Blog
March 8, 2025
Meet the Women Leading Attain Partners
At Attain Partners, we believe that our people are our greatest assets. We strive to build a diverse workforce centered on equality and a culture in which women are empowered and their achievements are celebrated.
We are grateful 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, hear from them about their leadership experiences!
Ellen Walsh
Partner
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.
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.
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.
Alanna Steffens
Managing Director and Salesforce Implementation Capability Lead
Collaboration, trust, and innovation is embedded in the culture of Attain Partners. The leadership truly supports personal and professional growth and provides both resources and opportunities for team development. For the past eight years (14 in total) at Attain, I’ve been encouraged and supported to move into new roles to further my own knowledge and interests as I moved from an individual contributor to a leader. It’s an environment where transparency is encouraged, and input from every team member is valued, which empowers me to lead with confidence while also remaining open to new ideas and perspectives.
Being a leader is about guiding, supporting, and growing alongside your team. The most important lesson my role has taught me is the value of empathy. Being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes—whether it be to understand their perspective or support them in handling a home situation. Without empathy, you can’t connect and truly begin to understand where someone is coming from.
I’ve had many meaningful moments throughout my time here, but if I had to pick just one, it would be the moment that I had to support a team navigating a particularly challenging project. Watching the team navigate the experience, working together through obstacles, and eventually getting the client live was incredibly rewarding. It reminded me of the importance of supporting each other during challenging times, learning from the experience, and incorporating lessons learned into the next engagement. This moment reminded me why I’m so passionate about leading and empowering others!
I hope to inspire the next generation of women leaders to embrace their authenticity and lead with both strength and compassion. You can be both compassionate and assertive, creative and analytical, and bring your whole self to leadership without compromise. Most importantly, I hope they understand that their voice matters, and they have the ability to create meaningful change, not just for themselves, but for those who follow in their footsteps.
My piece of advice is if you’re not uncomfortable, then you’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. There will always be moments of doubt, but it’s important to trust that your perspective is valuable.
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.
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.
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.
Nadia Kikilo
Principal, Attain Research
Women in Leadership ERG Co-Lead
Attain Partners allows me the freedom and independence to lead and develop my team. I have the latitude to work with individuals at their own pace accounting for everyone’s individual ability, desired career path, and definition of success.
As a leader, you are only as valuable as your team—do not be afraid to invest in people who are smarter than you, have more potential than you, and people you see yourself working for one day. Leadership is a synergy of mindsets, skillsets, strengths, and even weaknesses. My job as a leader is to bring out the best in each team member, find out what motivates them, and drive them to be their best.
My journey as a leader started at Attain Partners. I remember that distinct moment when I realized that the project success was in my hands and the responsibility overwhelmed me. I felt different, empowered, and scared at the same time. I know that in that moment I crossed into the realm of management and leadership, and I never looked back.
The most important piece of advice I would give any young, aspiring leader is to trust yourself and your instincts, do your homework, and know when to reach out for help. You will encounter people in high(er), more powerful positions who will make you second guess yourself and the validity of your decisions due to other agendas. Stay true to yourself and your instincts but always be able to defend your position with valid arguments and data. Do not hesitate to reach out for help when you need it—your strength is not knowing everything about every topic, it’s knowing where to go for answers to strengthen your position.
Courtney Swaney
Principal, Attain Research
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a leader is that you’re only as strong of a leader as the shoulders you stand on. When you’re standing on weak shoulders, the whole team structure fails. I’ve learned a lot through my many mistakes over the years, but my advice is to build strong shoulders by:
Being an empathetic and compassionate leader. Make time for people and to connect with them. Understand that people work to live and not live to work.
Be open. Be open to ideas; have an open-door policy.
Hear, not just listen. I like to help fix things or offer solutions, and I learned that I wasn’t always “hearing” if I was busy trying to find a solution while my team was talking to me about a problem, especially if they were just looking to vent. Over time, before they would start speaking, I would ask if they just need to be heard, or if they need for me to help act. Then, I really focused on hearing and understanding their issue before offering any advice or solutions (if they wanted one).
Be gracious.
Empower individuals on your team to step up, take initiative, go beyond their comfort zone, and to be creative. Delegate and trust. Look for—or create—opportunities to rise to the occasion. Encourage trust.
Understand individual goals and mentor them to help them accomplish them. Celebrate accomplishments both of individuals and of the team, and debrief when things haven’t gone so well and how improvements can be made. This creates a culture of transparency and accountability.
And very importantly, be humble, be honest, and admit when you’re wrong. Your team is watching and taking your cues, they will mimic your behavior.
Shacey Temperly
Principal, Attain Research
Being a woman in leadership can be challenging, and it is so important that we support and uplift each other. My success is deeply rooted in the strength and guidance of the women who have mentored and inspired me. Starting with my mother, who instilled in me from a young age the belief in women’s strength and inherent value. That foundation was further reinforced by the inspiration I drew from admired leaders such as Madeline Albright and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
At Attain Partners, my female colleagues have built upon these powerful influences—they’ve shown me how to translate these lessons into professional success. My achievements are a result of not only my own efforts but also the women who have come before me and those who continue to walk alongside me.
Hilary Craiglow
Senior Manager, Attain Research
Leadership confidence comes from standing firmly in your values and inspiring imagination to reach beyond convention. What some dismiss as soft skills, like empathy, collaboration, and relationship-building, are sources of leadership strength. My vision for the next generation is leaders who bring their full range of capabilities to solve complex challenges rather than hidebound styles.
Michelle Metcalf
Women in Leadership ERG Co-Lead
Being a leader means being present, walking alongside your team, and showing them the way when needed. Attain Partners empowers me by giving me the space, trust, and resources to lead my team effectively. I’m able to mentor and support my team while ensuring they have the tools and guidance they need to succeed. Attain Partners enables me to lead with both structure and empathy, which helps my team grow and take ownership of their work.
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that the people you lead are the most important part of leadership. Taking the time to be present, listen, and support them is key. Never assume they know how to do something just because they’re capable—true leadership is about guiding, teaching, and helping them build confidence so they can take ownership and run with it. Investing in people’s growth leads to stronger teams, better outcomes, and a lasting impact.
One of my most meaningful moments at Attain Partners was a time I was working with a client to train their end users. I prepared several training specialists—many of whom were women—to lead sessions and conduct hands-on training. I provided them with the tools, practice, and confidence they needed to take the lead. Watching them step up, engage with learners, and deliver successful training sessions was incredibly rewarding. The client gave us great feedback on how well our team performed, reinforcing the importance of investing in people and setting them up for success. It was a moment that truly reflected the impact of strong leadership and mentorship.
