara.

My Advice to Young Women:
Life is not a race … be patient. There is not a recipe or set of rules on achieving your best self … you are unique! It is a journey that will require you to get to know and really fall in love with yourself through your biggest successes and your most heart-breaking disappointments. This means you have to love ALL of yourself – flaws and all!

How I Balance it All:
LOL … Wow, this is a challenge every day! A few principles I live by that help me keep some sort of equilibrium: 1) Make every effort to attend my son’s events … he is passing through my life too quickly, and I have a small window to enjoy his childhood; 2) I am a better employee, mother, wife, sister, daughter when I do what I love … let go of the guilt (easier said than done some days); 3) Keep one, integrated work, family and events calendar that you actively manage and review as a family to set expectations and make decisions together; 4) Make time for yourself every day … a 15 minute nap, a run, a walk around the block – whatever it is … you deserve a “ME time” break!