Annette Fox

I attribute my success to my identity as a 'Culture Maven,' which is about helping those around me find what their passion is and whether it fits in their current role or if they need to move to a new one. It's about moving the pieces of the puzzle so they all fit for the business, making the team better than when I first arrived, and helping people see what they can bring and achieve. I'm the first in my family to complete college and earn a master's degree, so I haven't had one specific mentor. Instead, I see everything and everyone as somebody I can learn from in some way to make myself better, whether good, bad, or indifferent. I lead my life with God first and always try to do right by my family while being an example for others around me and taking them on the ride with me. My philosophy is 'strive with purpose,' which came from a conversation I had with myself and God about 10 or 12 years ago when I realized I needed to find purpose beyond just checking boxes. It's about finding what makes you thrive and brings light and joy to you, because if you thrive, you're going to be the best in your field. My diverse educational background, including my MBA in business, HR undergraduate degree, and certifications in yoga, plant-based nutrition, and nonprofit work, gives me the formal credentials, but it's really the earned knowledge from 20 years of listening, understanding, doing, and learning from life that has shaped my success.

You need to find your passion. The thing is, you're going to do anything if you want it and if it's going to fulfill you in some way. If you keep going with that, you'll get where you want to go. But if it's for some displaced reason or somebody's telling you this is what you should do in life, most likely you're not going to get there. You need to find your passion. My slogan is 'strive with purpose,' and it's about finding purpose more than just checking the box. It's finding what makes you thrive. If you thrive and it brings light and joy to you, you're going to get it done, you're going to be the best in that field, and you're going to make it. Whatever that picture looks like for you, that's what God has placed in you to fulfill. It's long days and long hours, but you'll do it if you want it and if it fulfills you. Always be your true self and find your voice and your place. You need to be strong with that. You don't have to be small for the person you're with or the people around you. Whether you're walking with God or walking with yourself, you need to find your voice, and you need to be strong with that.

Family is most important to me. I have five children ranging in age, and I do everything for my kiddos. I always have and probably always will. My goal in life is to fulfill whatever we have in our heads of what we want to fulfill, but also to see them and what they want to do in life and how they want to fulfill their lives. I live for myself but also live for them. I lead my life with God first and always try to do right by my family and be an example for others around me. Yoga is important to me for maintaining mindfulness and sanity. I've practiced for 25 years and became a certified instructor about 5 years ago. I'm deeply involved in nonprofit work, particularly with Misericordia, which holds a special place in my heart because my oldest son has an IEP, so kids and adults on the spectrum are meaningful to me. I've also spent many years at Home Depot working on financial fitness and fundraising. I have a passion for helping others and creating meaningful connections, whether in the nonprofit sector or in my personal life. I'm a connector who likes to put people on teams and nonprofits to help them expand within their careers. I'm also working to help people reconnect with church and what it can give back to us as humans and as people, finding that spiritual connection and community aspect again. At the core, I want to help others help themselves, and I have it in my heart to keep going no matter what anyone says or does.