Meet Sondra Ulin, Vice President, Strategic Account Advisor who has a knack for booking speakers, building lasting relationships with clients, and happily exceeding her clients’ needs. Sondra has been working remotely for over twenty years, and she has single-handedly proven that work performance, quality, and productivity levels can be just as outstanding as those of an in-office employee.

Sondra has WFH down to a tee— a crucial aspect of being a fantastic remote employee is maintaining relationships with your team, clients, and in our case, speakers. For Sondra, becoming friends with her clients and speakers is her favorite part about being a sales advisor at BigSpeak. “I love getting to know them on both a professional and personal level,” says Sondra.

Although relationships can seem like a challenge to maintain as a remote employee, video conferencing, frequent calls, and pencilling in time to travel to speaking events when possible, makes all the difference. Sondra has made it a priority to attend events whenever she can to support her clients and speakers. “One of my favorite memories is attending one of my events with Kevin O’Leary where I got to be his bodyguard and hang out with Mr. Wonderful. He is such a nice guy and it was a fun day and great event,” Sondra recalls.

She also emphasizes that being a successful remote employee means establishing work-life balance by setting boundaries. Knowing when and how to unplug once the work-day is done is crucial. Although it can be difficult, it’s healthy to avoid being glued to your inbox and phone during breaks and after work hours. Sondra encourages using permitted breaks to get some sunshine, enjoy a home cooked meal, or get some fresh air. Sondra’s favorite is to eat her lunch outside in the sun next to the water or walk her dog.

Another step Sondra takes to stay on track and motivated while working from home is to write a to-do list at the end of each day prioritized by number for the following work day — This provides a sort of separation from work and home life and is an effective tool for time-management. Writing her thoughts and tasks out on paper allows her to think about other things and unwind in the evening. Then, in the morning, she is able to come back fully charged and motivated to take on the day.

Last but not least, Sondra’s final tip for remote employees is to remember to enjoy and appreciate the good things about WFH like not having to do your hair every day, wear a dress or suit, or commute. It’s the little things, right? Experts agree, saying that gratitude helps facilitate a healthier, happier, more resilient workforce— So take a moment as you sit at your desk to reflect on the good!

Curious to know a little more about Sondra? Sondra holds a B.A. in Public Relations from the University of Louisiana and resides in Austin, Texas, where she enjoys the hill country lifestyle and cheering on the University of Texas football team. Go Longhorns!

Interested in learning more remote work tips and advice? We have a vast array of focus, productivity and organization speakers that specialize in helping remote and on-site teams reach their full potential. Please contact info@bigspeak.com to inquire!