Welcome to our latest installment in our “Meet the Member” series, where we will feature a WFE member. This quarter meet our 2018 President, Faith Allen!
Read on to learn more about Faith:
How did you get involved with WFE and how long have you been a member?
I became involved over 15 years ago as a member, then served 2 years as Treasurer and 1 year as Pres. Elect.
What is your favorite thing about WFE?
Meeting really amazing, strong and smart women each month while learning from solid programs.
10 Quick Questions:
1. What was your first job?
My first office job was as a teller for a Savings and Loan in my hometown. We worked the drive through as well as the lobby and handled all transactions almost manually.
2. What do you like most about your current job?
Building relationships with the key decision makers from different industries and companies to help them achieve their goals.
3. What is the best career advice you’ve ever received?
“The Ball is Always in Your Court” which is helpful for sales oriented roles, but also all types of roles we have in our careers. If you’re not getting paid enough, ask for a raise. Being treated unfairly, have a crucial conversation or a new job. Bored, find an interesting job. Change is inevitable, and sometimes we don’t like the change, but remember the Ball is Always in Your [personal] Court.
4. Who is your role model?
Over my life, it has to be my maternal grandmother. She was a single mom when my mom was 16 and managed through WWII working at a sandwich shop and playing piano like a saloon player in the Baptist Church. She worked for over 30 years at the Post Office in our small town and knew everyone because she was gregarious, smart with names, could count money, and a hard worker. We played rummy together after school, worked on spelling words, and she taught me about saving money and being there for family. Friendly, Nurturing and Tough, all rolled into one.
5. If you weren’t [A Commercial Banker] what would you be doing?
I would plan projects and events that help women or children, which would warm my heart too. 🙂
6. Do you have any pets?
Not at this time. We lost our dog about 2 years ago and just can’t face getting a new one.
7. What are you currently reading?
Honestly—the LL Bean catalog—I want everything in there. Also “Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown (U of H professor) and The “Art of Tidying Up”.
8. How do you handle stress?
A walk usually. Sometimes I also write with a pen and real paper in cursive all my thoughts around the stress, then make a decision tree.
9. What do you make time for no matter what?
I could say exercise every other day, but……there are days that is not true. However, no matter what, if a family member, friend, or child need help or a talk, I am always there.
10. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
I am a member of The University of Texas Longhorn Alumni Band, because I’ve been a band nerd on the sexy saxophone since 5th grade.
Bonus Question!
11. What “lesson from mom” do you still live by today?
When my mother passed away we found a book in her house titled “How to do Everything Right”, and my sisters and I cracked up laughing–yes that was Mom. This also came from her mother, our grandmother, but in her words it was “If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well” as I raked leaves or washed her car. I still live by this lesson.