“I’m a married mother of two – Garrett (2.5) and Grace (9 months) – and currently work in External Relations for Mizzou, specifically as an events and communications manager for the College of Engineering.  I graduated from the University of Missouri with dual degrees in Business Management and Marketing and currently serve as the President of the local Boone County Chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association.”

Jill McIntosh
Events Manager
University of Missouri
mcintoshje@missouri.edu
573.882.1363

What do you think are the biggest challenges for professional women today?  Women always deal with balance issues…but the technical tools meant to make life easier have ultimately made us busier, because immediate responsiveness is the new norm.  We’re always thought to be “accessible”, so it’s even harder to separate business from personal time.  Especially for those of us who are moms, we have little or no downtime – unless we schedule it!

What is something you wish you could change about yourself?  I’m a chronic perfectionist and my own worst critic.  (Granted, from a professional standpoint, that attention to detail has served me fairly well thus far…but I sometimes have to consciously remind myself not to sweat the small stuff.)

Name one thing not many people know about you.  I can catch, clean, and cook my own fish.  (You can take the girl out of the Ozarks, but not the Ozarks out of the girl!)

Has your career path held surprises along the way?  Most assuredly!  After working in Retail Marketing and Operations for Sprint, I came back to mid-Missouri to help run our family insurance business because my dad was having some health problems.  I went from jetting cross-country on a weekly basis to traveling the back roads of small-town Missouri.  After 3 ½ years of calling on small community banks, fate held yet another twist!  A professional contact approached us about buying our business…and, frankly, made us an offer we couldn’t refuse…so I found myself back in the job market.   I had continued to serve in a number of volunteer roles for my alma mater over the years, so it was a natural fit when the business school approached me about a position with MU as a development officer.  I thoroughly enjoyed working as a fundraiser, but anticipating the arrival of my second child, sought out a development role that had fewer travel requirements.  It was then that I transitioned to my current role in external relations.  It’s amazing how your priorities change over the course of your career…but things often come full circle.  When graduating from college, I had started out pursuing a career in external relations…guess I just took the scenic route!

What do you do to relax?  With a toddler and an infant at home, I no longer have that luxury – ha!  Actually, I love to host BBQ’s at my house with friends…and occasionally squeeze in lunch or a happy hour with girlfriends.  And, as warped as it sounds, cleaning is kind of cathartic for me – I guarantee it won’t pass any white glove tests, but when my house is tidy and respectably clean, I just breathe easier…

What is one personal goal you haven’t yet achieved?  To raise happy, well-adjusted and reasonably successful children.   I’m just getting started in that endeavor, so the jury’s still out…and I still have much to learn…

What is your workplace pet peeve?  Lack of accountability…and, in a similar vein, individuals who are promoted to the level of incompetency.  (C’mon, admit it – every workplace has them!)

Who do you consider a career mentor and why?  My older half-sister.  She was a single working mom for many years who managed to raise two happy, independent daughters while maintaining a successful career – and managed to keep her sense of humor while doing it!    She’s a detail person too, so very much a planner…but she’s also admirably adaptable.  I think it was through her example that I developed my personal motto – Always have a plan.  Then, when something unexpected happens, you’ll have a starting point and can simply “rework the plan”.

What is your dream job?  Recreation and events coordinator for an all-inclusive tropical resort.  (Just kidding…sort of.)

What do you hope to be doing in 10 years – personally and professionally?  Personally, I hope to be spending a ridiculous amount of time watching my kids learn and flourish in the endeavors of their choice, be it sports, the arts, whatever…

Professionally, I’d like to remain in external or alumni relations for Mizzou (hopefully at the Director level) or work within external or community relations for a Missouri-based corporation.

Comments are closed.