639: Wendy Walker is a Vice-President & Quilter & Runner [podcast]

09/25/24 • 26 min

Wendy Walker, VP of Regulatory Affairs at Sovos, shares her passion for quilting and running. Wendy reveals how she began quilting eight years ago to connect with her mom, utilizing pictures and video calls to collaborate from different states. She discusses the therapeutic and creative aspects of quilting, highlighting its significance as a stress reliever and a source of personal fulfillment.

Wendy also touches on her initial reluctance about sharing her quilting hobby with colleagues, and how embracing it helped display her multifaceted personality beyond her professional role. She encourages listeners to pursue hobbies for personal satisfaction and to integrate these interests into their work life for a balanced and enriched experience.

Lastly, Wendy talks about how personal interests can positively impact professional relationships and corporate culture by fostering creativity and open-mindedness.

Episode Highlights

· Revealing personal hobbies and interests helps positively impact professional relationships and dispel stereotypes.

· Personal items like quilts can spark conversations with colleagues, fostering connections.

· Individuals should pursue personal interests for their own joy and not be deterred by fear of judgment.

· Balancing personal hobbies with professional life enriches interactions, relieves stress, and enhances overall creativity and job satisfaction.

Lastly, Wendy talks about how personal interests can positively impact professional relationships and corporate culture by fostering creativity and open-mindedness.

Episode Highlights

· Revealing personal hobbies and interests helps positively impact professional relationships and dispel stereotypes.

· Personal items like quilts can spark conversations with colleagues, fostering connections.

· Individuals should pursue personal interests for their own joy and not be deterred by fear of judgment.

· Balancing personal hobbies with professional life enriches interactions, relieves stress, and enhances overall creativity and job satisfaction.

Previous Episode

637: John Tyreman is a Marketing Consultant & Drummer [podcast]

John Tyreman shares how something simple like having his drum set in the background during a work video call with a client sparked a deeper connection and conversation. He emphasizes the importance of sharing personal interests to build meaningful relationships at work. John recalls inheriting his mom's Pearl Export drum set and how jamming with a neighbor ignited his passion for drumming. He discusses his journey from playing in various rock bands in high school and his twenties, taking a break due to parenting, and eventually returning to drumming. John also highlights how his musical background influences his career in marketing and podcasting.

Episode Highlights

· Sharing personal interests like hobbies can build deeper connections in professional settings.

· Creating a space for employees to share their "and" can enhance team connections and work productivity.

· The significance of perseverance with a humorous story from his early drumming days.

· Balancing personal passions with parenting responsibilities is crucial for maintaining fulfillment.

· The natural connection between personal passions (like drumming) and professional skills (such as marketing and podcasting).

Next Episode

641: Franky Lopez is an Accountant & Fan of Competitive TV Shows [podcast]

Franky Lopez, a senior accountant at BMSS Advisors and CPAs, shares his passion for competitive TV shows. Franky dives into his love for "Survivor," "Big Brother," and "The Challenge," as well as game shows like "Wheel of Fortune" and "Deal or No Deal." And let's not forget the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA.

Growing up, his family frequently watched these shows together, which fostered his competitive spirit and interest in people's stories. Franky also recounts the excitement of putting in applications to be a contestant and his family's near-appearance on "Family Feud" a few years ago.

He emphasizes how these interests help him connect with colleagues and build deeper relationships at work. Tune in to hear how Franky's unique hobbies impact his professional life and personal growth.

Episode Highlights

· Franky loves watching competition shows like Survivor, Big Brother, The Challenge, and game shows like Wheel of Fortune with his family, which was a significant bonding activity growing up.

· He appreciates these shows not just for the competition but also for the personal stories of the participants, which make them more relatable and engaging.

· Sharing his interest in competition shows at work helped him connect with colleagues, leading to activities like a Survivor Fantasy League with 20 participants.

· Franky believes it’s crucial for organizations to create a culture where employees can share their personal interests and connect beyond work-related topics, fostering a supportive and engaging work environment.

· He emphasized the importance of having supportive relationships at work, sharing a personal story of how his colleagues supported him during his father’s illness and passing.