Welcome, Erin!
We’re excited to introduce Erin Waddles, one of our new consultants! Learn more about her background, career journey, and what excites her about life in this interview.
Tell us about your new role at Holistic! What do you do? Who are you working with?
I’m a full-time consultant at Holistic. My primary work in this role is to assess client needs, partner with our data team to provide top-tier analysis, and make recommendations for effective practices that make their workplaces better environments. I try to draw on my background in higher education, college access, and diversity, equity, and inclusion work to provide clients with high-quality consultation.
We’re interested in learning more about your background. Can you tell us more about your career journey?
Absolutely! I started my career journey in higher education. My entry point into that field was the result of a two-year assignment as a college advisor, where I specifically partnered with first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented students and families to determine their best entry point into higher education. After a year in the role, I wanted to get a better understanding of higher education - I was seeing way too many students return home and largely for reasons that were systemic in nature. After getting my master’s at the University of Pennsylvania, I transitioned into working as a diversity and inclusion professional with the hope of supporting the same population of students directly. Be the change you want to see in the world, right? Three years later, I found myself ready for a new challenge - which led me to Holistic.
Let’s switch gears. What excites you about life? What gives you hope? What keeps you up at night?
I’m most excited by creating. I’ve loved music and writing most of my life - they both have an amazing ability to illuminate truths or perspectives about the human experience, cultivate community building and connection, and amplify the stories of the unheard or forgotten. I think I’ve also been inspired by art’s ability to be reflective of the times, to question, interrogate, & complicate our experiences and beliefs, and to help us imagine new, more just futures.
I’m a little disheartened by the fact that hope seems to be in low supply - not that I blame anyone! Between an ongoing pandemic, climate crisis, and unceasing state violence, it’s hard to imagine new futures, possibilities, and ways of being. But it’s so critical that we be able to balance that with pleasure, joy, hope, and rest - it’ll keep us moving forward!
What's the most helpful piece of advice you've ever received, and why?
My father says this all the time: “eat the meat, throw away the bones”. He’d often say this to me during times of frustration or stress. Ultimately, it means take what is good from the situation and discard the rest. It’s been an incredibly helpful mantra and one that I now find myself saying to others!
If you had an extra hour each day, what would you do with it?
I would make more music! Or sleep. Depends on the day :)
Lastly, what do you do for fun?
I love making music, watching films, playing kickball, and connecting with my friends, traveling and cooking.
Thank you for all that you do, Erin!