Celebrating Women’s History Month with Words of Advice

It’s women’s history month and Sycamore Services is fortunate to have an army of talented women working for the organization in roles from entry level to senior management.  To celebrate them and all their accomplishments, we asked a few of them what advice they might give their younger selves.  Here’s what they had to say:

TAMMY GRAHAM | WORK EXPERIENCE ASSISTANT/DSP | DANVILLE HQ

“Don’t let imagined or real embarrassment stop you from trying and trying again.You are enough to do anything.Keep reading everything – it is a lifelong passion.”

JENNIFER SHARABA | HUMAN RESOURCES & QA DIRECTOR | DANVILLE HQ

“Slow Down.  Be Present.”

WENDY BUDDE | CFO | DANVILLE HQ

“Whether personal or professional, set goals and work toward them…one little step at a time.  Just keep pushing forward and making progress.”

CAROL CALDWELL | ADMIN ASSISTANT – RESIDENTIAL | DANVILLE ANNEX

“I would tell my younger self to go after her dreams. Don’t let anyone or anything hold her back. Her life belongs to her.”

LADONNA EVERROAD | COO | DANVILLE HQ

“Don’t be afraid to fail.  Failure is how you learn, which leads to success.Listen to understand, not to respond.  This is how you show you care, can work towards a common goal, and learn and grow as a person.Have the courage to listen to your instincts.  Your “gut” is right more often than you would think.Build a network of people around you that are the “experts” in the things you don’t know how to do or do not excel at doing.  Being a team is how you will make a positive impact.Be open to change.  Change is inevitable and you need to be a part of the solution not the problem.”

STACIE WARE | OPERATIONS SUPPORT ADMINISTRATOR | DANVILLE HQ

“I would tell my younger self that it is ok to ask for help sometimes. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness and doesn’t mean you aren’t capable. It actually shows that you are confident enough to recognize when you need a hand. I have always taken pride in being a strong and independent person but didn’t always take the time to ask for help when maybe I should have. I would also remind myself more to be kind. Always. Everyone gets busy and, in a hurry, and they forget to be kind. Kindness goes a long way and only takes a second.”