EDGE Spotlight: Stacy Preston & Megann Kramer
Meet Stacy Preston (left) and Megann Kramer (right)!
STACY PRESTON | EDGE MENTOR
Stacy is a Human Resources and Talent Acquisition leader who is currently on a planned career break to pursue her MBA through Ball State University, international travel and personal growth. Stacy officially became an EDGE mentor when she got her group assignment in June 2017.
MEGANN KRAMER | EDGE MENTEE
Megann recently graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management and is now the Database Assistant for Hamilton County Tourism, Inc. She is one of the six mentees in Stacy’s EDGE group (and the youngest, too!).
What brought you to EDGE?
Stacy: I went to EDGE|X 2016 and loved hearing Dave talk about the mission of the organization. I’ve always enjoyed professional development, but I wasn’t getting that at the time because I wasn’t working. I loved the virtual part of EDGE, too.
Megann: I was looking for something where I could ask work and life questions to my group, knowing that they have similar values and experiences as me. With the other girls being older than I am, it’s good to get advice from people who have already been where I am right now.
What books, studies or discussion topics have you found useful for your EDGE group so far?
Stacy: The lifeline activity* was really good for us. It’s amazing how much you can share with people you’ve never met before.
*All EDGE groups start off by completing the “Lifeline Exercise” – where each person draws out a graph or chart indicating the “high points” and the “low points” of his or her life thus far. These include the events, experiences, opportunities, tragedies, celebrations, etc. that have helped shape who we are today.
Megann: I liked the lifeline activity a lot because now, when people are explaining their points of view, you know their back stories and why they feel the way they do. I think going over our lifeline activities made it easier to relate to everyone and it brought us a lot closer. You’re sharing things you don’t normally share with people.
Stacy: It was good for them to know who to go to with a situation because chances are, someone else in the group has experienced it.
What have you learned from being a mentor?
Stacy: I have two daughters that are a lot younger, and hearing about what these girls have gone through and are going through is kind of preparing me for my daughters’ teen years. Just listening to them talk about mistakes they’ve made, family issues and all of that – it makes me think about my daughters and how I can be a better mom to them when they reach those points in their lives. From a professional perspective, I’ve been learning a lot about these girls who are part of a different generation than me, and I think that will help a lot in the workplace.
