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Employee Spotlight – Laura Anderson
November 3, 2023
Get to know Laura Anderson! Laura is part of our FEMA contract, leads the WBD Marketing and PR team and acts as the Communications Lead for the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) team at WBD.
What does a typical day in the life of an Associate look like?
I live in Colorado, so I wake up while it’s still dark outside and cuddle my pit bull mix, Rocky, before I get up. I usually make some tea and do some yoga with Rocky, who chews a bone at the end of my mat. After a quick walk and breakfast, I set up my treadmill at my standing desk and get ready for my 7AM daily meeting with clients.
After that meeting is through, I spend most of my morning editing PowerPoints for clients and working on other administrative tasks. On my lunch break, I take Rocky for a long walk on the trail by my house and will often have lunch with my roommate, who also works from home. When I get back from lunch, I usually have another meeting or two and then work on marketing tasks as the PR/Marketing Lead here at WBD.
By the time I finish work, it’s only 3:00PM local time, so I will usually go to a workout class, play with Rocky, and get any errands done. Then I close out the day by Facetiming my partner in AZ or getting dinner with some friends. I’m in bed by 9PM most days since my workday starts at 6:30AM the next day!
What three skills do you think are essential to fulfil your role?
Creativity, time-management, and communication skills have been the most valuable to me in my role.
Why did you choose WBD and what makes you stay?
I chose WBD because of the emphasis on an entrepreneurial spirit. I have always been a go-getter and a creative-type, so I was excited to get an opportunity to contribute new ideas on the job. I stay because that has proved to be true, and I have had lots of creative opportunities each day. Not to mention that my coworkers, supervisors, and clients are all wonderful people that I really enjoy working with.
Tell us about your role in other Action and Solution Groups at WBD and what you enjoy about being a part of these teams.
I have adored my work with DEIA and Strategic Communications. As the Communications Lead for DEIA, I’ve had the opportunity to spread awareness and education on a myriad of diverse holidays and events, as well as empower our employees. My favorite project, though, was creating a Women in Consulting Toolkit, not only for leaders at WBD, but firms across the nation. As the new PR/Marketing Lead, I’ve really enjoyed getting this team built and off the ground the past few months. We’ve already had great success at a few career fairs and I’m excited to see what we do next!
What do you do outside of work? What inspires you?
Outside of work, I mostly spend time with my dog and my friends. My biggest inspiration right now is my best friend who is walking through lymphoma. I’ve had the privilege of taking them to doctor’s appointments and helping care for them. Watching them walk through the treatments, side effects, pain, and fear with such grace and resilience has been incredibly inspiring to me. It reminds me of the strength that each one of us has inside of us.
Who has been your most influential professional mentor?
My most influential mentor was my boss at my first job out of college. She taught me so many valuable lessons. The most impactful, though, was how to balance my time and energy within the job to avoid burnout, which was common in our field. These skills have carried me through every job since and helped me manage my mental health while striving for excellence on the job.
What advice do you have for those looking to become associates?
Be willing to step outside your comfort zone! Although I had quite a bit of experience in administrative work, some of the roles and responsibilities that I have had the opportunity to step into at WBD have been new and exciting learning opportunities for me. It can be intimidating at first, but especially when you have a supportive team, your career can really soar when you accept these new opportunities.