Who’s behind Idealist Consulting?
At Idealist Consulting, we believe in honest human connections in our work, which can be hard when we work in technology and most of our clients are scattered across America. So in one of our recent office conversations about how we could make better human connections, we had the bright idea to learn more about each other first.
What’s below is a peek into some of the people who make up Idealist Consulting (in alphabetical order). All the interviews were conducted in person, by myself, Suresh Kumar. I hope you enjoy getting to know us as much as I did.
The Idealist Consulting Employees
Brent Shively, Senior Solutions Analyst
What’s the significance of your name?
My parents wanted uncommon names for all of their kids. That’s why they named me Brent. Eventually, they were able to name 2 out of their 3 kids with uncommon names.
Tell me a favorite memory from your childhood.
We had a big hill by my house, and I would always go sledding there with my brothers. My favorite moments were the snowball fights, the process involved in putting on layers over layers, and coming back home to drink hot chocolate with marshmallows.
If you had to choose to swap places with somebody, who would you pick?
It would be awesome to be a dolphin. I have always found the underwater to be extremely fascinating. It’s the only ecosystem we don’t have full access to. Moreover, I love water in general.
Are there any goals you're working towards? Personally or professionally?
I want to be at the Director level of Business Development at a medium to large size company. Personally, I want to make it to all 7 continents before I turn 30. I only have 2 more to go- South America and Antarctica.
Time to pull a random question from our Talking Sticks jar, what question did you get?
“Explain the word Synchronicity, and how does it impact your life?”
I would define Synchronicity as the balance between all facets of real life. It means to be your true self in all situations. Synchronicity is a good reminder to think about balance in life, that is work and life balance. In other countries, having fun and family are given priorities over work, and it is a good gut check for all of us Americans to keeping check and balance between different aspects of life.
David Rosenstock, Business Development Associate
What’s the significance of your name?
My mom said I looked like a David when I was born.
Tell me a favorite memory from your childhood.
Playing sword fighting in the front yard with my dad.
If you had to choose to swap places with somebody, who would you pick?
Damian Lillard because I’ve always wanted to be good at basketball.
Are there any goals you're working towards? Personally or professionally?
I want to write a novel, book, or a short story.
Time to pull a random question from our Talking Sticks jar, what question did you get?
“What is your definition of life achievement?”
Happiness. Happiness in terms of emotions.
Jacqueline Fassett, Marketing Coordinator
What’s the significance of your name?
My mom is big into reading, so much so that she named me after the author ‘Jacqueline Diane’. My first and middle name are Jacqueline Diane.
Tell me a favorite memory from your childhood.
Camping in Oregon and swimming in Texas waterholes.
If you had to choose to swap places with somebody, who would you pick?
Donald Trump. I'd delete his Twitter account and do his job right.
Are there any goals you're working towards? Personally or professionally?
Since the last year or so, I’ve wanted to become more involved with the nonprofit world (which is going pretty well). Personally, it is to get back into running and hiking.
Time to pull a random question from our Talking Sticks jar, what question did you get?
“What is your favorite feature about yourself?”
My favorite physical feature about myself is my eyes. Personality wise, it’s that I am resilient and self-aware.
Melissa Foley, CRM Consultant/Project Manager Lead
What’s the significance of your name?
I was named after one my dad’s favorite songs, Sweet Melissa by The Allman Brothers.
What are your favorite memories from childhood?
Playing basketball in the driveway with my older brother.
If you had to choose to swap places with somebody, who would you pick?
I would swap places with Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, because it would be interesting to be the female leader of a country. Additionally, I was a Political Science major and always toyed with the idea of being politics.
Are there any goals you're working towards? Personally or professionally?
I’d like to own my business one day- a consulting agency along the lines of Business & Marketing Strategy. I would also like to teach business classes at a university at some point.
Time to pull a random question from our Talking Sticks jar, what question did you get?
“Where is the most interesting place you’ve ever slept?”
I slept in a holding room at the Istanbul Airport in Turkey.
After landing at the Istanbul Airport with my study-abroad friends, I was separated from them and I took the first exit I could see. The only problem was, I didn’t get a passport stamp from Immigration (oops!). When we were leaving Istanbul a few days later, they stopped me because I technically never legally entered the country since I didn’t have a stamp on my passport. They held me at the airport overnight, where I slept in the holding room. Fortunately, my study-abroad program in London intervened, and I was able to fly back to London.
Kirsten Kippen, Director of Marketing
What’s the significance of your name?
My middle name Eleda is from my great-grandmother.
What are your favorite memories from childhood?
Spending time at my family’s cabin where we would cross-country ski, do tricks on the hand-built swing set, pick berries, and jump in the lake.
If you had to choose to swap places with somebody, who would you pick?
A friend of mine has spent the last few months in Antarctica, which is somewhere I’ve always wanted to go.
Are there any goals you're working towards? Personally or professionally?
Re-launch Idealist Consulting’s brand in a way that feels inspirational, authentic, and scalable. Working on this as we speak!
Time to pull a random question from our Talking Sticks jar, what question did you get?
“Where is the most interesting place you’ve ever slept?”
I slept on a beach in Cinque Terre, Italy when I was 19. It sounds idyllic but actually it was raining and there were stray dogs everywhere. But the next night we hiked to the top of a hill overlooking a string of fishing villages and had the best meal of my life- those contrasts are why I love to travel.
Lila Pigott, Interim Services Manager
What’s the significance of your name?
My name is actually Delilah. I was named after a family friend whose name was Lila. My mom thought that Lila would be too short to be included with the last name Pigott. So I was named Delilah.
Tell me a favorite memory from your childhood.
I remember climbing way up high in a tree in my home in Massachusetts. It was a breezy and rainy day, and I felt the tree swinging back and forth. I can still picture it as an out-of-body experience. Even until this day, I don’t know if it was real or not.
If you had to choose to swap places with somebody, who would you pick?
I would swap places with my husband because there’s lots of times when we are missing each other in conversation. If we swapped places for a day, I’d get to see what his work is like- interact with his coworkers, see his new job, etc. I would be able to support to him better and it would help us in communication.
Are there any goals you're working towards? Personally or professionally?
I would like to get admin certified in Salesforce. I also want to go back to school.
Time to pull a random question from our Talking Sticks jar, what question did you get?
“How much of the day are you on a computer? How do you feel about this?”
At work, I am on the computer for about 6-7 hours a day. At home, I could be on the computer for 2-3 hours. So about 9 hours total. I try not to think about it too much, I don’t mind it at work because I’ve always loved technology. That being said, it would be nice to have a job with physical components.
Oliver Sholder, CRM & Marketing Automation Consultant
What’s the significance of your name?
My first name was picked simply because my parents liked the name Oliver.
Tell me a favorite memory from your childhood.
My favorite memory from childhood is the safari I went on with my family in Africa. My dad was working in Capetown for six months. So, we went to visit him for two of those months. During a safari trip at Kruger National Park, our camp was surrounded by thousands of buffalos and we couldn’t leave for a day.
If you had to choose to swap places with somebody, who would you pick?
I would swap places with Donald Trump, and repeal everything he has done.
Are there any goals you're working towards? Personally or professionally?
I want to live on a remote island for at least a year with a couple of friends. I want to reset everything, not be on the computer for a change. I’m also interested in real estate. I’d like to own a sustainable rental property (a B Corp version of a ental property) to create a community by hosting events and living with people.
Time to pull a random question from our Talking Sticks jar, what question did you get?
“How has social networking affected you?”
There’s both positives and negatives to social networking in my perspective. Negative because it can be really distracting, addicting, and can become overbearing if you don’t manage it. Positive because you can find interesting events your friends are going to, keep in touch with friends who don't live in the same place as you, etc. Overall, my opinion is it's a positive effect as long as you can manage it, and manage how much time you spend on it.
Rob Jordan, CEO
What’s the significance of your name?
My last name is Welsh, and my first name is Robert Edward after my dad. It's probably due to lack of imagination.
Tell me a favorite memory from your childhood.
Playing in the woods.
If you had to choose to swap places with somebody, who would you pick?
Day in the life of the president of the U.S. Not Trump in particular though.
Are there any goals you're working towards? Personally or professionally?
Career goal- I'd like to start another successful company. I'd also like to have Idealist Consulting operational without me operating in it. Personal goal- I'd like to visit and travel North Korea.
Time to pull a random question from our Talking Sticks jar, what question did you get?
“How has social networking affected you?”
It has made me realize how much we all hear what we want to hear. In many ways it was designed with intent to bring us together, and it has done just the opposite.
Sara Metheny, CRM Admin
What’s the significance of your name?
My middle name is the same as my mom’s name. My parents wanted a four letter name, and all my brother’s names are four letters too.
Tell me a favorite memory from your childhood.
Playing with my brother. My brother and I spent a lot of time in the field next to our house, building forts and digging holes.
If you had to choose to swap places with somebody, who would you pick?
I’d live as my dog Remy. I want to feel what it's like to have soft fur and a tiny brain.
Are there any goals you're working towards? Personally or professionally?
I’d like to live and work in a different country, preferably Europe.
Time to pull a random question from our Talking Sticks jar, what question did you get?
“Which of life’s lesson has taken you the longest to learn?”
Long term goals and everyday decisions. If you want to run a mile, you have to make a decision everyday, like drinking more water, training everyday, having to make those difficult choices to not be lazy.
Suresh Kumar, Operations Coordinator
What’s the significance of your name?
My name means a person that can sing well; my aunt selected it. I don’t think I can sing, but my close friends and family think I can. My parents wanted to name me Sher Khan which means a lion. I’m glad they decided against it.
Tell me a favorite memory from your childhood.
My family wasn’t in the best financial situation growing up. My dad used to work a lot and once a week he would bring home ice cream bars, called Chocobar. I loved them and those moments.
If you had to choose to swap places with somebody, who would you pick?
I’d be an Indian cricketer “M S Dhoni”. He is India’s most successful cricketer, who has won all three of the major competitions in Cricket- ODI World Cup, T-20 World Cup and Test #1 Ranking. They made a movie about his life. His attitude is something that I try to bring into my lifestyle. I’d love to be in his shoes and experience those winning moments because even after tasting so much success, he still has a good head on his shoulders.
Are there any goals you're working towards? Personally or professionally?
I want to travel to every single part of this world by the time it’s all said and done. In terms of professional goals, I’d like to start a business or nonprofit that doesn’t take in money but is solely there to help. It’s a broad concept that doesn’t have a foundation yet, but I’m thinking about how to make it happen.
Time to pull a random question from our Talking Sticks jar, what question did you get?
“When is it easiest for you to say yes?”
I just need to look people in the eyes to say yes. I just learned the art of saying no. It’s hard. It’s always easier for me to say yes.
Trevor Bisset, Senior Solutions Analyst
What’s the significance of your name?
My dad emigrated from Australia, and his family emigrated there from Scotland. Trevor is a solidly Anglo name, popular in Australia and the British Isles. Not much more to it - my family is practical.
Tell me a favorite memory from your childhood.
When I think of childhood, 3 memories come to mind. Traveling with family overseas, adopting my pets and raising them, and hanging with friends outside.
If you had to choose to swap places with somebody, who would you pick?
I would swap places with Anthony Bourdain because I am insanely jealous of his lifestyle. He gets to try so many delicious cuisines and see unique places than nearly anybody alive. He is experiencing the full spectrum of all the great things humanity has to offer.
Are there any goals you're working towards? Personally or professionally?
I am working to improve my consulting and business development skill sets, intending to put them to work for some positive initiative. Also looking to get my ACMP certification in coming weeks and keep my Google certs up to date.
Time to pull a random question from our Talking Sticks jar, what question did you get?
“What is it like to be you? How would you describe yourself?”
1. The experience of “not knowing” is a daily struggle for me. I watch a lot of comedy and read a lot about business, history, geopolitics, psychology, and science.
2. Despite a passion for learning complicated systems and building/fixing/improving them, the deepest satisfaction comes from simple stuff - hearing that I helped a client or friend solve whatever problem they’re working on, and the impact it had on their life.
3. I eat, drink, watch, listen to, and experience a lot of really wonderful things, and generally live with passion.
4. I constantly tell jokes in my head (sometimes out loud) that people around me won’t get. My girlfriend and siblings sometimes think I’m funny.
5. I worry about the wellbeing of my girlfriend, family, colleagues, and friends. There’s a strong element of protectiveness in me that wants to make sure that they are doing well at all times.
Are you a Salesforce or Marketing Automation consultant looking to for a workplace that values human connection? Maybe we’d be a good fit!
