Background facts
Job title & industry:
Marketing Director for Downtown Dallas, Inc. a non-profit,
economic development organization focused on the
revitalization of Downtown Dallas.
How long have you worked in your industry?
I've been in some form of events, marketing, or PR for about 15 years.
Who (or what place) has had the most impact on your style aesthetic?
Moving to Dallas and being exposed to more fashion and actually having places to shop. I've had some jobs where I was exposed to people that were on the Board of Directors for companies and organizations; so being around people that were stylish and smart had a big impact. I would think, "Okay, I like what she's wearing. I can't afford that, but I'll go try to find something that looks like it."
"If you’re resourceful, you
can figure out how to do
just about anything!"
Shalissa working on one of her favorite projects - keeping the map of Downtown Dallas up to date.
Dress code
How do you determine what you're going to wear to work each day?
I look at the weather forecast, and also think about how far I'll have to walk to get to meetings during the day. I look at my calender and see what sort of meetings I have. We're pretty lucky that we can be casual or dressy when we want to be.
Do you have a typical go-to look for when you have your client meetings?
For the fall and winter seasons, hands down, I wear boots almost every day with a skirt, dress or skinny pants of some sort. And usually a scarf, I'm into scarves lately. In the summer, I wear just anything that doesn't make me too hot!
Where do you shop for your work wardrobe (and when do you find the time)?
Kirsten Allie Boutique just opened up Downtown, and I've been shopping there every week! It's become one of my favorite places for clothes and jewelry! For basics, I usually check out Nordstrom, Bloomingdales outlet, T.J. Maxx, and Neiman Marcus Last Call. I like Club Monaco, H&M, Zara, Express, Accents and Milk & Honey. I typically don't like paying full price, and I refuse to shop on the weekends when it's so busy. I also like buying a few pieces at pop up shops and markets around Downtown. For instance, I love the super soft t-shirts that I get at Dowdy Studio.
Are you an in-person shopper or do you like shopping more online?
I do both. I love getting things at little design markets. For shoes, I'll usually shop Zappos online. I am a lazy shopper; I'll see something in the store, figure out what brand it is, then go find it online.
What are your "go to" brands for clothes and accessories?
I usually go for whatever is displayed nicely on a mannequin, or on a rack. The majority of brands currently in my closet are Romeo & Juliet, Bobeau, and Caslon. There are a few Ella Moss pieces that I love, too!
What's on your "wish list" for this upcoming season's work wardrobe?
A great pair of nude booties, and a new cropped leather jacket. The leather jacket I have now was from Last Call, and I've worn it for three years – so it’s time for a new one. I just got a really great crop zip-up sweater at Club Monaco on sale. I am excited to pull that out, since it's still in the bag.
What type of daily tote do you carry every day? And what's inside?
I have a huge Tory Burch nylon tote. I bought it for travel, but have ended up using it most days. It’s as big as a car. I carry my iPad, a bazillion pair of our promotional sunglasses, business cards, lots of lipgloss, and my phone charger. A lot of times I have a pair of shoes in my purse, if I am going to a meeting or whatever. Bottles of water ... I put anything and everything I can in there.
What's something that you wear that instills more confidence on the days when you just kind of need an extra boost?
A simple dress and heels usually do the trick.
On most days, are you pants or skirts?
Pants in winter and skirts/dresses in summer.
Heels or flats?
Well, I keep most of my heels in my work closet for meetings, but most of the time I'm in flats because I walk so much.
Lipstick or lip gloss?
Gloss - Philosophy, in Watermelon and La Metier, in Downtown (of course). I never have worn lipstick.
What's the most important part of your beauty routine that you feel helps complete your look?
Tinted moisturizer and mascara.
Mani/Pedi style? What brands/shades are your favorite?
Short nails, dark colors. My go-to color is OPI in Russian Navy. If I’m going on vacation, I might do white or bright, but usually dark.
What is your approach toward jewelry? Do you have standard “go to” pieces that you wear most of the time, or do your mix it up?
Simple is pretty much my style – I don’t wear a lot of statement pieces. I used to sell Stella & Dot, and I have a lot of it now. Some of my favorites are my simple wrap bracelets, and a gold pendant necklace. My favorite earrings are from Kendra Scott; I received them in a CultureMap swag bag! Oh, and always a watch; usually an oversized gold Michael Kors. I have a necklace that looks like a sharks tooth. I found it at a pop up shop, and loved it, but my friend Franchesca bought it. She turned around and gave it to me for my birthday – she is literally the Best. Gift. Giver. Ever.
I like to buy unique, simple items. If it's gold, and has a little sparkle, I usually like it!
Work day
Do you have a typical workday?
My typical day is a-typical. Being in marketing, I have to know things for newsletters and social media, so I have a lot of meetings with people to get updates on what they're doing, which is awesome. If I'm not in meetings, then I could be working on the annual report all day, or trying to get a newsletter completed, or schedule out a brochure, or updating our map. It really is the perfect job because there isn't a particular routine. Everybody's interested about what's going on Downtown, and there's a lot of excitement.
What essentials do you take with you to meetings?
Notebook, pen, business cards, and my phone.
Do you use a specific method to run your meetings?
I usually just make sure everyone knows each other, then get to the point.
How do you handle job-related stress?
I get out of the office for a little while, and take a quick break to go get a fancy latte downstairs or down the street. I have a lot of deadlines for articles, collateral, etc., so that’s the main thing I'm usually focused on. I really have the best job ever; I don’t feel particularly ‘stressed’.
What are some of your office pet peeves?
Honestly, we have such a good team here that I don’t have anything to complain about. But I used to work at a bank, and there were a few ladies that would talk on their cell phones in the bathroom stalls. So gross, and annoying!
Desk drawer
What is your favorite office supply, and why?
Post-It notes. I use them to edit marketing collateral, annual reports, etc. all the time. It’s easier to ‘change’ my ‘changes’ with post its. One of my favorite projects that we work on is a giant map, and I make all of my changes on sticky notes. Once they get updated, I get to take the sticky notes off and throw them away. When all of the sticky notes are gone, I know it's done. I also have to have my Post-It note dispenser on my desk, where I can just pull one out at a time.
What is a work tool that's a must-have for you, app, hardware or software?
My double monitors, Hootsuite (for social media), and my iPad. I live by my Outlook calendar, mostly.
How do you use your iPad?
When I'm not sitting at my desk, I use it just like a regular computer. For instance, if I'm early for a meeting, I check my email (it's better than using my phone). If I'm editing a map, I'll use my iPad to google things for accuracy. It's purely like my little portable computer. In fact, I have two other computers at home and I never ever use them. I just use my iPad (with my keyboard).
How would you describe your office space?
A big room with a fantastic view! (And a little messier than it probably should be.) We're really lucky to have this office space, because these are old bank executive offices. And it's a good show-and-tell space. We didn't do a whole lot to the office when we moved in. Almost everything is from Ikea.
How do you organize your desk space?
Mostly piles of files and folders. Not sure "organized" is the word. ☺
How do you prioritize/manage your email inbox?
I try to take care of little things right away, and flag other messages with reminders for follow up. I also put my 'to-dos' on my Outlook calendar. The search bar is my best friend!
Daily commute
Do you have a morning routine to prep you for the office?
Probably the very first thing I do when I get up in the morning is look at the
Yahoo weather app on my phone. I've been obsessed with it lately because
I am ready for things to get cooler. I usually go to yoga, so I can get my workout
taken care of. After getting ready in the morning, I check my emails first thing
so I don't feel like I have to wait until I get to the office.
By what means of transportation do you use to get to work?
I walk every day, because I live really close.
How often do you work away from your office?
I have a lot of coffee/lunch meetings, so Weekend Coffee and CBD Provisions
at The Joule are like my second offices! We have a ton of meetings there; both
are such cool gathering spaces, and so convenient.
Agenda
What is your secret to achieving your daily objectives?
Blocking time on my Outlook calendar for must do’s; then I don't let it go until it's done. Sometimes, I'll just stay late after everybody else is gone because days are filled with meetings, so I pick one night out of the week to just stay for a couple of hours and actually get things done. The key is putting it on the calendar.
Is your calendar, in essence, your to-do list, or do you keep a to-do list?
I keep a list on paper, but mostly I put things that have deadlines on my Outlook calendar so they won't slip away. I rewrite my paper to-do list every other day or so, to make sure I’m not writing the same thing over and over. If it's something small, I take care of it right away and move on.
So when you block time on your calendar, then they can't book you for meetings, right?
Right. They have to call me and say, "Are you really booked during this time?"
How do you stay on top of industry news for your career?
I subscribe to a lot of newsletters, blogs and Google alerts….I scan them as they arrive.
What is your method for networking?
My job is networking by nature, because I attend so many events and meetings.
Who has influenced your career the most?
I’ve had really great leaders in most of my previous work positions, as well as my current position, but I have two that come to mind. My dear friend, and previous boss, Joann, started with me on the same day at an old job, and we worked together for over six years. She gave me a lot of responsibility, and helped me climb the ladder there. Another previous boss from my nonprofit years, Paula Hughes, recruited me to direct an important gala for a nonprofit. I did that for three years, and learned so much from her.
What advice have you received in your professional life that has really stuck with you?
If you’re resourceful, you can figure out how to do just about anything!
What inspires you about your work?
The excitement of seeing others that are inspired, and have a vision to make Downtown a better place. So many people are passionate about their developments and projects, it’s awesome to see it all come to fruition.
Downtime
What do you do during your downtime to refresh yourself?
Running, yoga and hanging out with friends and my boyfriend. Oh, and we love to catch up on great shows on Netflix or Amazon. I’m way behind on what everyone else has been watching for years.
What are you into now?
I just literally just finished Dexter, a few months ago. Watched all of it. We like to marathon watch, and then it's done. We're like, "When is the next season coming?" I didn't used to be much of a TV person. Now that you can watch a season all at one time - it's kind of nice.
Do you have any hobbies?
Mostly just discovering new places to go, and things to do in, or near Downtown. I really love to explore new trails to run on, and just getting a good work out is fun for me.
How have your parents influenced your career?
They've always listened to me weigh my options from job to job. Just knowing that I have such a supportive sounding board, has been really helpful.
How important has traveling been for you personally?
We love it. My boyfriend and I travel as much as we can, whether it’s for a long weekend or a special trip. We were fortunate to travel to Vancouver, Spain, and the British Virgin Islands this past year. Not sure how to top that.
Since she walks to work everyday, the closet in Shalissa's office is perfect for keeping walking shoes, heels, coats and umbrellas very handy.
Another amazing look at the views from the Downtown Dallas Inc. conference room.
