About St. Louis Dance Theatre

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Yes, that is what I said...

This is Wendy, the executive director and one half of the team that runs St. Louis Dance Theatre. The other half will pop in soon enough, but while I have your attention I am going to talk about ME! If you have met executive directors in the past, you are aware that is one of our favorite things to do. So obvious from my name, I am a female executive. This makes me pretty unique, well not in this organization because Paula is also female, but in the business world, its a biggy! Only about 30% of nonprofit organizations are led by women in the U.S. and it is slightly lower for the corporate world. In addition, I am a spry 36 years old, which in executive circles is pretty young. And while I don't feel extremely youthful, especially watching the beautiful twenty-something dancers in the company; in the board meetings, I am the baby. StLDT has put itself in a pretty unique situation by choosing an under 40 female to run the business side of the organization and on a daily basis I try to prove this was a good decision.

My friends (the ones I had back when I had a social life) like to tease me about the fancy new title, but I think my actual title should be "grassroots executive director". If the term "grassroots executive director" sounds like an oxymoron, that is because it totally is... Grassroots, by definition means "the common people in contrast to the typical elite". And the term "executive director" brings thoughts of some middle aged rich white guy in a fancy suit and tie, who drives a BMW, golfs during the week, eats at fancy restaurants and jets off at a moments notice for "business". If you were able to squish them together, you might have something like a typical Wendy day.

6:30 am Wake, drink coffee, eat some Trader Joe's High Fiber fruit, nut cereal (really quite fabulous), drink more coffee...

9:00 am Arrive at my office but first I swipe my card to park in the garage across the street (I pay for this privilege myself but worth every penny for convenience and the fun ramps I get to go up and down daily)

9:15 am Enter my crazy cool office with oversize desk and chairs that spin and roll.

9:30 am Walk around the studio and office to empty trash, change t.p. and paper towel rolls. (pretty glamorous)

9:50 am Grab some coffee (the AD is in charge of this coffee making duty)

9:55-11:00 am Answer company emails, update company twitter, FB, linkedin, website.

11:00-11:15 am Visit with dancers after their classes and answer questions.

11:30-12:30 pm Lunch meeting with Paula to go over task lists, bounce ideas, answer questions and share a tuna packet and Sunchips. (BTW: I appreciate the biodegradable bag, but WOW it is really loud!)

12:30-4:00 pm Work on development, finance, and operations side of the organization and wondering how the day got away from me...

4:00 pm On my way back to the parking garage after stopping into the Culinera to pick up something for dinner. (If you haven't checked out this place you are missing out)

4:30 pm Home in time to let out the pups and start dinner before getting back to work on company business.

5:15 -7:00 pm Work on marketing for the organization and SEO for website (with intermittent breaks for FB, twitter, etc)

7:00- 9:00 pm Dinner with the family, Rachel Maddow show

9:00-11:30 pm More company business (with intermittent breaks for Farmville)

11:30-Midnight Get ready for sleep and prepare to do it all again in the morning.

So that is an example of an average day for a grassroots executive. No golf, no jet-setting, instead of fancy restaurant, lunches mostly come in a tuna pouch. And fancy suits? They don't work well for cleaning bathrooms and kitchenettes.

Your typical exec may find this way below their pay grade, this grassroots exec thinks it is her dream come true! Speaking of dream, it is almost time for bed.............