While finance is still a male-dominated industry, these days, women’s style needn’t be crafted to blend in. For example, stylists like Ella Goldin, founder of New York-based styling and personal shopping firm Chic Inspiration, believe that the no-frills look women in the financial world embraced for so long is no longer necessary. Women who want to succeed in finance today, she says, have a better chance of climbing the ranks if they celebrate their womanhood rather than trying to hide it.

“In the past, women in finance and other male-dominated fields wanted to be just like men so that they could climb the work ladder, and they stuck strictly to dark suits in order to better blend in,” Goldin says. “Now, things have changed and I find that those women who really achieve professional success and are at the top as decision makers are the ones who stand out and don’t mind having a unique, beautiful and sophisticated look.”

Goldin believes that women in finance have a greater chance of succeeding professionally if their style represents who they are. “Confidence comes from feeling comfortable in your own skin,” she says, particularly in today’s highly competitive world, where so many talented people are out of work. Women who have a personal style and work with it rather than trying to hide it are those that are going to go the farthest, she says, “because as a woman, you have to have something that differentiates you from the next person.”

Here, three successful professionals who work in the world of finance, each with a unique sense of fashion, share advice on personal style for the next generation of industry leaders.

Lydia De Miguel, Assistant Vice President at Banco Santander in Geneva, Switzerland

“To be fashionable in the financial services world, proportion is key. You also need the right attitude – you need to feel comfortable with yourself in the clothes that you wear, and above all, you have to get the mix right. You can’t wear anything too short or too tight, but you also have to make sure that you’re not too corporate.

I love well-cut trousers, skirts and dresses, and I like to dress them up with high-heeled shoes and boots. I also love pantyhose in great colors and different designs and ethnic jewelry.

I love to pair basics like classic black trousers and pencil skirts with colorful tops and fashion belts, and big earrings. I believe that handbags are important and I have colorful, eye-catching bags I like to mix and match with different outfits.

Mixing and matching is key: Wearing everything at the same time can go horribly wrong.
There are times, of course, when you do have to do the whole black suit. That’s when I like to break it up just a bit with a pair of fashionable pantyhose, or a unique pair of shoes.

My go-to item would definitely be a cardigan. It’s so much less boring than a suit jacket, you can wear it open or slightly unbuttoned, and it’s great to have around in case you have a spot on your shirt after lunch. You can play with cardigans in so many ways, you can have them in different colors, shapes and styles, and they go with trousers, skirts and dresses.

I also favor a good pair of comfortable and elegant black high heels. Every woman needs at least one pair of those.”

Jennifer Connelly, CEO of JCPR, a Public Relations Company Specializing in Financial Services

“Style is a very personal thing for me as it is for most women, and my advice is to find your style so you can be comfortable no matter where you are or who you are doing business with.

To be successful, you must be aware and anticipate your environment. I am blessed with a friend who happens to be a stylist, and I really relied on her to give me the right pieces in my wardrobe every season to give my closet an update but still maintain my overall look.

As far as I am concerned, the key to proper dressing is knowing how to wear your clothes to ensure they are appropriate for every situation. Worn incorrectly, a great top that may be very appropriate with a belt and a jacket over it can look too casual and unprofessional, for example.

I have a conservative yet modern style. It’s that mix, I believe, that allows me to be both fashionable and professional. I have pretty much had the same style for as long as I can remember — it’s now just more sophisticated.

I would tell a younger woman coming into the financial services world to be herself, be appropriate, find what makes her comfortable and embrace it. When you feel good about you, you feel better about everything in your life.

I honestly don’t believe that trendy equates to fashionable. In fact, I stay away from becoming too focused on trend – it just doesn’t work for me. I think a classic and tasteful style is the most appropriate and desirable. At least for me it is. When it comes to accessories and make-up, I believe that less is so much more. I go for a simple classic watch, earrings, tinted moisturizer, mascara, bronzer and gloss. A great scarf is also a perfect accessory.”

Katherine Cooper, VP, Regional Strategy and Business Management for CEO, BNP Paribas North America

“In any field, it helps to have a strong sense of personal style. In financial services, my wardrobe is classic but chic. My strength is great tailoring and my weakness is a love of great shoes. Looking back, my first suit for my first job in San Francisco was awful! It was big and boxy.

To be taken seriously as a woman in this field, you need to be confident in both your appearance and your demeanor. Keep it chic. Build a classic wardrobe. Speak articulately and be well read.

I’d describe my taste as classic chic. I prefer tailored pants and pencil skirts. I add a pop of color with cashmere cardigans and silk tie neck blouses. The key is great tailoring.

Suits are great for interviews and important meetings, but my wardrobe is built on separates that can go easily from the office to dinner. I would tell a younger woman entering the financial milieu to focus on finding brands that fit her and colors that flatter her.

If you are a slave to trends, consider a different industry. I’m more interested in building a timeless wardrobe and updating it with current colors and accessories.”

Readers: Do you agree? What’s your go-to office clothing item? What’s your “dress for success” advice to young women beginning a career in the financial services industry?

by Tina Vasquez (Los Angeles)

Much like the Monarch butterflies she loves so dearly, Monika Maeckle, vice president of new media at a large media company, has a personal journey spans many different regions. Her parents are German immigrants, who, like so many others, came to this country in search of a better life. The butterfly enthusiast grew up in suburban Dallas, where she loved the outdoors.  “As a kid I spent a lot of time by a creek we called ‘the crashed up car.’ We’d have big, wild adventures. I’ve always been like this; I’ve always preferred the outdoors to anything else. I think it’s just a personality thing … well, that and the fact that mosquitoes don’t like me,” Maeckle said.  

A career in communications hasn’t really proven to be the ideal profession for a self-described “Monarch maniac” who loves the outdoors, as a majority of Maeckle’s time as vice president of new media is spent in an office working at a computer. It actually may be a blessing in disguise that Maeckle discovered her passion for Monarchs so late in life; making this discovery any sooner may have derailed the illustrious media and marketing career that took her far from “the crashed up car” in her Dallas neighborhood. After her first job as a reporter, she moved to New York for a copy editing position, which eventually led to a long stint in Costa Rica where she worked as a freelance writer while her husband was employed by Newsweek Magazine. Upon returning to the States, the couple wanted to get back in touch with nature and be more “outdoorsy,” which was impossible in New York City. 

Acquiring their Lucky Boy Ranch in Texas Hill Country has been one of the greatest things that could have ever happened to Maeckle, especially after she discovered it was located on the Monarch flight path.

Each and every year about 12 million Monarch butterflies make a 2,500 mile migration from Canada to Mexico. It takes nearly three generations of these butterflies to complete the journey, meaning the beautiful, delicate creatures know innately when and where it is they’re supposed to go. How Monarchs know to migrate to the warmer climates of Mexico remains one of nature’s biggest mysteries and one of Maeckle’s most all-encompassing passions.

There are few states in the U.S. that are graced by the presence of Monarchs as they begin to drift in during spring and summer. By early fall, these Monarch hot spots explode in hues of orange and black as the poisonous butterflies nest in trees and feed on the milkweed that conscientious folks such as Maeckle plant in hopes of drawing the butterflies in.

She was first introduced to these extraordinary creatures by a friend, who invited her over to visit her ranch one fall evening. “She took me out to this tree where hundreds of Monarchs were nesting. We caught some of the butterflies and I placed my hand in the net. It felt like putting your hand in a minnow bucket–squirming with life. They were fluttering all over the place, it was truly magical,” Maeckle said. Shortly after that initial experience, Maeckle discovered that she had a Monarch spot on her own ranch, just on the Llano River where two oak trees meet. It took a couple of years before her full-fledged Monarch mania set in, but once it developed there was no going back.

Maeckle spends about eight hours a week tending to her garden and meeting each and every need of her butterflies. She’ll be the first to admit her passion’s a little nutty, but it’s difficult not to get swept up in her enthusiasm. “You really know when something’s gone from a hobby to a passion when you can’t stop talking about it. I talk to everyone about Monarchs. I bring caterpillars into my office to show my co-workers how fast they’re growing. These butterflies take everything I love and care about, such as biodiversity and the environment, and wrap it into one beautiful package,” Maeckle said.

“It’s important for people to understand that Monarch butterflies are vital. We’re in a downward spiral. We’re tearing up the landscape, decreasing diversity, and taking away the natural habitat of these butterflies. Their ability to pollinate is crucial to our survival as a species as well,” Maeckle said. Maeckle urges people to begin planting milkweed, a bitter, poisonous plant named for the milky juice it exudes when cut. Aside from being an important nectar source for bees and butterflies, it’s also the only place where Monarchs will lay their eggs.

This mother of two is a self-described “empty nester” and she jokes that this is the reason she’s taken to raising butterflies. Statistics prove that only one percent of Monarch eggs survive in the wild, while a whopping 90 percent survive with the help of humans. Maeckle gives her potential butterflies the best chance at life by harvesting the eggs from the milkweed plants in her garden. The eggs are kept in a jar until they hatch into caterpillars. The process, however, does not end there. These hungry caterpillars are then transferred to Tupperware where they are fed a steady diet of the milkweed Maeckle has grown herself. Once the caterpillars hit the pupa stage and bind themselves into a beautiful, vibrant green chrysalis, Maeckle places them on a homemade “chrysalis tree” until they are ready to emerge as breathtaking Monarch butterflies.

“Everyone talks about ‘mediamorphosis.’  What’s even more interesting is true metamorphosis and it’s so gratifying to be able to play a part in it,” Maeckle said. “These are eggs that you are protecting. They grow into caterpillars that will eat the food you grew. Essentially you get to raise a butterfly and give it a shot at life. It’s amazing to see the universe this way. Too few people really allow themselves to be enchanted by the sheer beauty of nature anymore- and that’s a shame.”

“These butterflies [are the subject of] so many misconceptions,” Maeckle said. “They’re thought of as these dainty, sensitive little things, but they’re so resilient. You will see some that have ragged wings, but they will still continue on, trying to reach their destination. When I retire I’m going to make butterflies my life. I’m going to become a fulltime butterfly evangelist and environmental activist. Monarchs have so much to teach people if they’d just pay attention.”    

For more information on the Monarch butterflies, go to MonarchWatch.org

There are those of us who like routine, enjoy the calm pace of our lives, and go to great lengths to stay out of harm’s way. Kim Murphy is not one of those people. Murphy loves her job as Vice President of Employee Benefits at InfoCision, a leading provider of call center solutions based in Ohio, where some of her responsibilities include creating call center programs and scouting out new center locations. That being said, it quickly became apparent after speaking with her that she lives for the weekends.

Every weekend Murphy, her daughter, fiancé, and parents make an hour and a half trek away from their hometown of Akron, Ohio to spend the weekend camping out in a trailer, sharing stories, hanging out … and drag racing. “I’m the oldest of three girls and I’m like the son my dad never had. Growing up I didn’t see much of my dad because he worked two jobs, but when I was in college he and my mom bought me a 1971 Chevy Nova. We were really able to bond over that car because we spent so much time together fixing it up. Before too long I started racing it for fun on the weekends,” Murphy said.

Going from fixing up a car with your dad to drag racing may seem like an illogical progression to some, but in Murphy’s case it made perfect sense. Her mother, now in her sixties, also used to drag race as a young woman and still races whenever she can during her weekend trips with Murphy. “I’m a total risk taker, I can’t emphasize that enough. This sport just seemed perfect for me because I like going fast and I’m extremely competitive. It just seems to be in my blood,” Murphy said.

If going 180 MPH doesn’t sound like your idea of a good time, you’re not the only one. Even though Murphy’s family is very supportive of her drag racing, her two younger sisters don’t participate in any of the festivities. “My sisters will come out and watch me race sometimes, but this has never really been their thing. They always say, ‘We prefer cars with four doors and seatbelts.’ I’ve always been this way, though and I got it from my parents. I grew up riding dirt bikes and snow mobiles. I remember being a little kid and waiting on the front porch for my dad to get home. The second he did, I’d beg him to take me for a ride on his motorcycle,” Murphy said.

Despite the super-high speeds, Murphy contends that drag racing at her level isn’t dangerous. Aside from having to wear a flame retardant suit and boots, she’s also required to wear a helmet and must go through a rigorous inspection each time she races in order to verify that her gear was purchased within the last two years. This process ensures that everything she is wearing and using is safe, meets current standards, and won’t fail due to prolonged wear or sun damage. Murphy also gets strapped into a five-point harness for each ride, which is bolted into the ground. “It doesn’t seem dangerous to me because of all the precautions I take and the level of skill I’ve acquired. I don’t know, I guess I just feel like I can do anything and that I’m invincible. I know that sometimes that’s not a good stance to take, but it’s gotten me this far,” she said.

Winning, of course, is a fairly important aspect of drag racing and Murphy has seen her fair share of wins. She owns two 1971 Chevy Nova’s, the second of which was completely restored from the ground up by her and her father over the course of a year and a half. The car, which was in shambles, was found in an abandoned field and Murphy and her father promptly got to work making it not only drivable, but raceable. The wins, however, have been harder to come by in the recently restored Nova. The car isn’t street legal and everything in it is electric, which makes driving effortless, but Murphy’s used to her first Nova that required every ounce of her attention and skill. “It’s been a rough two years with this car because I’m still getting used to it, but it’ll pick up soon,” Murphy said. With a competition every weekend and at least 20 races a season, it can be difficult to recall every win or loss, but every drag racer has a memorable moment they carry with them.

“I usually drive against men, but you see lots of girls coming up through the ranks thanks to this program called Junior Dragsters. My most memorable win, though, came when I was racing in street class and there was this one guy who was indestructible, he was definitely the guy to beat. It was like he couldn’t lose a race no matter what happened … and then I beat him- twice,” she said.
Murphy, perhaps hoping her daughter shared the same passion as she and her parents, entered her young daughter into the Junior Dragsters when she was just eight-years-old, but unfortunately she “hated it.” Now at twelve, her daughter is beginning to express interest in racing again. “She comes to the race track with us every weekend, but I think she likes the family time together most. She’s like me in a lot of ways. We can’t sit still; we’re always busy, always traveling, and never home. My dad asked us why we even have a house if we’re always gone and I told him it just seemed like a good investment,” Murphy said.

The importance of family in Murphy’s life can’t be stressed enough. Their weekend getaways to the track aren’t just about racing. Murphy, her daughter, fiancé, and husband spend as much time together as possible, whether it be riding motorcycles or just sitting around. “My parents have really sacrificed so much of their time and energy when it comes to my racing, but it really has allowed us to be a tight-knit family. My fiancé has only missed two of my races in the three years we’ve been together. When my dad and I were fixing up my second Nova, my daughter and mom would be in the house cooking together. We plan trips together, we hang out together, and we genuinely enjoy each other’s company. Well, actually, I can only speak for myself. My parents got rid of me twenty years ago and I just keep resurfacing,” she said.

Murphy intends to keep on drag racing as long as she can- or as long as it remains fun. “If I could race fulltime – I would, but I know it’s not realistic when you have a job and a kid in school. Just the schedule we have now is grueling. You’re gone all weekend and then you get home on Sunday and have to unload the trailer and camper, wash dishes, mow the lawn- it’s tough,” Murphy said. It seems doubtful that she’ll get sick of drag racing, but if for some reason she does, there’s no doubt it will be replaced by something just as exhilarating and risky. You may find her in her office at InfoCision Monday through Friday, but there’s no telling what she’ll be doing Saturday and Sunday.

by Tina Vasquez (Los Angeles)

Amanda Zompetti can wear jeans to work every day if she chooses, but comfortable clothing doesn’t ensure that an office won’t get stuffy after being sat in for eight hours a day, five days a week. The twenty-four-year old works at the successful trial law firm Quinn Emanuel and, despite enjoying her job in New York City, she knows that sometimes a girl’s got to run wild and work up a sweat playing Ultimate- frisbee, that is.

Zompetti has always flirted with athletics. The Massachusetts native discovered her competitive streak early on as a five-year-old child equestrian. Twelve long years of horse riding led to forays into cross country running, softball, and volleyball as a high school and college student.

Admittedly, Zompetti did not come from an athletic family. “I don’t know where my love of sports came from,” Zompetti said. “My dad was outdoorsy, but definitely not athletic. As a matter of fact, I think he’d get winded just chasing after a ball.” It wasn’t until attending college as a history major at Dartmouth that Zompetti would discover a game that encompassed some of the best qualities from her favorite sports: the endurance necessary in soccer, the teamwork in volleyball, and a setup similar to football.

Ultimate Frisbee, usually referred to as “Ultimate,” is a team sport played with a Discraft flying disc, which is nearly identical to a Frisbee. The object of the game is to score points by passing the disc to one of your six teammates in the opposing team’s end zone. “My first game was with the Boston Ultimate Disc Alliance and I got schooled. I had the speed to play decently, but it quickly became apparent that these people had way more experience,” Zompetti said.

Ultimate originally began as somewhat of an anti-sport by a group of self-described hippies in New Jersey in the 1970’s, but its popularity grew like wildfire and it has since become a beloved sport with college and social leagues located near every major city in the country. So, how does a young woman leading a normal life as a legal assistant, whose other hobbies include cooking, coin collecting and people watching, become attracted to something as eccentric as Ultimate? Simple: it’s the spirit of the game.

“There’s no referee, so we call the shots and everyone I’ve encountered is so honest and laid back. It’s fun to work with your teammates and get to know all of these interesting new people who all have the same passion for this sport. It’s so rare to be a part of something like this. What other sport is there where it’s not uncommon to find yourself having a beer with someone on an opposing team that you just beat?” Spirit of the Game is also a reference to Ultimate’s set of rules as set in place by the Ultimate Players Association (UPA) of which Zompetti is a member. The association serves as the governing body for Ultimate in the U.S. and because the game is self-officiated, it demands a strong spirit of sportsmanship and respect as outlined in the UPA’s Spirit of the Game guidelines.

Zompetti, who is only 5’4”, cites height as a needed characteristic for doing well on the field, but despite being vertically challenged she can hold her own on any co-ed team she may be placed on. “There was one time when I was playing with the Greater Rochester Area Disc Association and I was the only girl with six guys on my team. It was the most intense game I’ve ever played in. We were running up and down the field constantly. I was making plays I didn’t even know I could; at one point I dove ten feet. It really was the most memorable game I’ve ever played because it was so hardcore and when it was over, I was spent. I can’t remember ever feeling that dead tired,” Zompetti said.

The writer T. Alan Armstrong once questioned whether or not people were really alive if they didn’t have passion in their lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the minutiae of everyday life: fighting traffic, putting in eight hours of work, running errands. As we get older and acquire more obligations, it becomes increasingly difficult to have a carefree weekend or spend time with friends. If, however, we’re willing to make the effort, we can come across a new sport, a new hobby, a new something that provides us with the much-needed fun we crave and the opportunity to make new friends.

Zompetti, who is set to start on a new summer league in two weeks with the New York City Sports Social Club, agrees: “My experience with Ultimate has been really amazing. I’ve met so new people that I now call my friends. I intend to stick with this sport for as long as I can.”

By Heather Chapman

At first, medieval re-enactments were a social event rather than a hobby for tax accountant Karen Miller. But when she began dating her then-boyfriend—now husband—Karen caught the fever. “I used to go to the local medieval fair on high school dates with my boyfriend. He was doing magic at another medieval fair…[when he learned about] the Society for Creative Anachronism… and [then] I found a local group at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I was attending college.”

Karen was hooked from the first meeting. “For my first event, I took an old bed sheet, dyed it green, and then made a skirt and a top to wear. I helped out in the kitchen for the first event, meeting a lot of nice people. After that, I started going to the weekly music meetings and it started expanding from there. I wanted to get involved in the fighting early on, but I didn’t get around to until recently.” By fighting, Karen means sword fighting—yes, with an actual sword. Sword fighting isn’t the only type of fighting that Karen does though; she also has a second-degree black belt in Isshinryu Karate. “I’ve been doing karate for nearly thirty years, on and off. I train at least twice a week and I also help the main instructor teach the youth classes. In addition to training and teaching, I try to go to a tournament at least once a year, where I usually bring home at least one trophy for fighting.”

Despite the fact that Karen has had more than thirty years of fight training, she says that the two types, karate and medieval, are different and that she has to approach each event with a different mindset. “I need to be more aggressive in my karate; since the fights are 5 points, I usually go slowly and try to gauge the other fighter. However, the SCA fighting is a ‘one good hit and you are dead’ kind of activity. This has taught me to jump right in and get the karate points.”

Still, despite the differences in the fighting styles, Karen says that “the training I get from each of them and their different focus points, helps me out in regards to the weak areas of the other fighting [style].” As an accountant, Karen finds herself with a very full work schedule for most of the year; it’s not uncommon for her to work seventy plus hour weeks during tax season. The easiest and best way she’s found so far to balance her work/life demands is to schedule her life.

“I have a certain time for grocery shopping and paying my bills. If I want to do something else, I have to reschedule those activities, just as if it is a missed appointment.” Despite the fact that her work schedule keeps her so busy during the first part of the year, Karen has found that there is an upside: working such long hours in the beginning of the year leaves Karen with more free time in the summer to spend with her family, doing things that they all enjoy. She’s found that she can take long weekends in the summer, spending that extra time at medieval reenactments, when she isn’t busy kitting out her family with costumes.

“One of the most time consuming parts of the medieval reenactment is keeping the family clothed. I make most of the costumes for myself and for my son. He is growing like crazy, so it is almost a new wardrobe [for him] each year.” Despite the demands on her free time, Karen is very much enjoying every aspect of her hobby and looks forward to years of medieval reenactments—swords included.

by Elizabeth Harrin (London)

Connie L. Lindsey joined the Girl Scouts almost forty years ago at her church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her mother couldn’t afford to buy her uniform, but her church and her troop leader ensured that she had one. She credits Girl Scouting with helping her understand that she was a young girl who mattered. Today Lindsey exemplifies an approach to servant leadership that tells girls what her troop leader told her over forty years ago: “Young lady, you matter – and don’t let anybody in this world tell you that you don’t.”

“I became a Girl Scout because it provided a place where acceptance was the norm and opportunities for personal growth were plentiful,” says Lindsey. That was about 40 years ago. Lindsey is now the organization’s highest-ranking volunteer: National President of Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA). “The values Girl Scouts embraced matched my own and reinforced my desire to learn about others and our world.”

As National President, Lindsey serves the girls and the Scout Movement by providing guidance to GSUSA’s executive team and the board in three vital areas: policy, fundraising, and strategic direction. “My role affords me the opportunity to visit our Girl Scout councils, which is one of the most rewarding parts of my work,” she says. “I love talking with our girls, volunteers, and staff—and understanding how they put the principles of servant leadership—leading others by first helping them to be their best—into practice among themselves, their families, and their communities.”

Volunteering at such a high level in an organization is a significant commitment. “I try to visit at least one or two Girl Scout councils each month,” she explains. “Currently, we have 133 councils. Additionally, I preside over national board and executive committee meetings about six times each year. My mission is to take every opportunity possible to tell the world about how Girl Scouts builds leadership development skills in girls. I let people know that not only does our Cookie Program generate important revenue for council programs, but it also empowers girls with fundamental lessons in economic and financial literacy. I tell people that Girl Scouts has powerful strategic partnerships with world-leading companies such as Microsoft and Dove. And I love talking about our Young Women of Distinction—they are excellent examples of what Girl Scouts can do!”

That’s a lot of hours spent on formal and informal activities spreading the word about Girl Scouting. You’d be forgiven for thinking that National President was a full-time role, but Lindsey balances her volunteering with a powerhouse job at Northern Trust Company, Chicago, where she is Executive Vice President. “I lead a team of professionals responsible for the asset servicing of public fund, not-for-profit and foundation and endowment clients,” she says. “I am responsible for the strategic direction, financial performance, staff development and overall growth and direction of this business segment.”

Lindsey joined Northern Trust in 1993 and she previously served as the bank’s director of enterprise relationship management within the worldwide operations and technology business unit, as well as being a senior vice president for a time in the personal financial services business unit. She is also a board member of the Chicago Finance Exchange, an advisory board member of the DePaul University School of Education, and a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. It’s a big job to balance with the requirements and commitments of Girl Scouts, but Lindsey thinks that the work experience she has gained in her professional life brings something to her volunteering.

“Strong leadership skills are at the core of my profession and my role as National Board Chair,” she says. “Strategic thinking, financial acumen and inspirational leadership are key to my effectiveness in both roles. Girl Scouts is a natural extension of applying my experience and leadership to the equally complex—and rewarding—challenge of giving every girl who comes to us the opportunity to become a leader.”

The organizational skills she applies in the office also equip her for handling the challenges of balancing work and volunteering.“I am very disciplined about setting priorities and maintaining a big picture approach to what is important and ensuring that my attention is aligned with my intentions! I am blessed to be able to serve an organization with a mission that I love and to work at a company that supports my volunteer work. I truly believe ‘to whom much is given, much is required’,” she says.

It’s unusual to meet someone who has given so much of their free time to Girl Scouting: most girls will leave GSUSA at some point before reaching grade 12. The difference between Lindsey and the girls who decide to drop out of Girl Scouting is that Lindsey has never contemplated not being part of GSUSA. “I’ve never thought about leaving Girl Scouting,” she says. “It’s an honor to part of an organization that has such a powerful mission for girls. Where else can you find 2.6 million girl members and 50 million Girl Scout alumnae who are making a lasting difference in the world?”

Those 2.6 million Girl Scouts are supported by 928,000 adult members in the US, mostly volunteers like Lindsey. Not every volunteer has to dedicate so much time to GSUSA, and Lindsey is keen to point out that there are a myriad of ways to get involved dedicating as much or as little time as you want. “One of the great things about Girl Scouting is that it offers many avenues for adults to participate,” she explains. “You can choose to work directly with girls or with Girl Scouts in other ways—and the commitment can be tailored to the amount of time one wants to invest in this awesome movement. Whatever path you choose, you will always receive instruction, guidance, and the support needed to be an effective volunteer.”

Lindsey meets a lot of girls through her volunteering and she always seeks to inspire them. “My Girl Scout experience provided an environment where self discovery and the importance of relationships were demonstrated by our leaders and our interactions with one another and the world. While the world has changed in many wonderful ways, these basic yet profound lessons have become a part of my leadership. Girl Scouts utilize essential leadership skills by discovering who they are, connecting with others, and taking action to improve their communities and their world.”

Sharing the story of her own journey with Girl Scouts is one of the ways that Lindsey connects with the young women she meets during her volunteer activities. “It is my intention to demonstrate through my conduct and my conversation that courage, confidence, and character are more than just words—they are powerful qualities one can use to change one’s life—I want girls to know that every good thing they want to do is possible,” she says. “Right now, Girl Scouts are building medical clinics in India; feeding and clothing families throughout the world and helping other girls prepare for careers in fields such as science, engineering, and mathematics. Girl Scouts see the changes that the world needs—and we make them. That is one of the many reasons I have been a Girl Scout, and I will remain a Girl Scout for the rest of my life.”

By Heather Chapman (New York City)

Mixing personal finance and cheese isn’t the usual combination, but Paula Harris, co-founder of WH Cornerstone Investments, is managing to mix the two nicely. At first spending her days in human resources before moving to the business development side of her business, Paula is still able to find time to peruse interests outside the office. Active in her community, Paula is the president of the board of directors for the Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra and currently holds a seat on the Executive Committee of the board of directors for the South Shore Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to those commitments, she serves on Bridgewater State College’s School of Business Advisory Council, is the founding Director of the Boston-based Downtown Women’s Club’s South Shore Chapter. And yet she still has the time and energy too not only make her own cheese but to teach others how to do it as well.

Cheese-making wasn’t something that Paula had a life-long interest in, although she says she has always been a fan of good cheese. “A few years ago, I was involved in [successfully] protecting the O’Neil Dairy Farm from being developed. As I became more involved in the project, I realized that the future of profitable dairy farming comes from making products with milk versus selling raw milk. I have always loved good cheese, so I decided it would be fun to find out how to make it.”

Focusing her attentions on finding a credible instructor in the cheese-making process, Paula turned to the Internet, where she caught a lucky break. “I found [out] that there was a very well-known teacher—Ricki Carroll—based right here in Massachusetts.” Signing up for a weekend class, Paula was then challenged to teach a course by the woman who organized the local adult-education programs. Rising to the challenge, Paula agreed to teach the course before she’d even learned the first thing about cheese-making.

Falling in love with this art, Paula has turned this interest into a full-blown passion, sharing her knowledge with others who are interested in learning how to make their own cheese. She teaches a few courses each year, in addition to private demonstration parties, and doing a yearly demonstration on Farm Days at the Historic O’Neil farm.

There are only ten or so students to a class, since “the classroom can comfortably hold ten students and each student needs their own burner on the stove.” For private parties, “the host can invite as many people as they chose. “[Personally] I find it’s best to keep the group size limited to eight to twelve people. It gets hard for people to focus too long. I do ask for volunteers to make the cheese but every group is different since some folks would rather watch and others create a mini competition to see whom does it best.”

Lastly, with the demonstrations that Paula does at the Historic O’Neil farm, Paula says, “it’s challenging since we do it outdoors and the table is next to the band since we both need electricity. It’s a lot of fun though, and people are always amazed that you can make cheese yourself.”

In each two-and-a-half hour class, the students spend roughly thirty minutes making their mozzarella. “This mozzarella recipe [that I teach] takes thirty minutes. Many other cheeses take a lot longer and require draining or aging. When you are teaching, it’s not a lot of fun to have a three-hour class where for an hour the students sit watching ricotta drain through cheese cloth or the process has to start twelve hours earlier.” Although the mozzarella only takes thirty minutes, the students are “also given the chance to make a ‘whey’ ricotta, which is made from left-over whey.”

Paula is a purist at heart—she prefers a good quality vanilla ice cream to any other flavor—, which is why she says she tends to stick to mozzarella in her cheese-making endeavors. Still, “you could easily add chopped herbs or something else. You can braid it, make it into little balls, or just leave it in one big ball. It’s personal preference.”

She admits that, “balance is always an issue for me since I’m involved in so many volunteer activities.” Still, very committed to both her career and her community, Paula is still able to find the time to pursue her passion for cheese making, something her numerous students no doubt appreciate.

By Heather Chapman (New York City)

Jennifer Flaa is a very busy woman. You might think that being the CEO of Vettana, a software quality assurance (SQA) company she founded twelve years ago, would be enough to keep her occupied. But, for this woman, it’s not. She has started a second company, teaches at the Silicon Valley Small Business Development Center, and has written a book. Oh, and in her spare time Jennifer sings in a rock band she started a few years ago.

Despite the passion she has for technology—Jennifer was a Technology Management student at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC)—this field wasn’t Jennifer’s first love. That was music. Jennifer says she sang throughout high school in choirs and musicals, played three different instruments, and was her high school band’s drum major and conductor. Still, despite how much she lived for music, Jennifer says that she consciously did not focus on that when she went to college. “I consciously turned the music switch off when I went to college and started an engineering curriculum. I loved music but did not want to be a ‘starving artist’. ”

After graduating, Jennifer went on to work at NASA, writing and researching test cases for an experiment that was conducted via space shuttles. It was her experiences there at NASA that led Jennifer to eventually leave and move to the Bay Area, working for several startups. It wasn’t until after she burned out working for various startups, spending all her time and energy there—literally sleeping under her desk at times—that she went back to music. Jennifer took two years off from her professional career and spent her time singing with a local garage band, belting out blues tunes, and performing for six months in a local musical, where she played four different characters. But then, as Jennifer says, “she did it again,” starting Vettanna and “deep ended into work again, shutting off the music valve that majorly fed my soul.”

It took a divorce for Jennifer to actually stop and take a look at how she was living her, realizing only then that she wasn’t doing what really made her happy. “That’s when I started singing again and sought out a rock vocal coach that would help me develop a professional quality sound.” She also became the manager of a friend’s band, teaching herself about the music industry from the inside. She took the knowledge that she learned from that experience and started her own band, Urban Fiction, with her friend, Francois Didier Bouvet. Planning only on singing the songs that other artists had written, the suggestion by her coach to write her own songs took Jennifer completely by surprise. Hesitant at first, Jennifer disregarded his suggestion, but her coach didn’t stop there. “He told me to come back next week with not one but four songs…and I did. Of course they were crap. But we worked with them and he really taught me the [song-writing] craft. I write the melodies and lyrics and Didier Bouvet [her partner in the band] adds the groove and the awesome guitar!”

Jennifer says that she still struggles to find an acceptable balance in her life. “I work best in bursts and still ‘deep end’ into tasks, looking up and [realizing] it’s 4 a.m. and I’m still on a roll! It’s not a long-term strategy but it’s actually fun and rewarding to do from time to time. The truth is, the balancing is a process. I haven’t figured out yet if ‘having a balanced life’ means that the ‘balance’ happens each day or in a week, or in a month or over the year!”

Balancing act notwithstanding, Jennifer is always on top of her life and priorities by forming a clear vision of what she wants to accomplish. Then, she says, she “take[s] it and get geeky with it. I write a plan, map out what it will take to get from here to there, how long and what the tasks are along the way.” By prioritizing her tasks and taking things one-step at a time, Jennifer says, “by the end of the year I find I’ve accomplished quite a bit.”

Jennifer has found that since she’s again made music a priority in her life, she’s much happier. “The singing is my passion and I get so much juice, happiness, and energy from playing in that sandbox that it really feeds my soul and gives me energy for other things.”

Jennifer has a website, with links to her four different blogs, and she’s also on LinkedIn and Twitter, where she can be reached at any time.

by Natalie Sabia (New York City)

Rough. Competitive. Supportive. Thrilling. These are all just a few words that describe women’s roller derby. Anya, aka “Hard Anya,” is one of the toughest and most dedicated women on the Gotham Girls Roller Derby team. Hard Anya, which is her skate name, works full time in web development for a tech company; design’s the website for Gotham Girls and serves on the advisory board. “It’s a serious organization, not just a hobby,” said Anya.

Gotham Girls Roller Derby is a not-for-profit organization, which is operated by the skater women. Gotham Girls is New York City’s only all-female roller derby league, which is composed by strong and independent women. “It’s a great network of people both professionally and socially,” said Anya.

The WFTDA (Women’s Flat Track Derby Association), which was founded in 2004 is the governing body for roller derby. They are responsible for setting rules, as well as the standards for the league. Roller derby season runs from March to November and there is a draft system where each league will host try-outs.

Skating for the “Brooklyn Bombshells” for two years, Anya is considered one of the veterans on the team. She began competing in roller derby back in 2004 while she was in graduate school in Arizona. “A friend told me about roller derby and so I went with her to a practice,” said Anya. “As soon as I saw what it was about, I immediately knew I wanted to be involved.”

After trying out and making the team, Anya was hooked. Two years later, she moved to New York City and wanted to stay involved with roller derby so she transferred to Gotham Girls. She was considered an asset to the Gotham Girls League because of her experience in Arizona. Gotham Girls has a total four teams in New York and one National Team, “Gotham Girl All stars.” “In New York, the women are very tough, but they are extremely professional,” said Anya.

Shortly after Anya got on board with Gotham Girls, she landed a job through another skater on her team. “It was a great way for me to get my foot in the door in my industry,” said Anya. The Brooklyn Bombshell credits roller derby for learning different job roles that she wouldn’t have exposure to in her day job, along with gaining confidence while leading a team. “It’s a building ground for confidence & decision making,” said Anya. “I now have a different set of management skills.”

“Loco Chanel,” whose real name is Emily, read an article about roller derby and was immediately terrified at the thought. Although she was nervous, she was also so curious that it lead her to stop by a practice. “One day I showed up at practice and never looked back,” said Emily. “I felt like that could be so much fun.”

One of the appeals for Emily was the rivalry involved. After business school, Emily began traveling a lot and was reading about a roller derby league in Texas. She was intrigued at the competitive rivalry that comes along with the sport. “I like being on a team sport,” said Emily. “It’s also fun to skate.”

Loco Chanel started playing roller derby in 2005 and two years later joined the Windy City “Hell’s Belles” in Chicago, which she is currently apart of now. Windy City, which is in their 5th season, is a founding member of the WFTDA regulations; they have four home teams, and an all star team. As one of the more veteran players in the league, she was involved in building structure and policy for Windy City. “Roller derby has a lot of flare, attitude, and personality,” said Emily. “It forces me to use a different part of my brain.”

Balancing her full time job as an economist and her role as a teammate can be tough. Some days she’ll bring work home to do at night and even as it gets challenging, Emily figures out a way to make it work. Although she dedicated a lot of time and energy to practicing and scrimmaging, Emily likes having goals to work towards and takes the game very seriously. “I like the idea of training with a purpose,” said Emily. “It’s satisfying to be involved in a contact sport.”

In a lot of ways as Emily started skating, she got more competitive, which made her more assertive and confident within her job. Being apart of a roller derby team takes a lot of practice and hard work, but it also takes a competitive attitude to win a game. “My team is fantastic,” said Emily. “They are competitive, supportive and it’s all about winning a trophy.”

In roller derby the so called matches are known as “bouts.” Each bout consists of 2 periods, which are 30 minutes each. 5 women per team are on the track one time, which includes 4 blockers and 1 jammer. One jam can last up to two minutes and the “jammer” is the one who scores the points. One point is scored every time the jammer gets past the pack. Each jam takes place on an oval track and is thoughtfully constructed strategy all to get jammer past the pack.

Jeanice, aka “Hyper Lynx,” who competes for the “Queens of Pain” for Gotham Girls, came from a background of martial arts so she was looking for a contact sport. After reading an article in the paper back in 2005, Jeanice was so intrigued she showed up at a practice. “I was interested in how serious it was,” said Jeanice.

While working full time for an internet company, Jeanice practices 3-4 days per week for 2-3 hours. She describes roller derby as a pleasant balance between social life and professional life. “It brings people together who you wouldn’t have met otherwise,” said Jeanice. “It gives me something else to look forward too.”

“There are a lot of people who put in a lot of time to craft this organization,” said Jeanice. “It’s a great way to meet friends and we all do a lot of activities together.” “It’s shaped so many aspects of my life,” said Anya.

And what about those of us who are not quite ready to lace up the skates, strap on those pads and try your hands at roller derby? Do we have to miss out? “It’s really fun to watch,” said Emily. “Everyone should take a day and check it out.”

by Anna T. Collins, Esq. (Portland, Maine)

Beth George is an accomplished attorney. Early on in her career she interned for the late Hugh H. Bownes, First Circuit Court of Appeals and served as Judicial Clerk for the Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court. She has practiced solo for ten years, focusing primarily on juveniles in crisis, eventually shifting her focus to products liability defense.

But, outside of her high-powered legal career, Beth has another passion – a passion for a super grain called spelt. This passion, motivated by a desire to empower families and inspired by an intuition to create an original recipe to help others, has led to the creation of Spelt Right Baking in Yarmouth, Maine. When discussing spelt, Beth inevitably highlights three pillars of her passion: empowerment, intuition, and a desire to help others.

Empowerment

Beth believes her initial passion for baking with spelt was “really about saving my child from a very tough situation”. Beth’s son experienced health problems as a young child. When he was provisionally diagnosed with neurological disorders, Beth tapped into her experience as an attorney. “During my 10 years of solo practice, I represented kids in crisis,” Beth explains “I learned that being properly nourished can really impact the emotional health and behavioral responses of children.” Not surprisingly, Beth was not convinced about the accuracy of her son’s diagnosis.

Gradually and over several years, Beth and her husband Tim discovered that food was triggering their son’s physical and emotional reactions. “We first discovered that wheat bread was a big culprit,” Beth recalls “so instead of relying on anyone else to nourish my child, I decided that I needed to take the situation into my own hands – literally – so I started to bake and experiment with spelt until we came up with the perfect formulas.”

Intuition

Beth had always loved baking ever since she was a kid, but did not have much experience with yeasted breads. “Once I started,” Beth shares “it felt intuitive.” Beth believes her personal heritage may explain why baking feels so natural to her. “Although I have never visited my grandparents’ region of origin (the Middle East), I get a sense that I must have some cultural/cellular memory in which the tradition of sharing food is paramount to daily life.”

Perhaps due to the importance of crafting a consistent recipe over and over again, baking lets Beth focus on something completely isolated from everything else: “at least for a moment,” she says “there is nothing around but the dough and me”. She sometimes even talks with the dough – “c’mon, you can do it – just soften up a little.”

Helping Others

Beth loves baking goods that people love to eat. “I love getting emails from strangers who say they have been deprived of good breads because they are wheat sensitive and are thrilled to have found Spelt Right baked goods,” Beth explains “I also love hearing from non-wheat sensitive people who say that once they have tried my spelt products, they aren’t going back to wheat.”

She is also passionate about helping other parents. Many people email, call, or stop by the bakery to tell her their very personal stories. Beth shares her experiences, feeling great about the fact that she is making a positive difference in people’s lives. “I want the message that nourishment is so vital to the well-being of our children to be front and center with the mission of Spelt Right Baking,” she concludes. With such a goal, it is no wonder she is so passionate about spelt.

For more information on Beth and Spelt Right Baking, see http://www.speltrightbaking.com/ or contact Beth at info@speltrightbaking.com