Woman of the Week: Kate Underwood

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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.

Kate Underwood

My Current Job/Company:
Executive Assistant to President/National Church Residences

My Birthdate:
9/22/80

My Work:
I assist the President and other SVPs at National Church Residences. I work as a liaison with the board and ensure all of the details are taken care of so we can leverage their time, talent and energy to help steer our organization and strategically plan for future endeavors.

My Passion:
My family, my faith, my relationships and anything that I invest my time in.

My Family:
Chris (he’s the one who keeps me grounded), Alex (my strong and playful “sun” – 3-year-old son), Sadie (my ray of sunshine – 4-month-old daughter)

My Heroes:
I have so many – my parents, my husband, and my friends all inspire me in some shape or form.

My Escape:
Time off the clock, mountains, fresh air and hiking some amazing trails.

My Pet Peeve:
Drivers who are in a hurry

My Indulgence:
An Audrey Hepburn flick, a date night with my husband or a day at home with my kids.

My Roots:
Adventurous, nomadic Missionary kid who has tromped all over the world and seen lives changed by God’s love. I live a very rich life!

My Future:
Unknown, but positive and an adventure!

My Quote on Life:
“A good name is more desirable than great riches, to be esteemed is better than silver or gold” – Proverbs 22:1

My Accessory:
I love dramatic necklaces and lipstick

My Advice to Young Women:
Don’t waste your time with jealousy or envy; it’s a dead-end street. Don’t take yourself too seriously and laugh as often as possible. Know that you’ll make mistakes, own up to them and work to do better next time. Forgive people who hurt you, then strive to love and be kind to everyone. Always be true to yourself and live on purpose.

How I Balance it All:
Lots of prayer, choosing to be grateful for what I have and surrounding myself with exceptional people who love and inspire me every day.

Woman of the Week: Aisha Allen

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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.

Aisha Allen

My Current Job/Company:
Director P&C Sales Coaching, Nationwide

My Birthdate:
02.08.77

My Work:
I lead a team of sales coaches at Nationwide who coach and develop our sales leaders across the different Property and Casualty businesses. Through this work, we are able to help our sales leaders be more effective leaders and drive sales productivity. At Nationwide we value protecting our members, so it’s been a wonderful role to help our sales leaders to have a greater impact with our agents and, ultimately, our members.

My Passion:
My passion is my relationships. I truly love helping others develop and grow.

My Family:
My mom, many great friends, two goddaughters, Kennedy (7) and Taylor (3).

My Heroes:
My family. I think of my grandparents and my father, who are no longer with me. I learned so much from them. Through their example, they taught me the value of hard work, unconditional love, and the optimism to enjoy life no matter what it may bring your way.

My Escape:
Ideally, I love to get away to a beach, but locally my escape is the movies. I love getting away for two hours where I can shut out the world and just be entertained.

My Pet Peeve:
Rude people

My Indulgence:
Anything that satisfies my insatiable sweet tooth.

My Roots:
Hometown – Toledo, Ohio. I grew up in a small nuclear family (only child), but had an incredibly large extended family.

My Future:
I’m open to all possibilities.

My Quote on Life:
The Serenity Prayer: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.” – Reinhold Niebuhr

My Accessory:
Handbags. I am addicted.

My Advice to Young Women:
Believe in yourself. Decide what you would like to do and plan how you will get there. Don’t limit yourself.

How I Balance it All:
I’ve learned that if I don’t care for myself spiritually, mentally and physically, I will not be able to be there for my loves ones and all of my responsibilities. To maintain that level of strength, there is a certain amount of nurturing that must take place. I try to make sure that I am balancing my life spending time with friends and family in addition to all my day to day responsibilities.

Woman of the Week: Michele S. Gregory

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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.

Michele S. Gregory

My Current Job/Company:
Senior Vice President, Development/Children’s Hunger Alliance

My Birthdate:
04.30.69

My Work:
At Children’s Hunger Alliance, I have the pleasure and awesome responsibility for the coordination of development and marketing function areas, including all aspects of annual/major gifts fundraising, special events, grants, volunteer management, marketing/communications, and media relations.

My Passion:
My family, my work, sports and recreation activities (as both an active participant and passive observer) and baking.

My Family:
Chip-my patient husband; Olivia Grace (13) and Sydney Faith (8)-my smart and sweet daughters; Jack (3)-my energetic black lab.

My Hero:
My mother, Sandy Kawa. She lived by the following motto: Always try your best but be sure to have FUN along the way!

My Escape:
A long, solitary run – by water if at all possible.

My Pet Peeve:
Negative people and saying in an email what is better said face-to-face.

My Indulgence:
Good wine. A warm fire. A good book.

My Roots:
My mother raised my three siblings and me after my parents divorced and made it a point to stay connected with our extended family. My fondest memories as a young child are of spending time in the kitchen with my grandmothers or on the New Jersey shore with my aunts and uncles.

My Future:
Long-lasting and full of opportunity!

My Quote on Life:
I have two that I like….

“I can’t think of many things more attractive than a beautiful person whose beauty isn’t what actually attracts you.” – Dau

“May my heart be kind, my mind fierce and my spirit brave.” -Anonymous

My Accessory:
Plaid winter coat, felt hat and aviator sunglasses

My Advice to Young Women:
Train your mind to see the good in everything – it is there; just be patient and keep looking.

How I Balance it All:
I am learning as I go along….some days are easier than others. I do know that taking time to take care of myself each day, whether it be through an intense workout at the gym, game of Uno with my daughters, a cup of coffee, listening to my husband strum his guitar or a conversation with a good friend or colleague, it makes a difference in how I feel and how I see the world.