Blog
March 8, 2024
Meet the Women of Attain Partners’ Leadership Team
At Attain Partners, we believe that our people are our greatest assets, and that equality in the workplace is non-negotiable. We strive to build a diverse workforce centered on equality and a culture in which women are empowered and their achievements are celebrated. It is imperative that we confront disparities, challenge stereotypes, and break the bias. We all must do our part to help forge a gender-equal world, championing each other and recognizing everyone’s unique contributions.
Attain Partners is proud to support women in business and technology, and we are so thankful to have the leadership of several women to inspire and guide our team. In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, we sat down with the women of our leadership team to learn more about their leadership experiences.
Ellen Walsh
Partner, Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief of Staff
I am proud to work at a company with a mission and values I truly believe in—for young women entering the workforce, that is a great place to start. Look for organizations that have a culture and purpose that resonate with you. When you’re working hard and dedicating yourself to delivering excellence, it means so much more to be proud of your company and to be aligned with the work you’re doing.
I think a lot about ways to foster a collaborative environment for my team members and am never above rolling my sleeves up to help get something done. I prioritize leading with empathy and honesty. I truly have each of my team members’ backs, and as I show up for them in different ways throughout their careers, I see them in turn showing up for one another. It’s a beautiful thing to watch colleagues working to take care of and support each other. For me, there is nothing more gratifying than witnessing someone on my team thrive as they grow in their role.
To other female leaders, I challenge us all to pay it forward. If you, like me, have been surrounded by bright, interested people who challenge you in the best way possible, make the time to lift and create opportunities for the talented women around you. I am sure you will be glad you did.
Learn more about Ellen here.
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Reshma Patel-Jackson
Partner and Attain Digital Lead
Empowering employees is embedded in the Attain Partners culture—it’s a key tenant of The Attain Way. There’s an inherent trust that enables our leadership team to make decisions and take actions aligned with company goals, and that’s what I love about working here. I have always felt empowered to make the right decisions and take the appropriate steps for my practice to be where we need to be strategically.
I believe you’re only as good as your team. Creating a culture that is based on solid relationships with one another is especially important for me as we continue to grow. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. It is important for me to understand my team as individuals. They all learn, develop, and receive feedback differently; have different definitions of success; and grow at different paces. Being a thoughtful leader means taking the time to understand these differences on an individual basis and delegate responsibilities in a way that empowers each of them to take ownership and grow in their careers.
My advice to women looking to grow, personally or professionally, is to intentionally spend your time on things that will move you towards your definition of success. Time is something we have a limited amount of and sometimes we can lose focus. If something is really important to you, make sure you put the time behind it to get there.
Learn more about Reshma here.
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Kristi Phillips
Managing Director and Nonprofit Market Lead
My advice to young women beginning their careers is don’t be afraid to try.
I started as an elementary special education teacher. With no formal degree in education, I jumped into my new role as “Ms. K” for the next two years. I learned, I grew, I failed, I succeeded, I persevered, I tried my hardest.
My time in the classroom then took me to new roles in nonprofit program operations, in-house data consulting for a global network, and ultimately sales. Each step was filled with a mix of excitement, apprehension, openness, and a bit (or a lot) of fear. I didn’t always look like the traditional candidate for a given role.
I’m so glad I didn’t let that hold me back.
In reflection, I deeply value how each opportunity allowed me to cultivate new strengths. All of my previous jobs introduced me to new communities and new conversations. They provided me the space to grow as a person and as a professional. Today, I rely on those experiences to bring authenticity and perspective to my current role as Nonprofit Market Lead helping to shape the future of Attain Digital. While the job may look different, the lessons learned are transferrable. In fact, I can still hear the words of my first teacher mentor when building presentations or developing our market strategy: “Be clear. Be concise. And a picture never hurts.”
So, don’t be afraid to try. Take the new role, try a different industry, or experiment with a completely new career path. Find a mentor. Listen. Observe. Ask for feedback. Be open. Explore. Enjoy the journey.
Learn more about Kristi here.
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Alanna Steffens
Managing Director and Salesforce Implementation Capability Lead
My leadership style takes after something I learned as a child, which is to ‘treat others the way you’d want to be treated.’ To be an effective leader, you have to learn to listen to others, be empathetic, and appreciate where someone may be coming from. This could be related to successes as well as challenges and a good leader needs to support them through both.
There are a few pieces of advice I’d offer women who are just beginning their careers. First, don’t seek perfection, instead focus on progression, improvement, and outcomes. Don’t think that you have to possess all of the qualities of others around you to be successful. Recognize the unique value and skills that you bring to your team—those are what will ultimately contribute to overall team success. Second, be kind. You never know when you’ll interact with someone in the near or far future. Lastly, forgiveness goes a long way, don’t hold on to grudges! There’s no room to hold on to that type of negative energy. Always assume positive intent.
My leadership role at Attain Partners has led to so many rewarding experiences. I love being able to bridge the gap with users that are nontechnical with very technical solutions—often described as being techno-functional—because it’s so rewarding to see lightbulbs go off when folks really connect and click with solutions that improve how they go about in their daily lives. The sense of accomplishment that comes with seeing your team succeed and meet milestones that previously felt impossible is so impactful. One of my favorite memories was when our team was awarded the Education Partner of the Year by Salesforce in June of 2022—it was a thrill to achieve that level of recognition that had been many years in the making.
I have grown tremendously as a result of my leadership experiences. One of the main lessons I’ve learned is that if we’re not uncomfortable, we’re not growing. It’s cliché to say that you learn something new every day, but it’s so true—if you’re not learning something new every day, then you’re probably missing the mark.
Learn more about Alanna here.
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Shannon Benson
Director, Human Resources
The moment/achievement in my career of which I am most proud is seeing my team members grow and progress in their own professional journeys. My goal as a leader is to provide a supportive, challenging, and collaborative environment for my team, allowing for passion-driven work. I feel proud when one of my team members develops a new skillset, completes a large-scale initiative, or receives a promotion—it is rewarding to see the growth and confidence that comes with these impactful accomplishments.
Learn more about Shannon here.
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Maureen Goldman
Director, Marketing and Communications
I am empowered as a leader at Attain Partners because I work with and am encouraged by other fantastic female leaders at our company. Seeing their examples as working women, mothers, daughters, and partners reminds me that anything is possible. From day one in my role, I have felt that my ideas and recommendations matter, that I am a valued member of our company. That’s what I love so much about Attain Partners, we truly value our team members.
As I work to be a good leader, I strive to create opportunities for ownership, so each team member has initiatives that she manages and on which she can take the lead. It’s essential to remember that it’s not a competition, we can all achieve our own successes and help each other along the way. By opening doors for others and championing the accomplishments of my team, I hope to position them for growth as my mentors have done for me in my own career.
I am so fortunate to work for a company that gives me the opportunity to grow, the autonomy to build my team and execute our multi-channel marketing strategy, and the support to ensure that I am able to enjoy both my work and my family.
My kids know that I will work hard while I’m working and enjoy spending time with them and my husband while I’m not. Sometimes, my two-year-old daughter will sit at my desk, put on my glasses, and look at me with a huge grin saying, “Mommy, I have a meet-in,” before furiously smacking around on my keyboard, beaming with pride and purpose. I hope that someday my kids find a role like the one I have at Attain Partners, where they are challenged, supported, and surrounded by really good people.
Learn more about Maureen here.
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Jenny Rice
Director, Talent Acquisition
The one piece of advice I’d offer any woman on her career journey is don’t settle. Don’t settle for mediocrity, for a job that doesn’t bring you joy or energize you, or for a company that won’t support the needs of you and your family. My own career has taken several twists and turns because I was never quite satisfied.
That was until I found Attain Partners. Here, I’ve found happiness within a positive, supportive culture, a runway to execute great work, and an inclusive environment that embraces creativity and big ideas. I’ve been so fortunate to build and lead an amazing recruiting team, to help our firm grow with top talent, and to support the incredible missions of our clients.
I’ve been pushed out of my comfort zone too many times to count, only to look back with pure gratitude at the results that were achieved and the growth I experienced as a result. Leadership empowers you to go far here, often believing in you more than you might believe in yourself. I’m privileged to work alongside other female leaders who lift each other up and offer empathy and support as we juggle our careers and motherhood.
My wish is for every woman to find her happy place. Don’t settle—it’s out there.
Learn more about Jenny here.
From our team to yours—Happy International Women’s Day!
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