When Women Lead: The Organizing Masterminds

When you see job listings for Executive Assistant roles, the top skills sought are fairly universal: must be highly organized and detail-oriented, should possess excellent communication skills, and be proficient in some specific type of software.

All are true, but there’s so much more necessary to thrive in such positions. There’s the emotional intelligence it takes to manage both up and down the chain. The ability to be so in synch with your supervisor that you are trusted to make decisions on their behalf to prioritize demands and protect their time. It’s the understanding of how to anticipate needs and provide support before it’s even requested.

At Thistle Farms, meaningful employment comes in many forms. Whether it’s pouring candles to light the way home for the next woman in manufacturing, providing radical hospitality in the Café, fostering relationships with wholesale and corporate customers, or being there to support the women crossing our threshold for the first time when they enter the Residential Program – all positions play a critical role in supporting the mission.

But there’s one function where support is essential beyond all others: being the right hands to Thistle Farms President and Founder Becca Stevens and to CEO Tasha Kennard. Women who are visionaries, generous with their time, and ready to take on the world as the organization continues to grow into the global movement for women’s freedom it set as the ultimate goal long ago. Those support roles are filled by a small but mighty duo who keep the wheels turning in often unseen and unknown ways.

The Leos

“I am a protector,” laughed Terrié, Executive Assistant to the CEO and 2022 Graduate. “Not just of myself and my kids, not just of Tasha…but of so many others. And I think that’s because of the lifestyle that I lived before. I don’t want to see anyone being bullied. I don’t want to see anyone being run over.”

And she takes that role seriously. Terrié is the keeper of Tasha’s calendar, a tug of war sometimes, between the demands of being a CEO and knowing it’s important to make sure there’s time for her to pause and breathe.

“She’s a visionary person, so a lot of the time, she’ll tell me to say yes to it all and that she’s got it. And I have to look at her and say, “Where? When? You gonna bring them to your house?”” she laughed. “Let’s pause, you know? Where’s the time for your self-care? For your family? For you to process this, travel from here to there, have focus time, respond to emails…?”

That duty often puts her in a position of having to say no to meeting requests and pivot on Tasha’s behalf to make sure there’s time for those things. And Terrié sees herself as being able to provide encouragement to Tasha and offer up the reminder that it’s okay to not say Yes to everything, because she’s there to say no. But, kindly.

“One thing that I’ve really zoned in on and taken responsibility of is when I have to cancel something. It’s easy to just cancel it and move on,” Terrié shared. “But I think it’s the right thing to make sure people know that a conflict coming up doesn’t mean their needs don’t matter. I try to explain why we had to pivot to something else. I think being respectful of others’ time when we are not able to make it happen is important.”

Between being a mother to two active kids, working full-time, and being a first time homeowner, the Thistle Farms Board Liaison, and over seeing a Sisters for Life engagement group for Thistle Farms graduates, Terrié has a lot on her plate. When if practices what she preaches to Tasha, she smiles.

“Tasha has taught me so much, and she just pours into me. I’m her assistant, but it almost feels like she’s my mama, my sister, my therapist…she knows how to take on those roles that I didn’t even ask her for, but she’s so genuine with it. And I think it’s because we’re both Leos?” she laughed. “We’re both strong minded, we’re God-fearing women, and we protect what we have. So, she walks with me, and I walk with her. And I’ve gained so many things because of it.”

Batman and Robin

“I’ve been the customer service manager, the welcome receptionist, the shop manager, the corporate order manager…” Kristin, Director of Founder’s Outreach and 2015 Graduate, said as she counted off her past roles. “But it was in 2017 that I started working with Becca directly, taking over for her previous assistant.”

Thinking of Kristin only as Becca’s assistant, however, does a massive disservice to all that she carries on a daily basis. As the right hand to someone who travels the world multiple times per year, often bouncing from one country to another visiting Shared Trade partners, speaking on panels, and giving keynote addresses, Kristin’s eye is on the details. She keeps track of flights and travel visas, meetings with donors, event requests, and Becca’s duties at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church where she’s been chaplain for over 30 years; all while building in time for Becca to be Becca in between.

“I make sure that there’s always time in her calendar for her to write. She’s on the road so much and is in a lot of meetings, so I try to be very intentional with all that she has going on and make space for her to be able to do the things that make her happy,” shared Kristin. “When she gets requests, I do a bit of vetting to make sure it’s something that she needs to be a part of. I am very protective of her time, so I try to hold that space for her even when she agrees to things that I might not because she is just an amazing, wonderful person.”

Kristin has honed her skills in this role over the past nine years, cherishing the trust she’s given and the grace she’s shown as someone balancing her own family, community, and well-being. She sees Becca and Thistle Farms as the reason she’s had the strength and courage to realize she’s smarter and more capable than she’d ever given herself credit for. And it’s because of that confidence that she’s able to manage Becca’s chaotic schedule as her assistant and friend, helping her to maintain healthy boundaries.

“Becca and I complement each other very well – kind of like Batman and Robin,” she laughed. “And to be in a position where I get to work so closely to one of the most amazing women in this world? I mean, that in itself is a gift. I have a front row seat witnessing the work Becca started and continues to do daily, helping transform lives at home and all over the world. I learn every day from her, and I am so grateful.”