Colleen Wile is the Senior Director of Operations at the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data. This organization focuses on helping governments, civil societies, and private sector corporations– use data better to meet the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Colleen handles everything from budgeting to events and personnel to processes
On the personal side, Colleen is an Anglophile who loves to travel. “One of my favorite things to do is to go on walking holidays in the UK. I’ve done the Cotswolds Way, Shakespeare’s Way, the Dales Way, and the Border Abbeys Way so far,” she says. The walking tours give visitors the ability to experience the UK in a new way. “You can walk through fields, dales, farms, and towns for miles and miles.” She enjoys stopping to stay at inns and pubs along the way, as well as seeing parts of the countryside that a typical tourist wouldn’t have access to.
Extracurriculars
Before the pandemic, Colleen regularly volunteered at the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) in Washington, DC. When HRA closed its volunteering program at the start of the pandemic, she adopted a puppy, Lahey, to get her dog fix in and have a walking buddy. “Little did I know that my puppy would completely and utterly rearrange my life. “
Later, Lahey was diagnosed with behavioral problems. Colleen realized that neither of them was doing well in the big city. “She needed a yard and such in order to thrive, and I needed a walkable downtown. Frederick was a perfect match!” Now, both of them are thriving in their new environment!
Why we love Colleen
Colleen is dedicated to helping others personally and professionally. She is running a book drive to gather books for the Free Little Library here at Cowork Frederick. The books will be donated to children and young adults. At an upcoming Brain Boost event, Colleen will be speaking about workplace culture and ways to build empathy through the Emotional Card Deck. We appreciate her commitment to sustainability and making the world a better place for all. She’s gentle, kind, and willing to help others when needed.
Q&A with Colleen
How did you get into operations?
When I started my career, I thought I would focus more on the programmatic side of international development, but I quickly discovered that my natural skill set – and my comfort zone – was in operations. Each of my roles progressively became more operational and less programmatic as I moved along.
Cowork Frederick members tend to be a little unconventional. Does that apply to you?
I am a very hard worker. I am very productive. I like to think I’m responsive to coworkers and partners. But I also guard my non-work time. I make it explicit that I will not be available when I’m on vacation. (I love to travel!) I set up notifications and communications protocols to ensure my off hours are not interrupted by work – not always an easy feat with a fully remote team spread across continents. And, of course, I encourage my team to do the same.
I can’t stress enough finding ways to take complete mental breaks from work. Not doing so is a detriment to your productivity.
Who/What inspires you and keeps you going?
I’m incredibly fortunate. I was raised solidly middle class. I went to good schools. I’ve never been worried about food or shelter. I was also educated with a Catholic social justice ethos and parents in public service. All of that has made me want to give back via my career and brought me to the field of international development.
Any tips for others who want to do similar work?
Keep learning. Take advantage of professional development opportunities through your work or out in the wider world. (Cowork Frederick offers some of these! The Frederick Library offers free access to LinkedIn Learning and has other resources.) I think I’ve done something almost every year of my career to ensure I’m growing and staying abreast of new trends. (My latest focus is learning everything I can about improving remote work.)
Why Cowork Frederick?
As you might have guessed, my dog is A LOT, even though she is doing much better than she was a couple of years ago. I decided to look for coworking opportunities to take a break from her often-demanding presence. I am also still relatively new to the area, so it seemed like a good idea to get out and about more. Cowork Frederick was especially appealing because of its relaxed, informal atmosphere and because it is within walking distance of my house!
About the author:
Bethany Good is the founder of Good Writing Co., which provides professional writing, developmental book editing, book coaching, and ghostwriting services. Her writing has appeared in Innovation and Tech Today, Columbia Inspired Magazine, and Frederick Lifestyle Magazine (among others). Bethany works with authors to help guide them through the book-writing process so that they can finally finish their memoirs or nonfiction books. Specializing in eldercare, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, she also works with home health businesses to provide content and resources for their patients and families. Bethany is also a dedicated wife and mother to two active kids. In her limited time, she enjoys gardening, long nature walks, reading, cooking, and snuggling with her Boston Terrier, Scout.