We caught up with a few of the women of Risch Results to celebrate Women’s History Month. Below, they share advice and wisdom on thriving in the workplace as woman, a working mom, or as a new graduate entering the workforce.
Who are three women that inspire you?
Nicole Stasick
Director of Recruiting Operations
Oprah Winfrey
I admire Oprah for so many reasons. On her talk show, she had a genuine connection with her audience and brought awareness to so many things. She talked about spirituality and books regularly. I love that she worked hard, faced many challenges, and ultimately succeeded. She has done so much for women, schools, and those that loved watching her on TV every day.
Jane Austen
I’m an avid reader and lover of books, so I had to include one author. Jane Austen is not only an accomplished woman in her own right, but she also writes about strong, brave women. I love reading her timeless novels and watching Emma, Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice on repeat.
Sydney Cummings
I was introduced to Sydney Cummings during the pandemic. As a fitness instructor, she creates five unique workouts each week which are on her YouTube channel. She dealt with some significant challenges in her life, but always has a smile on her face and a positive message to share. She’s currently 24 weeks pregnant and still doing the workouts right along with her subscribers, five days a week.
How can young women find mentors in their industry?
Andrea Anderson
Senior Director of Client Services
Right Under Your Nose
It might seem obvious, but young women should look for a mentor within their company that they can learn from. A mentor working at the same company can get to know them deeply and support their professional goals. It is always wise to have someone higher up in the company who can advocate on one’s behalf behind closed doors. The mentor doesn’t have to be a woman. Depending on the industry, men can provide a great mentorship experience. When I worked at Sprint, the best champions I could have ever had were Bob Crawford and Mike Fleming.
Seek and You Will Find
Young women should also look for mentors outside of their company, such as in industry organizations and on LinkedIn. I’ve had students reach out to me blindly on LinkedIn from the University of Texas at Austin (my alma mater) and the University of Texas at Dallas. These students did not know me personally but requested one-on-one meetings after looking at my LinkedIn profile. This is a great way to connect with a mentor virtually.
How have you balanced being a mother and a professional?
Jolene Risch
President and Founder
Patience not Perfection
I am far from perfect at balancing my roles as a mother and as a full-time business owner. That’s the first piece of advice I would give to any working mom: don’t strive to be perfect; strive to do your best! Be patient with yourself, with your children, and with your partner!
The kids will be fine
I often see young moms questioning their decision to stay in the workforce due to perfectionism or pressure to make everyone happy. They might feel guilty for not spending enough time with their kids, or feel like they are not working hard enough. I remember feeling this way when my kids were young until Harvard Business School came out with a study showing that kids of working moms benefit in the long-term.
They aren’t little forever
When my 23-year-old son was one, I had just hired a new nanny. I asked her to take him for a walk to the park up the street. She got lost. I was unable to reach her for 4 hours. Earlier, I gave her a cell phone to keep in touch but she had not turned it on. I left work to drive around the neighborhood looking for my son. Finally, the mail person told me she saw them two streets over and pointed out their direction. I paid that nanny for the day and started to look for another childcare option.
I realized that childcare is a great option but that finding the right caregiver is key. It is crucial to find someone trustworthy, reliable, and street smart. It’s the only way you will be able to do your job while you are at work! Moreover, your children won’t need babysitting for more than a few years.
What advice would you give to female recruiters?
Kristen Graves
Recruiting Specialist
Women often underestimate their value when it comes to job searching and salary negotiation. As women in recruiting, we have a unique opportunity to educate women who don’t always know the value of a job or position in the marketplace. We get to help build their confidence and educate them so that they can speak to and demonstrate how their skills reflect their value to potential hiring managers. We are women supporting women in the best way—mentoring them and showing them their value. We build them up. We can also nurture those relationships with the hope that one day, those candidates will become our future clients.