The Question and Answer feature helps readers learn more about prominent people in the business community. This issue’s Q&A profiles Rachel Gage, development project coordinator and broker associate for Lloyd Cos. She recently was named Young Careerist by Sioux Falls Business & Professional Women.
 Rachel Gage recently was named Young Careerist by Sioux Falls Business & Professional Women. (Inertia/for the SFBJ)
Name: Rachel Gage
Title: Development project coordinator and broker associate for Lloyd Cos.
Hometown: Minneapolis
Age: 27
Background: Attended the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities; started working as a receptionist at Lloyd Cos. in 2004 while attending South Dakota State University; graduated with a liberal arts degree with an emphasis in psychology and sociology; promoted to office manager and then real estate assistant; most recent promotion was in May
Family: Husband, Kristopher
Q: Tell me about your interests.
A: “I love having adventures with friends and family. I love traveling home to Minneapolis, going to Uptown and downtown, going to plays, restaurants and museums. I love reading and learning in any form. I love all kinds of literature. My favorites would be classics and modern classics. ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ would be my all-time favorite.”
Q: How did you become interested in your field?
A: “I started here as the receptionist. It was such an exciting field, and it was so wonderful to see the tremendous growth Sioux Falls was experiencing and even to be a small part of it. They have been wonderful about giving me the opportunity to take on more and grow. Mentors within the company took the time to share their knowledge and talents with me.”
Q: What do you enjoy most about work?
A: “I love so much about it, it’s hard to choose one thing. I love the people with whom I work. I love the community. Every day is new and exciting and challenging. I love being able to promote Sioux Falls, to promote the projects we’re doing and to get people excited about all of the growth and opportunity in the city.”
Q: What drives you to succeed?
A: “I truly believe life is such a beautiful gift. We have the tremendous opportunity to be the authors of our own life story. I have been blessed with so many wonderful opportunities, so many amazing people in my life. I look forward to living each day to the fullest, living a life of passion and purpose.”
Q: What is the biggest challenge facing young women in the workplace today?
A: “I have been very blessed to have women in my life in my workplace that have been very encouraging and wonderful mentors. I would love to see this for other young women, in some workplaces, to be more supportive of one another, to help each other out and encourage them. My goal for all women is to help each other out a little more.”
Q: Do you have a mentor?
A: “Yes, I have several. They have encouraged me and provided me with fantastic feedback. They have encouraged me to articulate my dreams and goals, to be able to map out a way to make those dreams a reality, which I think is very valuable.”
Q: Where do you see yourself five or 10 years from now?
A: “I love my job. I would love to be able to grow within my job. I would love to be able to develop a series of motivational speeches for young women. To help teen girls and adolescents to articulate their dreams and equip them with knowledge and skills to make their dreams a reality.”
Q: What organizations are you involved with?
A: “I’m a member of Synergy and Business & Professional Women.”
Q: Do you have a charity or organization that’s especially close to heart?
A: “One more part of my title is community service coordinator. I am very blessed to be able to participate in leading a variety of groups at nonprofit organizations and charities. We have an ongoing relationship with the VA hospital. We visit them about four times a year. Any charity or event that involves children is close to my heart.”
Q: You studied psychology and sociology in college. What drew you to that?
A: “I love people. I find people are endlessly fascinating. I loved learning more about how we interact with one another, how relationships work, how compassion can make a difference, how being positive can make a difference and how that relates to people’s interaction with one another.”
Q: How do you find time to balance your job and your family?
A: “I have a wonderful, understanding husband who’s very supportive and encouraging of my new opportunities and experiences. When you’re doing something that you have a passion for, that makes it easier to balance because you incorporate it into other parts of your life.”
Q: What kind of music is in your car or what do you listen to on the radio?
A: “I love all kinds of music. I usually have a mix CD with everything from Jewel to Smash Mouth to Billie Holiday.”
Q: If you could have dinner with two or three people, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?
A: “One of my favorite things in life is all of the beautiful, amazing people with whom we come into contact every day. There are so many inspiring individuals with whom I would love to spend time to hear their stories and to share and to learn. I would love to spend time with Mother Teresa, someone who had such compassion for humanity and who so consistently, unconditionally, demonstrated grace and kindness. I would also love to visit with the everyday heroes who have a dream or see a need for change and persist in their efforts toward accomplishing that goal.”
Q: What are the best and worst things about living in Sioux Falls?
A: “This is such an exciting time. There is so much growth and so many opportunities available. The community as a whole is supportive of one another. Honestly, I don’t think there is a worst thing. This is a wonderful place. I’m very blessed to live here.” |
