Background facts
Job title and industry:
I am the Dallas Market Leader and Managing Director
of AlixPartners, which is in the consulting industry.
Our firm works with companies to improve their
operational financial performance. We have about
20 offices worldwide: 8 in the US, and 12 overseas.
Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Dubai, and then
throughout Western Europe, France, the UK, Germany,
and Italy. Personally, I usually handle large international
forensic accounting investigations.
Do you have to travel frequently for business?
Just last year, I went to Malaysia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Germany twice, Canada, but I also do a lot of work in China.
What countries have you lived in for work?
Kuwait, Mexico, and Russia.
Which of those countries was the most fulfilling to you?
They were all very different. My first place to be assigned was Kuwait where I gained a different view on the world and Middle East politics. Mexico is different now with security but back then, it was probably the easiest place because everybody was just so warm and welcoming. I went to weddings and baptisms of relatives of people I worked with… and their mountain homes. Then, Russia was really interesting because we were there from '95 to '97 and there were a lot of multi-nationals that were investing in that country. It was an exciting and fun time to be there, both from a professional and personal perspective. That's where I met Todd, my husband. They were all unique experiences and each meant something different to my life.
Dress code
Who or what do you believe has been a strong influence of your style?
I work with a stylist at Neiman Marcus and she is really good. I don't have too many clothes but with her help, everything goes together. So I don't stress out about going to work in the morning or going to some social event because I can look in my closet and decide what I'm wearing in minutes. She's been the biggest influence of getting me to wear things that I normally wouldn't try and really using my money wisely. I re-wear stuff all the time and put it in different combinations. For instance, the jacket I'm wearing is three years old.
You always look pretty timeless.
I've learned that a nice quality wardrobe travels well. When you travel frequently, things - especially suits - lose their structure pretty quickly. The lining quits working. I don't have that problem with items from Neiman's. The things I buy there just last forever. I joke that my cost per use makes those items more affordable.
What does your typical working wardrobe look like?
In the summer, I like to wear pantsuits with nice shoes. In the winter, I love to wear skirts, boots ... that's my favorite thing, with a jacket. I tend to wear navy's, blacks, grays, but the stylist has been good at getting me to add some color in small ways.
Heels or flats?
I'm a former ballet dancer so I love heels, but I can't wear very high heels. I go as high as I can. The thing I hate to shop for, more than anything, is a shoe because I have really hard time finding a style that I like in a heel size that is comfortable.
So, we know you shop at Neiman's, but with your travel schedule, when do you find the time?
I go twice per year - in the fall and spring, usually on a Sunday afternoon. I tell the stylist what I need, she picks things out, and I try them on when I get there. And I either buy them or I don't. It’s well worth it. I don't have purchase mistakes because she helps go through and find things for me; and everything fits, for the most part.
So there's no issue of buyer's regret.
I'll return something if I didn't wear it, but I don't buy a suit and then decide I don't really like it. The other thing is she remembers what I’ve bought, so she'll say, “This jacket goes with the ivory skirt you bought 3 years ago.” So, everything really works well together. She's made it so convenient for me. I don't really like to shop anywhere else.
Do you have certain brands that you end up preferring from Neiman's?
There are definitely things that fit me better. I can put Dolce on and it doesn't even need to be altered except in the pants. The jackets are so versatile. I can also wear them with a pair of J Brand jeans and other skirts for several different looks. I've got a couple of The Row pieces which are expensive but I really like them; and I wear things over and over. I have a couple of suits from Stella McCartney. I'm always surprised by how very tailored her line is when I try it on because on the rack, it looks like it might be boxy. Like I said, my feet are problematic, but Jimmy Choo shoes are always the ones that seem to fit the best.
What type of daily tote or bag do you carry every day and what is inside?
I saw somebody else carry this Reed Krakoff bag and thought it was a great
size for myself. It fits my iPad and Black 'N Red notebook, which I always
carry everywhere I go. My little clutch, which came with the bag, holds my
Bobbi Brown lipstick. I always have a granola bar. Airborne. My business
card holder, which was a 10 year anniversary present from AlixPartners.
And my keys.
What shade of Bobbi Brown lipstick do you wear?
What is the most important part of your beauty routine that you feel helps
complete your look?
Mascara and I'm a zealot on sunscreen.
What's your mani/pedi style?
I'm not a mani girl because I just can't keep it on. I've started using more
color for my pedicures. I'll sometimes wear orange in the summer and a
bright or dark wintry red in the winter. I have never worn something like
blue or anything like that. I do wear open toe shoes to work sometimes.
What hair product do you use most regularly?
The thing I love the most is Oribe dry shampoo because you can use it
on your hair and not have to wash it so much. I use all Oribe products.
What's your approach to jewelry? Do you have standard go to pieces that you wear most of the time, or do you mix it up?
I'm not a big jewelry person. I usually wear my ring and a diamond tennis bracelet. I have a strand of pearls that I wear sometimes. I probably need some more jewelry. I also wear a fitness band.
Is it the kind with the watch?
It does have a watch. Before that, I really didn't wear a watch because I am so naturally punctual. Unless I'm jet lagged, I can usually tell you within about 7 minutes of what time it is. I don't wear a watch on purpose. I quit wearing one when I was in my 20s because when I had a watch, I would see the time and feel anxious about what I still needed to do. I felt like I needed to be more in the moment by not wearing a watch. I'm punctual, so it's not a big deal.
If I'm working on something, I can get so focused - I have to be careful. A lot of times I'll use the timer on my phone to remind myself that I have a call scheduled because I can get lost in something and not look up for an hour and a half, or longer.
Is there anything that you have on your wish list for jewelry?
I want the Apple Watch. My current fitness band is too bulky. Before that, I had the UP band. That one was much more elegant, but you couldn't look at it and see what your progress was. I'm looking forward to the Apple Watch because it is more elegant looking.
Daily commute
What do you do in the morning, prior to your office hours, that helps
you prepare for the day ahead?
Okay. Well, I get up at 5 or 5:30 and walk the dog. I usually come back
and send a couple of emails, and then get the kids up. Then Todd and
I make breakfast. That's always our thing and we're very quick.
Anything that involves eggs, we can do like that [snaps fingers].
What kind of transportation do you use to get to your office?
My BMW X5. I'm not a big car girl but I like it. It's a nice car. It's the
first time I had a car that was powerful and ... I really like it a lot. I had
to have a car that could sit up to 7 people, but I didn't want it to be
too big. So I had my criteria and found the cars that matched it. That
was how I determined the best fit and my selection.
Do you have a favorite song, artist, or playlist that you listen to on
your way to work?
I'm usually doing phone calls on my way to work. If I'm listening to
something it's probably sports radio, like The Fan or ESPN. On music,
I'll listen to SiriusXM Radio channel 15, which plays hits from the
2000s and today.
When you travel for work, what do you do while you are in the air?
Usually, I catch up on all the emails that I've flagged and haven't gotten back to yet. A lot of times, because I'm in consulting, I'll do my billable time. If it's a Friday or it's in the evening, I'll read a book on Kindle. I always have books loaded. I don't sleep.
Wow. You have really long flights sometimes but you don't ...
Well, if I'm going overseas, I will sleep. Actually, when I go overseas, that's the first thing I do. I don't eat the heavy meal. As soon as the plane takes off, I lay down the bed flat and I go to sleep. I usually read some and I might watch a movie.
Do you have any packing secrets for business travel?
Well, I'm very very fast. I can pack in 5 minutes. I have a make-up bag that has small versions of my night cream, sunscreen, and the moisturizer I use in the morning. The day of my departure, as I'm putting on my make-up, I'll put what I'm using into that bag so I have what I need for my trip. The biggest thing is as I'm packing, I'm thinking about dressing myself to make sure I get everything. I envision what I put on in the morning to ensure I have packed all that I need.
You pack tight because you do a carry on, right?
Yes.
How do you pack your clothing?
I have two Tumi pull on suitcases, one is a smaller one and one is a bigger one. They have a nice sleeve accessory in which you hang your clothes and you zip them in to the lid of the suitcase. But what I use the most is an old Samsonite insert that you just hang over your clothes, almost like a dry cleaning bag but it's not plastic; it's made out of the interior suitcase material. I like it because if I'm going to more than one place, I just pull that out and hang it in the closet.
If I'm traveling, I'll just bring a few pieces that my Neiman Marcus consultant has selected for me so I don't have to check a bag. I might pack only four things and just rethink how I wear them throughout the week.
What is your method for keeping track of business expenses?
It's pretty easy. When I sign the receipt for a business dinner or lunch bill, I'll flip it over and I'll write whom I was with and what the firm was and what the code should be for the expense. I keep the receipts in the little pouch in my bag. Then, when I come back to the office, I just hand all those receipts to my assistant. It's good to just quickly jot it down in the moment so I don't have to go back and try to remember who I was with or what was I doing.
My goal is to avoid touching something more than once. This applies to my emails as well. In general, if there's something that I know I need to do, I just go ahead and do it. Over time, this strategy saves me time and stress. That's my philosophy.
Workday
What is your morning office routine?
I do a lot of international work, so usually I have calls in the morning. Sometimes I will start calls with my team in Russia or Asia or somewhere in Europe. Some days I end up just not making it to the office. I'd say probably once a week there is a day when I've just had back to back to back calls and I'll finally just tell my assistant, "I'm not coming in."
But most of the time, I drop off a kid (or two) at school. Our kids attend two different schools and Todd takes one and I take the other. I usually will schedule a conference call during my commute. It has to be one where I don't have to take notes, so there are some that you can do that way and some that you can't. It really just depends on the subject. Once I’m in the office, I'll usually write things on my to-do list because a lot of what I do is being responsive during the day to people who call or email me.
I always find it really helpful to have a list in front of me of things that I'm doing so that after I finish doing a phone call, I can decide what to work on next. I always have an ongoing list on the last page of my little Black ‘N Red notebook. This is a list of the big things that I have to make sure I get done. I go through it and check off what I can.
What does your typical day look like if you are in town and in the office?
I think my day is very different than if I was in a corporation, especially doing the international work. Most of what I do consists of phone calls and going to meetings. Sometimes my day will start early with a call in my office at home. Last night I had a call with China at 7:30pm. If I am in town, I am usually in the office by either 8am or 8:30am and I try to leave by around 5pm. Ever since my kids were little, I would try to leave by 5pm because that is when our family had dinner and they would go to bed at 7:30pm. After that, I would pick up where I left things and starting working again. It’s probably one of the reasons I ended up with a lot of the international clients because that actually works pretty well with our family schedule, even though the kids are older now. In the evenings, I'm usually reviewing something, preparing in advance of phone calls and meetings, reviewing other peoples' work product or going to client events, dinners and receptions. There is not a regular routine to my work.
What essentials do you have with you for meetings?
I always have my black and red notebook and my blue Bic pen. Then I'll have my iPhone, but I really like how people don't keep their phones out on the table unless expecting an important call. For instance, if one of my kids had been injured in a soccer game and I was waiting to hear back from an orthopedic doctor, then I'll tell people that I may have to step out and take that call. But usually the protocol is not to have one's iPhone up on the table anymore so I'll keep mine in my bag or next to me in the chair.
What about your iPad? Do you use it in meetings?
Not unless there's a document on it that I'm going to look at. But I don't take notes on it. I know some people do, I have the keyboard, I certainly could but I still like to write my notes.
Do you have a specific method that you use to run the meetings that you are in charge of?
I think that meetings should be as short as possible. There should be an agenda stating the purpose of it and what decisions are needed. I think most meetings can be done in half an hour. Sometimes we'll have brainstorming sessions about a variety of different things where we might schedule more time. I just try to make them as productive as possible.
What are some of your office pet peeves?
Everybody is pretty neat around here so I don't have much to really worry about. I did point out that people were leaving stuff in the refrigerator for a while, so our office manager implemented a policy where every Friday they clean everything out. Because it was ... you kind of wonder what was in there? Beyond that, I love my office, but it is fairly far from where my team is located. I would prefer to be closer, but it's just the way the office was constructed.
How do you handle job-related stress?
Working out, sleeping, eating well, and making sure I'm balanced from both a personal and work perspective.
What is your happiest moment at work?
As consultants, we focus on teaming. We are really good about collaborating amongst our group and with our clients. We had a board presentation on Saturday for a project and afterward had a great sense of completion and that we had done a good job. Everybody was reveling because we had worked hard and our presentation was well-received. It's probably what I like the most: working together.
Desk drawer
What would you say is your favorite office supply and why?
I love office supply stores. My favorite office supply are those
little Black n’ Red notebooks that I carry around, but I also like
post it notes in all different colors and highlighters.
What is a work tool that's a must-have for you (app, hardware
or software)?
My iPad. I can do just about anything on it I need to do, and I
can see both my personal and my business calendars. I keep
all my books on my iPad as well. I use an attachable keyboard
which makes it look like it is a little computer so it is easier
to write emails and texts. I carry my iPad in my purse with me
all the time.
How would you describe your office space?
My office space is very bright and light. My decorator Michael Perkins incorporated my kids’ artwork and then he created the large painting himself, maintaining the bright color palette. I really like how it looks very professional while still reflecting my personal style.
Do you have anything on your wish list for your décor?
I think every once and a while about putting an area rug down just to add another layer of color. I'm sort of bound by the fact that I have to use certain furniture.
How do you prioritize and manage your email inbox?
I cannot answer every email that I get anymore. I get CC'd on a lot of emails ensuring that I'm in the loop but I'm not the person that is actively responding to the conversation. I don't put my emails into folders. I think that's a waste of time because you can query everything on Outlook. I'm pretty adept at being able to find an email if I need to.
Also, my assistant monitors my email for me and she's really good about pointing out emails I need to respond to, especially if I'm super, super busy in long meetings. She makes sure that those come to my attention. Lastly, throughout the day I'll flag certain emails to go back to and review them either at night or early in the morning.
Agenda
What is your secret to achieving your daily objectives?
The big thing that helps me organize my day is the night before; I'll review the emails that I flagged throughout the day and clear those. I'll look and see what I'm doing the next day and review anything I need to. Then a lot of times, if I have a big meeting, I'll get up early and review things to prepare for it one more time. This is also is how I used to study. I always had one last review early in the morning before a test.
How do you keep track of what your schedule looks like?
It is important for me is to have everything calendared. I actually have four calendars right now: a work calendar, a personal calendar, my seventh grader’s athletic carpool calendar and then I have the seventh grade rep calendar. My personal calendar is our home calendar. My husband and parents, the kids, the kids’ nanny - we all have access to it and that is where all the games and school activities, like school pictures, all of that information goes on it. That way everybody knows what's happening.
And the moms maintain the athletics carpool calendar, so we know who is going to get the kids and the girls have access to it, so they know which car to look for.
That's a great idea.
It's worked out really well. Our process improvement. (laughter)
You discussed your to-do list earlier, is this a daily list for you?
More as I get things done. And then I'll tear it off every once and a while and I'll re-do it again. I use little squares so I can check items off and it's always on the back of the last page in my Black n' Red notebooks. Sometimes I'll write out my to-do list on the white board in my office, but I've been traveling a lot lately, so it's really just been in my notebook.
Is your list mainly about work or does it include personal items?
It's both. It tends to be more for work than personal, but if I have to call a pediatrician, I have to do that during the day so that's an example of something that would be on the list.
How do you stay on top of industry news or your career?
I'm an avid reader so keeping up with things isn't very difficult for me. I read a lot of business articles. I read the business sections of the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and the Dallas Morning News. There are several industry blogs, such as the FCPA blog and Main Justice, that I follow via email. For other news, I read Vanity Fair and ESPN.
What is your method for networking?
Dallas is a pretty easy place to network and I've been here for such a long time. There is a lot of industry here, a lot of big businesses, but the business community feels relatively small. I stay active in charitable organizations. I've been involved in several through the years; March of Dimes, Promise House. I'm now on the finance committee of the Dallas Theater Center, on the Deans' Council of Texas A&M. I just recently joined the Executive Women's Round Table at the Dallas Chamber of Commerce. And our firm does quite a bit of marketing and events with clients or prospective clients as well.
What advice have you received in your professional life that has really stuck with you?
When I was hired by Arthur Andersen, they said they recruited and developed SWANs - smart, hard working, ambitious and nice people - which continues to make sense to me. SWANs soar in a consulting environment and in most corporations, too.
What is your work motto?
I always feel like as long as I stay focused on the things that are important to me and important to the firm and to my clients, and I try to do things to the best of my ability, it all just works out. I tell my kids: be nice and work hard. Being nice is not always the popular thing to do but when faced with a decision, I like to take the high road. I want to wake up the next morning, feel good about my decisions and actions, and know that in the long term it's simply the better thing to do.
Downtime
What do you do during your downtime to refresh and
recharge yourself?
Well I make sure I exercise, but the biggest thing is connecting
with my kids and my husband. I really like to spend time with
my family. I don't watch very much TV, except sports. I also enjoy
hanging out with friends. I think it's really important to have
people, who are good friends that you can talk about anything
but who aren’t involved in your work life. We tend to not talk
about work when we are with our friends. And I think that's
pretty important.
I know you travel frequently for work, but personally, how
important has travel been for you?
Taking vacations and traveling is a great way to rejuvenate. It's
hard for me to ever really step out of what I do. I usually have at
least one conference call every day while on vacation. But being
able to step away is important because when I return, I am much
more productive and have a new prospective. It certainly helps
me connect with my family, too. We've had so much fun on our
various adventures.
What are you reading currently?
I am reading "To Kill a Mockingbird." My seventh grader is reading it and so I decided to reread it. It's so interesting because I've been rereading it and now Harper Lee is going to release a new book. I've enjoyed it because I have southeastern roots. I've reread several classics and I have gotten so much more out of them as an adult, or have a different understanding than I did when I read them for high school and college.
How have your parents influenced your career?
My mother was one of the first computer science majors and she started working when I was about nine. She was a director at AT&T in their long-term planning group. My father was an air force pilot. He always enjoyed adventure and travel. And he also worked at AT&T directing special projects. But the biggest influence they have is, my parents are so supportive and adoring. Just knowing that I'm loved and that they are proud of me, helps me go and be the best person I can. And it certainly helps in stressful moments, too.
"We are really good about
collaborating amongst our
group and with our clients.
It's probably what I like the
most - working together."
Stephanie's youngest wanted her to have his Lego Legends of Chima CHI Eris figurine for her office. CHI Eris is a female warrior in this toy series who "is a master of strategy and uses her speed, agility and brains to outwit her opponents," (per the Lego site.) Her son is really smart, btw.
Stephanie keeps pictures of her kids near her laptop for the reminder of her wonderful family.
Stephanie's tips for better work/life balance:
1. Delegate to and empower others. In addition to helping you balance your work, it will help develop leaders in
your company.
2. Strive to do at least 30 minutes of exercise a day - even if it's just a walk around the airport or block. Cutting out
exercise doesn't save time because it results in a significant decrease in mental acuity, productivity and efficiency.
3. Rethink the family dinner. Weekday evenings rarely find everyone at home together because of sports, school and
work events, so we instead have family breakfasts. (Shout out to Bruce Feiller, author of "The Secrets of Happy Families",
for the idea.)
4. Be open to other's ideas and methods. There is seldom a perfect answer and some perfect ones cannot be practically
implemented. This is true at work and at home, especially when dealing with toddlers and teenagers.
5. Do your best to be at all events that are important to your children - the preschool Mother's Day tea, elementary
school field day, sports games with rivals and any event in which your child is getting an award. There are more of
these when children are little, but teenagers like for you to be there for them, too, even if they won't say so.
6. Develop friendships at work but have close friendships outside of work, too.
7. Be grateful for family and find and enjoy unstructured time with them.
