Woman Wednesday Issue #39

Name that Woman Trailblazer: She finished high school at the age of 14 and double majored in Math & French at West Virginia State University. She was hired by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (which became NASA later on) and helped calculate the aerodynamic forces on airplanes with the Flight Research Division. Her calculations for Friendship 7 helped John Glenn become the first American to orbit earth, and she also calculated trajectories that enabled Apollo 11 to land on the moon in 1969.

👉 Click here to reveal this woman. You can also see all of September’s Women Trailblazers here.

Hi, I’m Kristel!

After 12 years in teaching, I’ve been fortunate enough to transition into a career as an SEO-centric content strategist, coordinator, and copywriter.

Having studied English Literature at university in Lebanon, it’s been a joy to move into a field more closely aligned with my first love of language.

I am family-oriented, so I’ve also been thrilled to experience the work-life balance that comes from working in the digital marketing space, where it’s possible to be fully remote. 

🔗 Want to connect with Kristel? Say “hi” on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Q: How did you get into your current role/industry?
A: I got the opportunity to work with SnackNation through my time at Lucid House Publishing, an independent book publisher, with English-to-Arabic translations.

At SnackNation, I started off helping with content uploads before adding content writing to the mix. My role has gradually expanded to be involved in the overall content strategy through keyword research and developing content briefs.

I’ve also enjoyed learning more about the more technical side of SEO (although, I’m still early in that journey).

Q: What’s something you do to help boost your productivity?
A: I plan for the week ahead, start my day early and make a list of what I need to do — this helps me feel more organized and in control of my day.

It can also help me focus on one task at a time, rather than trying to juggle several tasks at once.

I take regular breaks to move around and clear my head. This allows me to come back to my work with fresh eyes and renewed energy. I also try to keep a healthy diet and work out consistently.

Additionally, I take the time to think about what I’m grateful for and to use that positivity to gain momentum.

Q: How do you find work-life balance?
A: I find that work-life balance is all about creating a routine and being intentional about my time.

For example, I know that I need to set aside time each day for my work and responsibilities. I also try to schedule in time for family activities, and personal care.

Carving out specific time slots in my day helps me stay focused, and prevents work from taking over my life.

Of course, there are always surprises or unexpected events that come up, but having a general plan helps me stay on track most of the time.

I also try to prioritize things that are going to lead to increased time, financial, and locational freedom. As a remote employee and entrepreneur, you don’t have a schedule that’s set in stone, so I’m finding that the other part of work-life balance is setting time aside for family and fun – like going on hikes over the weekend.

Q: What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve received so far?
A: Learning new things and constantly striving to improve yourself is essential if you want to be successful in any field.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in your career for years, make sure you’re always learning and growing.

It’s also important to be flexible and adaptable; things change rapidly these days, so being able to roll with the punches is crucial.

Also, don’t forget that networking is important. Meeting new people can lead to new opportunities, both in terms of jobs and personal growth.

Lastly, do everything with passion and enthusiasm; have an “I get to” attitude, not an “I have to” attitude.

Q: What’s your favorite software or app that helps with your workflow?
A: I enjoy working within the G-Suite because it helps me stay organized and all of my work is saved in real-time, as opposed to, let’s say, working on Microsoft Word where you can lose your work if your computer freezes.

On top of that, the whole suite of Google apps is super user-friendly, easy to access, interoperable, and allows me to work alongside my coworkers and partners, with both sides being able to see by-the-second changes.

Q: What’s a book or podcast you’d recommend to a colleague?
A: My husband wrote a fantasy book (that I love, of course) called Spellbound Under The Spanish Moss: A Southern Tale of Magic.

On a more business-related note, Money Plain and Simple by Steven J. Spence. It’s a poignant read that focuses heavily on what’s going on right now with the global economic system. Interestingly, most of what he predicted in the book has come true over the last couple of years.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time outside of work?
A: I love spending time with my two children, my husband, and my family, playing with my chihuahua puppy, traveling, reading, learning about new skills and side hustles, and I’m currently working on a memoir.

I’ve also always been a bit of a daydreamer, so I’m enjoying just putting in the work to turn these little seeds of dreams into a reality.

My husband and I have a YouTube channel called The Remote Traveller, which is a travel vlog. I love chipping away at all of our businesses and side hustles and seeing them flourish.

✅ Learn how to create a daily routine that you can actually stick to.
🧠 Read about how gratitude rewires your brain to be happier.

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Coming from a teaching background, digital marketing was a huge shift.

It took me a moment to get used to the fact that I didn’t have set hours anymore. My work is judged by the quality and the timeliness, but nobody is saying to work from 9 to 5.

While I may not have a set number of hours, I still have certain tasks that come with set deadlines.

The tip that I’d give based on this experience is that you should lean on to-do lists and learn to prioritize.

Get every must-do done each day, but also remember to make time for your side hustles and other dreams – even if that means putting in an extra hour each day.

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