Tracey KrskaFirst Interview

Current Job Title

Education Specialist

Hometown

Wadsworth, Ohio. Lived in Riceville, Tennessee, for a little while, but moved back three years later (and completely lost the accent within a year).

My first job was

A receptionist at Jack Sommer Chevrolet in Wadsworth, Ohio. I was 17 when I started there and was able to save quite a stash before I graduated. It was enough in that part-time job to buy my first new car (a 1978 Chevy Chevette).

The word that best describes me

Learner; though, for me it doesn’t stop there. It’s exciting to share those new things—to see others learn, too.

Non-profit organizations I have been involved with are

The Akron BBB (before they hired me), MicroMentor, my local church with choir, various special music projects, and development of announcement and song slides for services, and soon to add Akron SCORE.

My all-time favorite book is

Ecclesiastes. It taught me about perspective—a great lesson and encouragement to me when my father passed away.

A great leader is

An active listener and one who seeks to understand between the lines.

My biggest accomplishment is

Graduating with a bachelor’s degree at 53. I thought it was too late for me; but my dad, astonished at my comment said, “Your grandmother went back to school to get her teaching degree when she was 60. She taught until she was over 70!” I signed up the next day.

If I had a super power, it would be

Always having the right words for those who need encouragement or inspiration.

The greatest inventions of the last 10 years are

YouTube and TED Talks. It’s exciting what has been shared visually ever since their inception—life moments, learning modules, and amazing speeches. My favorite TED Talk was on thinking inside the box.

If I weren’t doing this, I would be

Teaching somewhere somehow. Helping people understand how to use new knowledge is amazing.

I’m most proud of

What amazing people my three children have become.

My favorite place in the world is

Sitting across the table from any one of my children hearing them recount their day or what they think on a particular topic. They’re each so interesting in their own way.

The best piece of advice I’ve received is

Listening is over-talked and under-used. Learn how to actively listen, and you won’t ever have to worry about success.

I hope I always

Listen.

Success is

Taking that one step beyond what you think you can do.

I’m inspired by

Good books. At this point, the most influential read has been Look Me In The Eye by John Elder Robison. It changed my perspective on how I see people. Like the movie Avatar, the greeting “I see you” took on bigger meaning to me after reading that book. Meeting people, I try to see them for who they are; not what I expect them to be.

My attitude towards change is

Great! We learn and grow and stretch ourselves with change.

The business leader I admire most was

My dad. He exemplified growth and creative thinking through learning and humor.

My next goal is

Is to create a foundation and get it funded to educate high school and college students with programs (ethics, etiquette, professional growth) to make them more successful as they enter their careers.

If Michael Jordan had quit—He would’ve never made Space Jam. What will be your Space Jam? What will you create that will make the world awesome?

The World Can Be Better … Kid President

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