From Global Affairs to Personal Triumph: Enjoying the Ride
“You’ve got this. As long as you work hard, stay true to yourself, respect others and always strive to make an impact, you can make a difference in small and big ways. When you are given an opportunity to lead, do it. But along the way, breathe and enjoy life. The years pass all too quickly.”
Cindy Braddon shared that advice during our photoshoot in Washington D.C. I asked her how she got to where she is today and she shared:
“I was incredibly blessed with wonderful parents who instilled the importance of family, always doing the right thing, a hard work ethic and always having a sense of humor. My dad reminded me often that I could do almost anything I wanted to do if I worked for it, listened with my eyes and my ears, and never stopped learning. It’s why I’ve been able to be successful in business, as well as a champion for select causes.”
“I headed Global Government Affairs for a multinational corporation for most of my career. The Chairman, President and CEO was a proponent of working with the government to find solutions to key challenges of the day. He was sought out to be Chairman of several business organizations, including associations with a global reach. He tapped me to provide support for his various leadership positions. I was able to travel the world and get to know business and government leaders, and work with incredible people across various industries and borders.”
“Even though I spent a big chunk of my life on airplanes, racing from hotels and meetings, with little time to actually reflect on the magnitude of what we were doing, that experience has provided me with a world view that has enabled me to understand that despite the complexities and challenges of global issues, stakeholders working together can make a difference.”
“This has served me well in my post-corporate life when I held my breath and established my own consulting firm working with company and trade associations clients. I also took up riding a motorcycle in 2012 and found riding my own Harley to be very enjoyable and empowering. It gave me confidence that I could do almost anything.”
“It was past time for me to update my professional headshots. My goal was to look better than I do but still look like me. I was very anxious and have always been self-conscious in photos, but Alissa made the entire experience positive and stress-free. What she can do with a camera and lighting is amazing!”