With Gratitude...
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Self-care is not selfish or self-indulgent. It is mindfulness and self-preservation, and saying yes to yourself is necessary.
Elizabeth A Cullen · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Elizabeth
Elizabeth Cullen, a Veteran of the United States Coast Guard, is an Employment Specialist and Client Services Advocate, at Indianhead Enterprises Inc. in Menomonie, Wisconsin, where she focuses on supporting clients and contributing to a collaborative team environment. Her professional background is rooted in vocational rehabilitation, employment services, veteran services, employment coaching, and case management. Before transitioning into her current leadership role, she served as a Veterans Service Representative and Retention Specialist and previously worked in employment specialist and case management roles. Her career reflects a strong commitment to helping individuals navigate employment challenges and move toward greater independence and success. Cullen holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and Leadership Development from Walden University, which she completed in 2021, as well as a Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Development and Family Studies and Child Psychology from UW-Stout Polytechnic. Her educational background is complemented by an Associate's degree in Child Life Development, a Surgical Technologist certification, and a certification in Leadership Development. Her multidisciplinary education has provided her with a foundation in psychology, human development, leadership, and professional support services. Cullen attributes her success to positivity, proactivity, and professionalism and places a strong emphasis on integrity, authenticity, honesty, reliability, and dependability. She believes that effective support begins with understanding people where they are and helping them take progress one step at a time. Outside of her professional work, she is also a writer and poet and has authored Human Geometry: Owning Her Edges. Her personal philosophy centers on authenticity, self-care, discipline, kindness, and remaining true to oneself—values reflected in her professional approach to leadership, advocacy, and client support.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Elizabeth
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to positivity, proactivity, and professionalism. I believe in creating a supportive team atmosphere while maintaining integrity, authenticity, and reliability. These principles have helped me build meaningful professional relationships and approach challenges with a positive and solution-oriented mindset.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is to develop strong time-management skills and learn to leave personal challenges at the door. When something is weighing on me, I believe it is important to find someone I can talk to rather than allowing it to affect my work. Maintaining perspective and managing my time effectively allows me to remain focused and productive.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to be yourself rather than trying to be like everyone else. Love and take care of yourself, because self-care is not selfish—it is critical. I also encourage the next generation to speak up, ask questions, and have the confidence to advocate for themselves. Authenticity and self-awareness can be powerful strengths in both personal and professional growth.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field is that some clients may be resistant to success because of the barriers they face. The opportunity is to meet people where they are, understand the challenges affecting their progress, and help them move forward one step at a time. Providing consistent support and encouragement can help clients overcome barriers and work toward greater success.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are integrity, authenticity, honesty, reliability, and dependability. Professionally, I believe in being someone others can trust and rely on. Personally, I also believe in taking care of myself so that I can effectively take care of and support others. I have learned that setting boundaries and being able to say no when necessary are important parts of maintaining that balance.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Elizabeth
What Being an Influential Woman Means to Me.
"I can't think of any better representation of self-love than a woman who is unafraid to be herself."-Unknown
It is an honor to be recognized as part of this remarkable group of Influential Women. This recognition invites me to reflect on what influence truly means in my life—not as a title or a spotlight, but as a quiet, steady force shaped by service, compassion, and the belief that every person deserves a chance to rise.
For me, being an influential woman has never been tied to public attention or formal accolades. Influence is not measured by how many people know your name, but by how many lives are touched because you chose to show up. It is found in the moments when someone needs encouragement, stability, or simply a reminder that they are worthy of hope. Influence is the willingness to stand beside people who are fighting for a second chance and to offer empathy instead of judgment.
My journey as an influential woman has been shaped by the path I have walked—through psychology, human development, outreach, case management, teaching, and military service. Each role has shown me a different side of human resilience. I have witnessed how people rebuild after hardship, how they learn to trust again, and how powerful it can be when someone believes in them at the exact moment they feel most unseen. These experiences have taught me that influence is not about directing someone's life. It is about guiding them toward the path that honors their potential and their dignity.
To influence someone's life is to walk with them, not ahead of them. It means offering support without taking over, listening without assuming, and celebrating progress even when it comes in small steps. Those small victories—a regained sense of confidence, a new opportunity, a moment of clarity—are often the sweetest moments in life. They remind me that transformation rarely happens all at once. It happens in quiet moments, through steady encouragement, and through the belief that change is possible.
Being an influential woman means using my voice with intention. It means speaking up for those who are rebuilding their lives and reminding them that they are not defined by their hardest moments. It means showing up with humility, steadiness, and purpose, even when the work is difficult or the progress is slow. Influence is not about being the loudest person in the room; it is about being the person who brings calm, direction, and compassion when it matters most.
I believe deeply in second chances. I believe in the strength people discover when they are supported rather than judged. Influence is most powerful when it is rooted in humanity, when it lifts others and restores hope. Most of all, when it helps people see that they are capable of more than they ever imagined. Influence is deeply personal. It is the act of helping someone recognize their strength. Influence is quiet. It is a blessing to walk beside them as they claim it. That is what being an influential woman means to me. It is a privilege to carry that responsibility forward.
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