Else Owen, Virtual Operations Consultant/Owner

After a decade working in the customer service industry, and another decade in corporate America, I decided working for The Man just wasn't for me. While I excelled in my roles and gained invaluable experience, I chose to move towards fields in which I felt like my work had a more direct impact on the people around me. This new career path allows me to focus on what I love best: problem-solving, finding creative solutions to difficult problems, coaching upcoming staffers, and – especially – learning. 

 

This transition led me to my current role: building and running my very own business. Every day as a Virtual Operations Specialist, I work with entrepreneurs and small- and mid-sized businesses to help them achieve their missions. While my responsibilities vary from client-to-client – which keeps things interesting and fast-paced – I am able to regularly utilize my particular set of skills: technical and organizational document creation; social media, blog, and other content production; event coordination; executive management; strategic thinking; and special project and committee leadership. 

 

Most recently, I have found that what drives me is Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work. Through the creation of a DEI Committee embedded at the heart of a 501c3 newsroom, I have spearheaded the development of new initiatives to drive the organization forward. These include, so far: launching a monthly training program focusing on both inclusive journalism practices and supportive workplace culture; developing DEI-informed policies and procedures; implementing DEI-aware editorial strategies in the newsroom; and enhancing accessibility on our highly trafficked website. While there is an infinite amount to learn in this space, I am devoted to the work – both for myself, and for the organizations I work with.