Elizabeth Donovan’s Post

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When my oldest son was little, he had these huge feelings. If something didn't go his way, everyone would know—and as first-time parents, my husband and I were often left reeling. On our pediatrician's advice, we started asking him about the size of his problem — mid-tantrum — to help him work his way through it. We'd ask: is this a size 2 problem or a size 10? Although his feelings were always valid, a size 2 problem probably didn't warrant throwing Cheerios and wailing at a fancy restaurant. To our complete surprise, it worked. Our son was, and is, a thinker - and being taught to really process the problem helped him regulate his response. Even though he couldn't always control what was happening around him, he could control his reaction to it. Even as a tiny human, he felt empowered by that. I did, too. At any given moment, life can be full of unexpected twists and turns - and work is no exception. As leaders, you come to value colleagues who seem to have that innate ability to find perspective and levity - even in the midst of size 7 and above level difficulty. Elizabeth Donovan was one of those colleagues. Whether navigating complex product innovations, marketing efforts, or leading an ERG group, I could rely on Liz for solutions and balance. After all, work should never warrant throwing Cheerios and wailing—no matter how tempted we may be. It's no surprise that Liz's perspective is hard-earned. Her why is providing for her family. "Especially ensuring my special needs son gets everything he needs," she shared. "It sounds cliche, but my kids are the reason I keep going on hard days." At work, Liz values mentorship. "I've had some amazing support over the years, and I love to be able to pay it forward." When asked about her superpower, Liz shared, "Not taking myself too seriously, and assuming good intent from others. Life should be fun. Work should be fun. I try to focus on the positives and relationships that bring me joy, in and outside of work. The rest is just gravy!" *** "Speaking Her Name" is a series where I will speak the name of a brilliant woman I have worked with or admire to shine a well-deserved light on these game-changers who marry purpose and passion to everything they do.💕