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Name: Mary E. OlkClass year: 1982
Major: Psychology
Company/Position: Sole Proprietor, Mary Olk & Associates. I work as a Personal and Professional Development Coach
1. What have you been doing since you left Saint Ben’s?
I went to graduate school in upstate New York right out of college. I received my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and became a psychologist. I moved back to Minnesota when I married a Johnny (Michael Miller, ’82). I worked in private practice as a psychologist for about 10 years. I also worked as a business consultant, trainer and personal and professional development coach. When we began having children, I retired as a psychologist and business consultant. Now I work hard as a parent (chef, taxi driver, homework consultant, social coordinator, personal shopper, etc.). I have my own business as a coach and trainer of coaches. I also volunteer at my children’s schools.
2. Tell me about your current profession.
My current professional passion is working as a personal and professional development coach. I love working with people who are actively creating a meaningful, satisfying and vibrant lives. I have a lot of fun working with clients from all around the world -- individually and in groups – who want to try something new, successfully manage transitions, accomplish goals and get results. We have a lot of fun playing with possibilities until we find the options and strategies that will work the best for the individual. Best of all, I do all of my work over the telephone!
3. How did Saint Ben’s prepare you for this?
There are lots of ways that St. Ben’s helped me become the woman I am. I will start with my professional development. In my courses, I was able to get to know many of the professors. They encouraged me and challenged me academically. They also offered me very interesting opportunities – including being a teaching assistant for one year and a research assistant for two years. Those experiences along with my academic accomplishments helped me to get into Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology. When I was considering going to graduate school in psychology, my advisor listened to me and the options I was considering and said – “Mary, you will want to be your own boss. Go for the Ph.D. You will be able to decide what you want to do and how you want to do it.”
In terms of my faith, I felt welcomed and invited to grow spiritually without feeling restricted at St. Ben’s. Some of the courses I took inspired challenging, faith filled conversations. The variety of opportunities to worship helped me to connect to my spirituality. I can remember having intense discussions with friends about religion and spirituality over the years I was a student.
My college years were very challenging for me personally. I feel as though I really got to explore who I was and what was important to me as an adult while I was at St. Ben’s.
4. What is your favorite memory from Saint Ben’s?
There are so many…. Studying in the basement of Regina Hall, walking out to the chapel on the Sagatagan, teaching my French professor how to downhill ski, hanging out at the library in St. Theresa, daily mass in the chapel at St. John’s. But I think my all time favorite memories are from my semester in Aix en Provence when I was a sophmore. I loved our apartment, our neighborhood, the school we attended. We had so many interesting adventures that semester. Vera Theisen taught me how to cook, knit AND speak French. I was just getting comfortable and fluent in French, and it was time to go home.
5. What are some of the issues/challenges that you face in this position?
Being an entrepreneur can be lonely at times. I have to make sure I take the time to connect with other professionals and potential clients. I also have to wear many hats – accountant, sales, marketing, customer service, web/tech guru and service provider. Because I am self employed, when I don’t work, I don’t get paid. We are able to get health insurance and retirement benefits through my husband’s employment – otherwise, it is very costly to pay for health insurance when you are self-employed.
6. Significant accomplishments?
I got a Ph.D. in Psychology. I started 3 successful businesses. I married my soul mate and we have maintained a good marriage for over 19 years. I have 3 healthy, happy children. I have a career that I love and that makes the works a better place.
7. Advice to other alums or students considering this field/profession/life choice?
Get some business training along the way – such as basic accounting, and sales and marketing. Get some practical experience as a TA, research assistant and/or mental health care provider. It can give you a glimpse inside the profession to help you know if you like the field.
8. How do you handle the Life-Work Balance challenges?
Years ago, when my husband and I were talking about having children, we talked about what kind of family we wanted to have. We agreed that we wanted a parent to be home with our children – so we made financial decisions/plans along the way so that we could afford it. We also explored who that at home parent might be! I wanted to be that parent but he was also willing to be an at home parent if my career and work would create more financial stability and security for our family. As I developed in my professional life, I looked for opportunities that would give me the flexibility I wanted. I found that working for myself gave me flexibility and a lot of personal satisfaction. My advisor was right. I liked being my own boss. When we were expecting our first child, I had my private practice as a psychologist. I also worked as a trainer, a business consultant and a coach. With a lot of thoughtful consideration and conversations with my husband (as well as working with my own coach), I decided to retire my psychology practice and my work as a business consultant. I cut back my training work as well.
Now I consider my full time job to be that of parent and I work part-time as a coach. Viewing Motherhood as part of the “work” that I feel called to do keeps me sane. I have Mother work and Other work (work that I get paid to do)! I have also found that I have to keep the work separate or compartmentalized to maintain balance. That means when I go to work, I don’t try to do things around the house – even though my office is in the basement. When I leave work, I close the door to my office until the next working day. We have had excellent part-time nannies and other child care arrangements over the years. I continue to have a personal coach so I that I can be true to myself, to my marriage and my family. My coaching helps me remember what is really important to me, keeps me on track in my business, and helps me to really enjoy each moment. Coaching is the secret to my work/life balance formula!
9. Are you a volunteer in your community – if so, what organization? I am the co-chair of the Spring Fund raiser at one of my children’s schools (Children’s Workshop Montessori). I have been an active member of the PTOs at the schools my children attend (Children’s Workshop Montessori, Katherine Curran Elementary, and International Spanish Language Academy). I am a Girl Scout leader. As a family, we volunteer at Feed My Starving Children periodically.
10. General advice to current students:
Take the time to get to know your professors. Classes become way more interesting when you do. Take some risks to do things that are out of your comfort zone – you will learn something new about the world and about yourself. Make friends with people who have interests different than you -- will open up doors for both of you. Study abroad – it is a great way to live in a foreign country. Volunteer in your community – it feels good to make the world a better place.
Favorite Restaurant: Lucia’s in Minneapolis
Last book you read: Pirates Past Noon, Tourist Season by Carl Hiassen
Favorite movie: Most recent – Ironman; All time favorite – The Princess Bride
Mary E. Olk, Ph.D., LP, CPCC, PCC
"Your life is an occasion. Rise to it." Mr. Magoriam
Integrity Coaching for Results
952-939-0277
coacholk@msn.com www.coacholk.com
Check out this opportunity for AFFORDABLE COACHING FOR WOMEN
www.mylifecompass.com/meolk
Institutional Advancement
College of Saint Benedict
St. Joseph, MN 56374
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(800) 648-3468