Woman of the Week: Tanya Crawford

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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.

Tanya Crawford

My Current Job/Company:
Director/Deloitte Tax LLP (for all 21 years of my career)

My Birthdate:
12.19.69

My Work:
I lead the Japanese Service Group for the Deloitte Columbus office and provide tax consulting to many multinational companies and their shareholders and employees. I also serve as the Women’s Initiative leader for the Deloitte Columbus office. In this role I help recruit, promote and retain our very talented female professionals and lead our annual “Wise Women” program that brings together 25 of Central Ohio’s women business leaders to mentor and network with 125 up-and-coming female leaders from the community. Further, I serve as the Inclusion leader for the Deloitte Columbus office where I’m involved with the recruiting, promotion and advancement of diverse talent, work/life fit issues and the promotion of our business resource groups.

My Passion:
I love helping other women succeed. I also love spending time with my family, whether on vacation at a great beach or just reading a bed-time story to the boys. Finally, I love giving back to the great community in which we live. Over the years, I’ve been privileged to serve on numerous not-for-profit boards including The Dublin Arts Council, The Worthington Arts Council, Columbus Urban League, Japan-America Society of Central Ohio, Black Tie Ball, Inc. (benefitting Nationwide Children’s Hospital) and City Year Columbus.

My Family:
Brian (my understanding and supportive husband); Hunter (my basketball-playing violinist who is 11); Chase (my budding artist/chef/world traveler who is 8).

My Heroes:
My parents. They’ve been together for 43 years and have been great role models.

My Escape:
I have two favorite escapes….one is to Grand Cayman with the family to relax and rejuvenate and the other is the annual “date weekend” with my husband in Vegas…..it gives the two of us time to reconnect away from the kids.

My Pet Peeve:
People who don’t take ownership of their actions.

My Indulgence:
A relaxing massage whenever I can fit one in.

My Roots:
I grew up in Delaware, Ohio the oldest of 3 children. I was fiercely independent and went away to college in Philadelphia (University of Pennsylvania), vowing never to come back to Central Ohio. Long story short, I’ve been back in Central Ohio since graduation (except for minor stints on assignment for Deloitte in Toronto and Duesseldorf, Germany). You just can’t beat this area for the cost of living, friendliness of the residents and great school systems!

My Future:
I want to continue giving back to our community and help women succeed in all walks of their lives. I want my sons to grow up healthy and strong and know that they can achieve whatever they want to accomplish. And I want to always be able to look back and know that I made a difference to my company, to my colleagues and to my clients.

My Quote on Life:
“Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.” (Helen Keller)

My Accessory:
The birthstone ring I received on my birthday a few years ago from my boys & my gold hoop earrings

My Advice to Young Women:
Understand the importance of self-promotion and take control of your own destiny. Take time to reflect on your goals and let others know what direction you want to head. It’s amazing how other people will help you achieve your goals if they know what you’re striving for. And above all else, help other women along the way. Paying it forward is the best way women can give back and help generate more success for our future generations.

How I Balance it All:
I don’t think I ever have anything in complete balance. My husband has stayed at home full time with the boys since Hunter was born which helps me out a great deal. And the boys always say that the “S” days are their mommy time…..I try to devote weekends to family and get all my other tasks accomplished during the week. Every day I have to prioritize my time and while I don’t think I have it all figured out, I feel pretty fulfilled at the end of most days.

Woman of the Week: Alison Barret

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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.

Alison Barret

My Current Job/Company:
Executive Director, Thurber House

My Birthdate:
03.04.1965 March Fourth! I like to use my birth date as a challenge to my friends to March “Forth” into the community and serve.

My Work:
Helping to lead and promote an amazing Columbus treasure — Thurber House, a nonprofit literary center based in the family home of author and New Yorker cartoonist James Thurber. What could be better than working in a place where its very foundation is rooted in humor, writing and storytelling?

My Passion:
Connecting people to each other, to charitable causes and to all that that Columbus has to offer. Columbus is a stellar city!

My Family:
I am single but far from solo. I am the youngest of six kids, proud aunt to 12 and great-aunt to 5 (and one on the way). And I have a very supporting circle of Columbus friends that I consider family.

My Heroes:
My mom, who has endured tremendous health issues, great pain and limitations for the majority of her adult life — and yet she is grateful, compassionate and has a wicked wit and a ready laugh. Another would be my friends, Jerry & MJ. They both taught me about courage, dignity, humor and true, abiding love.

My Escape:
My family cabin in the middle of the Pennsylvania woods. Cool green trees, roaring bonfire and my extended family telling well-worn, giggle-inducing, sometimes irreverent stories.

My Pet Peeve:
Whining. You woke up today, right? Move on. And to break my own no-whining rule, I hate when people fail to flush those paper toilet seat covers. Think about the hypocrisy.

My Indulgence:
Reality TV on occasion, I can’t lie. And anything potato.

My Roots:
Small town girl that grew up in an era when you truly were raised by the village. I still stop in my tracks if Mrs. McCambridge yells my name….and I’m still very close with dozens of my grade school friends.

My Future:
Exciting, promising, full of new people to meet, lessons to learn and stories to discover.

My Quote on Life:
“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” (Mae West)

My Accessory:
Inexpensive, quirky rings. People are always keen to check out what colorful bauble I am wearing. I have an old printer’s box on my wall, filled with dozens of rings. And the happiest part of my day is when I peruse my collection in the morning and select the day’s shiny ring before I walk out the door.

My Advice to Young Women:
Stay curious; there is always more to learn. Keep your promises & use words carefully. And be authentic: a $1,500 outfit can never mask a fifty-cent soul.

How I Balance it All:
Balance Schmalance. I have perspective. My life is much less hectic than so many others, especially my mom-friends. Yet, busier than your average bear, as I attend charitable and arts events, have work meetings or connect with friends practically every night of the week. The plates I AM able to keep spinning are colorful. And any plates that do drop make this melodic tinkling sound.

Woman of the Week: Christine Watchorn

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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.

Christine Watchorn

My Current Job/Company:
Attorney at Ulmer & Berne LLP

My Birthday:
March 25

My Work:
I help businesses resolve their legal disputes.

My Passion:
My family, my friends, music and working to provide educational opportunities for women.

My Family:
My wonderful husband, Steve, and our crazy cat, Buford.

My Heroes:
Frankly, I always struggle with this question. Maybe I don’t really like the world “hero.” People I admire and look up to are people who stand up for what they believe in….even at great risk to themselves, and everyday people I know who have faced tough challenges with grace and strength and determination.

My Escape:
Listening to music, traveling to the mountains, and, in a best-case scenario, combining those two things.

My Pet Peeve:
When people don’t use their turn signals.

My Indulgence:
Microbrewed IPAs (India Pale Ale – a very hoppy beer)

My Roots:
I come from hard working, middle class, loyal and loving people with a lot of integrity.

My Future:
Short term: busy, fun and involved. Long term: in a rocking chair on the front porch of a mountain cabin somewhere.

My Quote on Life:
“Say ‘Yes’ and you’ll figure it out afterwards.” (Tina Fey)
“Whatever you are, be a good one.” (Abraham Lincoln)

My Accessory:
Is an iPhone an accessory?

My Advice to Young Women:
Be good to each other. There are plenty of people in the world who may try to tear you down, so don’t do it to one another.

How I Balance it All:
I don’t. Litigation can be very unpredictable. Sometimes I have to work very long hours and on weekends, and I cannot always predict it in advance, so plans get cancelled and rescheduled. I hate letting my loved ones down, but I’m lucky to have very understanding friends and family and I’m trying to learn to embrace chaos.

Woman of the Week: Traci Culp

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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.

Traci Culp

My Current Job/Company:
Sales and Marketing Executive/Blue Laser Design

My Birthdate:
07.03.69

My Work:
I help businesses realize their online marketing potential by optimizing marketing strategies customized to each industry and client. I consult on website improvements, messaging, organization and usability, search engine optimization, social media marketing, and other options that will expand any online business presence.

My Passion:
My family, being creative and working with my hands, movies, and travel

My Family:
Will Guthrie (Soon-to-be-Husband), Frank the Tank (Yorkie), Belly Button (Mini-dachshund), and Typo (Chihuahua/Pom)

My Heroes:
My awesome and inspiring parents, Bob and Linda Wing (married 45 years)

My Escape:
Mexico (Sun, sand, salsa, and cervezas)

My Pet Peeve:
Words misspelled on purpose (ex: Kountry Kuts Hair Salon)

My Indulgences:
Pinot Grigio, Dairy Queen, and any kind of gummy candy

My Roots:
Conservative, sweet, fun, close knit family – my friends nicknamed my family “The Cleavers”

My Future:
Fun, changes, and new adventures

My Quote on Life:
“Sometimes you have to just stop and look around, see what you already have, and be thankful.” (me – just now)

My Accessory:
Lip Gloss

My Advice to Young Women:
Do not settle or rush into anything – wait until it feels right.

How I Balance it All:
Exercise and eat snacks – work and play hard – go out to eat and bake from scratch – sleep in on the weekends – forget everything else with a great movie – win and lose (you learn more from the losses) – earn and give “thank yous”