Jody Flatt is a “recent” transplant to Colorado Springs, moving to Niwot, Colorado in 2000, from Del Mar, CA., with her husband Jim, and their daughter, Rachael, as her husband was the head of R&D for a biotech company in Boulder, and Jody was a consultant in the biotech field. Their daughter, Rachael, who was 8 years old at the time, was a budding athlete, and it was her interest and success in figure skating that led to their relocation to Colorado Springs in 2003. Not all families would consider making a commitment like that – to allow their child to pursue their athletic endeavors at the age of eleven – but it led to success in both the athletic and academic arenas for their daughter.
What is one experience that has shaped you to be the person you are today?
Upon reflection, I would be inclined to say that most people’s character, ethics and principles are pretty well formed by the time they are 30 years old and it is that combination of life experiences during those years that “shape” you into the person you become as an adult. Growing up in a family where my both of my parents grew up during the depression and my dad was the only child in his family to attend college earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees, and my mom also attended college, which was less common for women of her generation, that the value of education was extremely important to my family as a child. My brothers and I were expected to earn college degrees, and if possible graduate or professional degrees, which my parents saw as the next step in having their children achieve a level of success beyond theirs. We all have achieved those goals, and have instilled those values in our own children as well.
What is one experience that has helped you grow yourself, your business, or your career? Please explain how.
I had an unexpected change in my career path when we decided to relocate from Southern California to Boulder, CO in 2000 as we had decided to “slow down” in our lives, which was what we planned for, but in reality, did not happen. Our daughter’s success in her athletic career changed all that, but in a good way.
Jim and I had been very career focused prior to this move, but when the opportunity to move to Colorado presented itself, we took almost 6 months to make the decision to relocate, as difficult as it was, as we loved living in Del Mar, CA, our neighborhood was wonderful as was the school our daughter attended, and who wouldn’t mind Del Mar beach walks, surfing and boogie boarding every weekend with the folks from the neighborhood.
When we made the move, I was leaving a career in academic research and administration, and took some time to pivot, redirecting skill sets into a consulting business in the biotech field, both in academic and corporate settings, which allowed me to work around our daughter’s budding athletic career, which included international travel by the time she was 12 years old. And, it also allowed me to come back to something I loved, which was cooking. I had owned a small catering business in San Diego, whose clientele base was developed thru word of mouth, ie the food was good, LOL….and the flexibility of being more spontaneous and learning new skill sets, from marketing, taking on social media, etc., were all new to me as a trained scientist, but by embracing the mindset of trying to learn something new, like when we first moved to San Diego after graduate school and learned to surf, there is no time like the present to take on something new.
So, I restarted my catering business, in the midst of juggling a husband’s travel schedule, a consulting business as well as our daughter’s academic and athletic endeavors.
What advice would you give your younger self?
“Work hard, but play harder”. I learned that phrase from a co-worker at Procter and Gamble, where I met my husband, Jim, and I think we too often get caught up in the day-to-day, and occasionally forget to get out and “play”.
Balance in your life is key, and we have made a better effort especially during the pandemic to embrace this mentality. I have watched how hard Jim and his co-founders at his company, Brightseed, which is based in downtown San Francisco, have worked thru the pandemic, with awards from the World Economic Forum being named a 2020 Tech Pioneer, and Lux Research naming Brightseed a top 20 Digital Transformation Startup….these awards do not come without hard work, and critical support from families to allow the team to work so hard, but to keep it all in balance. “Work hard, but play harder”.
What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?
My days have changed over the last decade. Ten years ago, a 4:45 am alarm M-F, getting the dogs out the door, grabbing breakfast, making sure our daughter had everything she needed for her day, drive to the ice rink so our daughter could train for about two hours, before driving her to the local high school, back to the house, hike with the dogs, laundry, errands, phone calls and planning sessions for catering clients and cooking classes, work on HOA materials as I was the head of our HOA, check on travel plans with TeamUSA for upcoming international competitions, back to the local high school to collect our daughter, run her back to the rink, check in with my own consulting gig clients, check in with our daughter’s national governing body and her commitments to charitable groups, sponsors, etc.; when she was finished with training, run her to the Olympic training center for off ice training, etc, run home, get the dogs back out, make dinner, and run back to the OTC after dinner to pick our daughter up, and then back home. Those were the days we were actually in town. Our daughter would miss up to 12 weeks of school a year for her sport, and the key was to be incredibly organized but spontaneous, as plans changed on the fly.
This year has been different….for everyone. I finished up a consulting project just before the pandemic, and with my husband WFH since March 2020, we have learned to work around phone calls to Asia late at night, early calls to Europe in the morning. Spontaneity is the key!
What goal did you set for yourself 2021?
My goal is pretty similar to many people around the world….to stay healthy, and to come out on the other side of the pandemic with my health intact. And, I have done this by going back to working out five days a week, thank goodness I have kept my ergometer all these years. I started rowing crew shortly after my undergraduate days, and have continued to put it to good use, especially during the pandemic. Nothing like 4x1000meter sprints a couple of mornings a week!
How do you bring ideas to life?
With my training as a scientist, I typically do my due diligence…look for inspiration through discussions with mentors, co-workers, friends, family, but I also do a lot of reading, peruse the internet, read journal articles, etc. I think having a well researched fundamental understanding of what your idea is about helps you be creative. But, I also look for inspiration outside of the “normal” as a set of eyes from a different field of expertise helps you see the problem or idea differently, and helps you gain insight into how others perceive your ideas.
In your profession, what is the one thing you do over and over, and recommend everyone else does?
Do your research. Spend your time gathering facts from reliable resources. It pays dividends down the road.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why? (personal or professional)
As travel has been limited during the pandemic, and a good part of memories from traveling over the years revolve around meals with friends and family, I ordered pizzas from Giordano’s in Chicago as a surprise for my husband’s birthday and had them shipped to Colorado. Brought back so many memories of meals with friends and family. Looking forward to more travel in the near future! Learn to make good memories even under difficult circumstances.
What is one piece of software, app or a web service that helps your productivity? How do you use it?
What would we all do without “Zoom”? 😉
What is the one book that you recommend our audience should read and why?
“My Own Words” by Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This wonderful exploration of the world of RBG, demonstrates how her intellect, wit, hard work and thorough examination of the laws of the US allowed her to become one of the most influential women of our time.
What is your favorite quote?
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
-Aristotle-
What made you choose the path you are currently on?
I have reiterated this phrase many times throughout my life, not only in reference to my own career, but also to parents, coaches and athletes who have asked for advice. There are more ways from point “A” to point “Z” than can be imagined, with success and setbacks along the way. It is what you learn from each step on the path that truly matters. Yes, I have made choices that have allowed me to find success in my own career, but also when the time has been appropriate, I made choices to support my family as they have chosen to pursue their careers. I have had a successful career as a scientist, as a caterer, and most recently, as a volunteer in my community. Make time to look at how you can best contribute, and to find meaning in your contributions.
What local businesses would you recommend our readers support?
This is a tough one. So many great ones in COS! For shopping: Mackenzie & West, Sparrow Hawk Cookware; And, because I appreciate food…I would include Nightingale Bread, Stellina’s.
What local nonprofit would you recommend our readers support?
As music has always been a big part of my life, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic is a great group to support. I would love to see more music festivals in the city, and perhaps an outdoor shell for concerts! I would also love to see a Jazz non-profit take a run at promoting a summer series!
What is the biggest challenge you have ever faced and how did you overcome it?
At different times in my life, challenges have certainly presented themselves. But the greatest personal challenge that has presented itself was learning to balance my career as a scientist and being brand new parents with my husband in a startup company at the same time. We wished that there were 48 hours in a day, and 10 days in a week, but I had to learn how to better prioritize what was important to me in my career, and working 12 hour days in the “publish or perish” mindset was not the end all, and that I had to learn to let a messy house sit for a week. Grocery shopping came first! And take-out from the local restaurants were a godsend on some weeknights, especially when I had an NIH grant deadline to meet!
What is your most memorable childhood experience? This can be good or bad.
We had so much more freedom as kids when I was growing up compared to the structured lives kids now experience. Our moms would chase us out of the house on summer mornings, with brown paper bagged lunches, we would hop on our bikes, and we were told to be back in time for dinner. Nothing like cruising thru all the local neighborhoods, watching the older kids at swim practice at the local pool, stopping by the baseball fields down at the rec center and cheering on our older brothers games, stopping at the community park and hiking thru the creeks and collecting tadpoles in empty jars, going to the locally owned grocery store and buying popsicles and trying to avoid the drip drip drip of a melting popsicle as your rode your bike to the next adventure.
Who is your biggest inspiration?
I have several, and for the same reason.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Julia Child, Dr Jane Goodall, Katherine Johnson
These women all had to pivot in their professional and personal lives, with unusual circumstances defining their lives, from being one of only a few women who were pursuing law, to another who took on a culinary career when men ruled kitchens, and two women who were instrumental in breaking barriers in their scientific endeavors. All are highly respected for their careers and achievements.
If you had a superpower what would it be and why?
We recently adopted a profoundly deaf Old English Sheepdog, Sophie, from a wonderful rescue group in Oklahoma City. I would love to know what she thinks she hears when she gets startled and starts barking. Sort of like the Pixar film “Inside Out” and what goes on inside Riley’s mind with her emotions. So, some sort of superpower to listen to what goes on in Sophie’s mind.
What 3 (only) items would you bring to a deserted island?
Sun screen.
An engaging book, probably something about Julia Child. “My Life in France” would be a good option.
And, a satellite phone, so that eventually, when I was ready, I could be rescued. 😉
Which are your favorite 5 spots in Colorado?
So many, and not in any specific order, with a variety of locations (outdoor and indoor) Steamboat Springs, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Black Canyon of Gunnison, The Olympic Museum here in COS, anywhere I can go fly fishing, Denver Performing Arts Center, and our community of COS.
Which is the next destination on your wishlist?
New destination: Tromsø, Norway to see the Northern Lights
Old destination, to revisit: Italy…pretty much anywhere.