Hi! I am Shelley Yates, and I am awesome. :)

 

I am originally from southeast Louisiana, aka the burbs around New Orleans. I still go back frequently to visit my parents (hi Mom and Dad!), to eat ridiculously good food, and to laissez les bon temps rouler. Mardi Gras is a really special time of year for my family, especially since I was Her Royal Majesty Queen XC of the Krewe of Carrollton in 2014. If I were you, I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to work with royalty, but that's just me...

 

In 2006, I came to Dallas to obtain my bachelor's degree from Southern Methodist University. I picked a major early (English), stuck with it, and graduated on time with a high GPA. So when I tell you I'm goal-oriented and will always get things done right on time or early, I'm not feeding you a line; I actually mean it. I never had a moment of "Oh no, what will I do with an English degree?" because, hello, what language are you reading this in right now? I realize not everyone has the technical or familial background I do in telling stories, which is why I love to use my skills to help others put their passion for their businesses into words. 

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I have been affiliated with the financial services industry since before I even graced the world with my presence. My dad has been a CPA and financial advisor for decades. Growing up, every family trip was related to his B/D, and my summer job was always working (ok, being a nuisance) in his office. The financial services industry is also where I've spent the majority of my career. While I've primarily been employed on the corporate side of the industry, the nature of the roles I held enabled me to interact directly with small business owners.

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My first job out of college was in a call center customer service role, so I'm tougher than I look (sometimes) and probably over-enunciate. Besides ensuring that I never wanted to answer 60-80 phone calls per day again, this role set the foundation for my communications career by teaching me:

• Being clear and concise gets the job done efficiently and effectively, with little room for error

• Always communicate from the point of view of the person receiving the information

• Research and experience are more important to communications than the words you use (i.e., you really have to know your products and services inside and out to communicate about them effectively)

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In my next role, I caught the eye of legendary CMO Ruth Papazian. We used to joke that she kidnapped me over to the Marketing team, but the reality is that she gave me opportunity and direction and mentored me in a way I didn't fully appreciate until years later. I could never fill her shoes, partially because they were incredibly tiny Louboutins, but I hope I honor her memory by being the fierce, driven, independent, accomplished woman she always challenged me to be.

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Since my departure from the corporate side of the industry, I've "cut out the middleman" and now work with financial advisors across the country on their unique marketing and communications needs. All of this means I'm well-versed in the needs of both large corporations and small businesses and can crush it equally well in both areas.

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I have advanced my career significantly, all while juggling earning my Masters, being Queen, renovating my home, getting married, and surviving a pandemic (#multitasking). I have really honed my focus on what I'm good at: creating clear, concise messages for companies big and small that seek to really understand their customers. I don't know if I will spend my entire career doing what I do now, but I do know that I will always work hard and seek to put forth the best version of myself. And maybe crack a few jokes along the way.

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