Carolann Ratliff

You have to lead with integrity, take genuine pride in your work, and build strong relationships with the people around you. Success is never achieved alone; it comes from the ability to communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and bring people together to accomplish shared goals. Throughout my career, I have believed that any skill can be learned with determination, commitment, and the willingness to grow. The most valuable advice I ever received was that there are no limits to what you can achieve when you apply yourself fully, continue learning, and refuse to settle for less than your potential.

At the same time, I have always been intentional about aligning my professional choices with my personal values. While I consistently delivered strong results and became a trusted resource for those around me, I chose to prioritize my family when opportunities required extensive travel. My purpose was not only to build a successful career, but also to be present for the people who mattered most, demonstrating that achievement is measured not only by professional advancement, but by staying true to your priorities and investing in what you value most. Being present for my children and supporting their education every evening was a deliberate priority and one of the most meaningful investments I ever made. That commitment paid off, as my children have grown into accomplished, successful professionals in their own careers.

I remember sitting in her office, and we were just having a discussion, and she said, 'Know that you can do anything. Anything can be learned if you put your mind to it. Don't settle. Keep going as high as you can go.' That was the best advice I ever received, and it's stuck with me through You

have to lead with integrity, take genuine pride in your work, and build strong relationships with the people around you. Success is never achieved alone; it

comes from the ability out my entire career.

I would give them the same advice I received. Set your mind on a goal, and don't stop until you reach that goal. And when you reach that particular goal, set up another one. Continue. Sky's the limit. You can do anything you set your mind to.

There are opportunities to move up at Moody's. If you were a rating analyst, the climb was structured - you had to be there at least 3 years so they could make sure you knew what you needed to know for your job and to be successful in it, and then they would move you up to a different analytical position. For support staff like admins, it was a little different. They had no clear path as to how an admin should be promoted - should they become office managers, admin coordinators? They would look for admin positions that could help admins feel like part of the team, and if the admin could do that, you could move up. But I have to say, Moody's is a great company to work for. They have a great work-home balance. If you have a problem at home, they tell you to go take care of that, don't worry about it - they have someone to back you up. Whether it's an emergency or paternity leave, they now have great paternity leave where men get a month to 6 weeks to stay home with their wives and new babies, which is wonderful.

You have to have integrity. You have to love your job. And you need to be a people person. You need to be able to talk to people, work around them, and get things done together, because no one can do their job without other people. At home, now that my husband and I are empty nesters, I look forward to the days when my children come over and bring the children. I can play with the grandchildren and show them how to cook, how to clean the meat, how to wash dishes, how to bake cookies, how to make Christmas cookies - oh my God, I can't wait for the holidays. That's what I value more than anything - family.