Where do you work?
I’m a Digital Brand Strategist at Eleanor.
How long have you been a board member? What made you decide to get involved?
I’m currently wrapping up my first year! I had been looking for ways to get more involved in the Lincoln community to give back and also for professional networking and development opportunities. Through AMA, I am able to do both.
What do you do in your free time?
I’m from the mountains, so I love traveling to places where I can rock climb, hike, snowboard, and ski. The mountains are absolutely beautiful! When I’m in Lincoln, I love reading, playing volleyball, paddle boarding, cycling, and watching my kids do all their activities.
How does your perfect morning start?
I’m a morning person, so it’s usually the best part of my day anyway! I love waking up super early to coffee on my nightstand 🙂, getting some work in before everyone wakes up, breakfast with kids before I take them to school, and a bike ride to work to get my blood pumping and brain ready for a great day ahead.
What professional achievement are you most proud of?
Going to college and earning a master’s degree. Also, after ten years as a teacher, I switched careers and have become successful in my second career. I am proud of my ability to pivot and thrive, and continually learn new things.
What personal achievement are you most proud of?
Whew, these are hard questions! But I’d have to go with being an active, engaged mom. From giving birth to wrangling toddlers, connecting with my tween and teen, and everything in between, it’s the hardest and most rewarding job I have ever had, but I think I have done pretty great so far.
You can snap your fingers and instantly learn any skill. What is it?
I’d love to learn another language. There’s a lot of understanding that forms when you know how to speak more than the language and connect more deeply with other cultures.
What’s your favorite TV show or movie?
I love Ozark and You and movies about criminals and murder. For some reason I enjoy watching shows about things that stress me out. Not sure why? I also love the sappy stuff like Virgin River.
You’re out to dinner with some friends. What are you ordering?
A salmon madras entree, preferably from The Oven and a cold glass of water. But if I am having a cocktail, it is always a Monkey 47 gin and tonic. Monkey 47 is the best gin on the planet. Hands down.
What are some of your favorite books or podcasts?
There’s too many to list, but some of my favorite reads are Destiny of the Republic, Being Mortal, and The Great Alone. I love books! You’ll also find the Serial podcast in my podcast rotation.
What advice do you have for younger professionals in the area?
Plan to work hard. Continually search for ways to learn, grow, and pivot. Be kind. Listen a lot and speak up when necessary. Ask questions. Be the kind of person that people can rely on and trust.
What’s your favorite part of Lincoln and why?
As a transplant from Washington State, I have become a Lincoln, Nebraska ambassador of sorts. I love this city and constantly hype it up. It is a great place to raise a family. The school system is one of the best I have been a part of. I love the trails and community events. Husker volleyball is a huge perk. The university and industries as well as our refugee populations here bring in people from all over the world – something that I never imagined I would see in the Midwest – and I love that. And people here are the nicest people in the country. It’s true: Lincoln, Nebraska is a special place.
Connect with Sheena on LinkedIn!
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