Her Story
About Michelle
Michelle Walby serves as an Executive Assistant in the financial industry in Hinsdale, Illinois, where she has spent the past 13 years honing her expertise in executive-level support. Her career path began in television news as a reporter, followed by hotel sales and meeting and event planning, before she found her niche providing personal and professional support behind the scenes to high-profile individuals primarily in the high net worth arena and private family office sector. She is currently at Shamrock, where she acts as a strategy sounding board, manages scheduling, event planning, travel logistics, and establishes structure and routine in a collaborative partnership with a young wealth ownership family. Walby holds her education from the School of Hard Knocks and is a member of the Family Office Exchange in Chicago as well as an EA association. She values respect, trust, and rapport in her work, always aiming to leave situations better than she found them, and she takes pride in her current role as a culminating point of her diverse experiences.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Michelle
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Your reputation is your resume. Don't be a social climber, don't gossip, be respectful, be kind, always offer solutions, and make yourself as valuable and indispensable as possible so opportunities find you.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be known for being dependable. Talent will get attention, but reliability and respect build trust and open doors.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
You have to be able to compartmentalize because you are very close and personal with principals who may vent frustrations. Also, seeing money movement does not mean you are entitled to more; stay grounded and recognize you earn raises through credible reasons.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Respect goes both ways. Trust and rapport are key so people feel comfortable confiding in you. Always leave somewhere in a better condition than what you started with. People don't leave jobs, they leave people, so respecting the people you work for makes all the difference.
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