Christina Cook

Introduction of Christina Cook

Christina Cook has been with the foundation for about a year and a half, serving as a floating program specialist covering multiple teams. Most recently, she has been on the MDI team and is currently covering for the Grand Rapids team.

Interest in the Program Specialist Position

  • Long-term Interest: Christina has been working towards this position for approximately five years.
  • Family Legacy: She is the fourth generation in her family to work for Kellogg's:
    • Great-grandparents retired from Kellogg's.
    • Grandfather also retired from Kellogg's.
    • Her mother currently serves as a program specialist at Kellogg's.
  • Unique Opportunity: Before her contracting role, Christina met various staff and learned about their work, which intensified her interest.
  • Educational Aspirations: Attended school with the intention to intern at Kellogg's.
    • COVID-19 impacted her internship plans as the company transitioned to a hybrid model and wasn't accepting interns.
  • Seeking Experience: Worked at a law firm to gain more experience before finally contracting at Kellogg's and enjoying her new role.

Contributions to a Culture of Inclusion

  • Unique Experiences: Participated in a ‘lunch and learn’ where she engaged with colleagues on sensitive topics like racism, which opened her perspective.
  • Listening to Stories: Interactions with grantees provided insight into diverse systems and experiences.
  • Desire for Growth: Expressed a strong willingness to learn more about inclusion and be a part of the solution.

Collaboration Styles in Diverse Teams

  • Professionalism in Collaboration: Emphasized maintaining professionalism while collaborating with individuals who may have different personal styles or perspectives.
  • Value of Diverse Perspectives: Recognized that everyone brings something valuable to the table and stressed the importance of an open-minded approach to finding better methods of collaboration.

Organizational Approaches

  • Use of Lists: Relies on multiple lists and a structured approach to stay organized.
  • Spreadsheet Development: Created spreadsheets for scheduling to manage appointments efficiently.
  • Daily To-Do Lists: Maintains a running list of tasks that need to be completed daily.
  • Visual Reminders: Uses sticky notes and other reminders for visibility on tasks and responsibilities.

Utilization of Technology and Systems

  • Outlook and Flux Systems: Successfully navigates systems like Outlook and Flux for efficiency in her role.
  • Color Coding: Employs a color-coded organization system to better manage her calendar and tasks.
  • Learning Opportunities: Engaged in learning the Concur system recently, demonstrating adaptability.

Customer Service Approach

  • Experience at Law Firm: Noted that her prior job involved dealing with clients in distress, where she aimed to alleviate their stress.
  • Calm Presence: Aims to be a 'calm in their storm' for grantees facing challenges, focusing on providing a supportive and helpful service.

Managing Change and Shifting Priorities

  • Adaptability: Described the nature of her role as a floater that involves frequent shifts in focus and priorities.
  • Meeting Requests: Responded quickly to changes such as overseeing contracts when the primary handler was unavailable.
  • Support System Development: Built a supportive network with other program specialists to help navigate challenges effectively.

Advocacy and Conflict Resolution

  • Respectful Communication: Advocates for her opinion by respectfully asking for clarification and engaging in open conversations.
  • Value of Dialogue: Notes that many conflicts can be resolved through communication and understanding different perspectives.

Response to Feedback

  • Emotional Growth: Recognizes the importance of receiving feedback and using it constructively rather than personally.
  • Systems for Improvement: Developed systems, such as specific reminders and follow-ups, to ensure clear communication and task management.

Areas for Growth

  • Contract Management: Identified a desire to further develop her skills in managing contracts as a key area for professional growth.

Hypothetical Job Description

  • Passions: If Christina were to write her own job description, she would prioritize working with people, making a difference, and embracing diversity.

Questions and Curiosities

  • Role Expectations: Inquired about the specific expectations of her position in comparison to place-based teams, emphasizing her flexibility and eagerness to understand variances across roles.
  • Team Dynamics: Discussed the differences in day-to-day responsibilities related to team locations and collaborations, especially concerning different time zones.

Conclusion

  • Next Steps: Christina can expect to hear from human resources regarding the next steps in the recruitment process within a week.