Nominated by Jennifer Markle
Barbara consistently embodies what it means to be an excellent teammate. From my very first, desperate email, she has gone out of her way to make me feel supported. She is responsive, approachable, professional, and never hesitates to share her knowledge (and spreadsheets) or lend a helping hand. She truly believes in lifting others up rather than keeping information to herself, and that generosity has made a meaningful difference to me and my team. Beyond all of that, she brings a positive energy to the workplace and even though we have only corresponded via email, her willingness to make my team stronger shines through her words. I am incredibly grateful to work with her, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of recognition.
How has this employee demonstrated one or more of Duke’s shared values of respect, trust, inclusion, discovery and excellence?
Barbara has demonstrated inclusion by ensuring my questions were answered without making me feel like an inconvenience and has taken extra time to check in and offer support, especially in my first several weeks. Barbara has demonstrated excellence by helping me solve problems with a positive, can-do attitude and balances efficiency with genuine kindness and respect for me and others.
Jennifer
Thank you so much for your kind words. I truly appreciate you taking the time to send such a heartfelt and beautiful message.
It has been an absolute pleasure working with you as well. I always strive to make things easier for others whenever I can, and I genuinely enjoy sharing the knowledge I’ve gained along the way. At the same time, I’m equally grateful for the knowledge and experiences that others share with me.
As you mentioned, we’ve only corresponded through email, but it really demonstrates how powerful words can be when they’re communicated with sincerity and care. It certainly helps that we both share a sense of humor too!