In the Spotlight – Carol Aspinwall

In The Spotlight

What three traits define you?

I am a compassionate person, tend to have a positive attitude, and I am motivated to do well and to keep learning.

What do you think is the most important quality you need to have for success?

A positive attitude can help someone overcome what might seem to be insurmountable odds. You can be intelligent, innovative, resourceful – all great qualities, but I think one’s attitude dictates one’s motivation and then motivation activates all of those other skills/qualities.

What does true leadership mean to you?

As a leader (formal or informal) I would hope to help those around me to grow in their own personal or professional way and give them the tools they need to succeed. As I want to be led, I hope those around me are also finding out what I need to succeed and to bring ideas and innovation to the job. True leadership is nothing about power or rank. It is about collaboration, innovation, serving and growing people.

What do you value most in a job?

I have always felt my role is to serve students and help them make their way to success – as defined by them. If I can eliminate barriers, find innovative solutions to issues they are facing, link them to others who can help them, then I think I am being of value to them. If not in a student services role, I would hope I can have the opportunity and ability to be of service to others.

What personality trait are you always trying to improve?

Organization! I love all the electronic and ‘old-fashioned’ tools for being better organized. I like being in an organized environment and try to maintain an organized home. I like sorting out the closets, the files, the yarn stash, the DVDs. Having said that, I think I can always be better organized when it comes to project management because there are always so many balls in the air to juggle.

What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?

Because I love the outdoors and animals (and my first career choice was to be a forest ranger) I’d be running a campground or doggie daycare. My dream would be to own a campground/pet boarding facility in the country.

Which day of the work week are you the most productive?

Hard to say… Mondays or Fridays – depends on the deadlines that are looming!

Have any “hidden talents”?

I took calligraphy classes and also taught mini-courses on calligraphy. I have always been told I have great handwriting and was once hired to address a family’s wedding invitations. My handwriting was also featured in a School of Business alumni newsletter. When I was younger I was in 4H and excelled at growing plants. I have many plants in my home and gardens at my campsite. I hope to move to a house next year (from a condo) so I can have landscaping and gardens once again.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Back in the day before bike tours and charity bike rides were a popular thing, I completed the first MS150 Best Dam Bike Ride (for multiple sclerosis). Since then I have completed several 100 mile (in one day) bike rides or back to back 75+ mile two day rides for MS, LLS, and Door County Century.

Family?

I am divorced and have two grown children who are married. My daughter in an OB/GYN resident in Milwaukee and her husband is an auto mechanic. My son works for the Department of Corrections in Oshkosh (a former corrections officer) and his wife is a special education teacher in Neenah. I also have two cats and a special needs older dog.

Tell us something that might surprise us about you.

I have been sky diving (despite my fear of heights), a beauty pageant judge for Miss Wisconsin and once performed in a Las Vegas act (quite by accident).

What is the best book you have ever read?

The best book I have ever read is the Bible, and one of my favorites is The Little Prince. I also loved the Hunger Games and most things written by Og Mandino.

Best advice you ever received and how it carry you throughout life?

When I was an undergraduate student I was having a particular hard time and one of the nuns (I went to Edgewood College) reminded me to be gentle with myself and to remember I am human – therefore not perfect. I try to remind myself of this and also apply this to everyone around me.

Best advice when encountering in a new situation?

Having been through a few job changes, I have done poorly when I have come in and tried to make changes too fast. So my best advice in new job and social or other situations is to listen a lot, understand first.