About Me
Hey, Frien! I'm Kendra!
​​If I had to sum up my almost 2 decades of experience in corporate America it would be this: “Jack of all trades master of none, though oftentimes better than master of one.” I didn’t always have the language to explain what drove me to constantly be learning, doing, researching, accomplishing; basically, collecting professional skills and stiving for mastery. But I did benefit. I’ve built a very robust skill set in my seemingly unrelated areas of interest.
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I’ve gained experience in (and got really got at) employee onboarding, data analytics, HR consulting, marketing & communications, product management, training facilitation, learning & development, curriculum development, and DEI. And just to up the challenge level, the upskilling were side quests to my official roles in executive administrative support, event planning & management, project planning, and program management.
I was really killin’ it, dear reader, but then…​
Burnout. And a career crossroads - which led me to a conclusion: something wasn’t working. I was a high achiever, but I didn’t feel good. My nervous system was WRECKED…but WHY?! Welp, with the rest of the world on fire at that point, I decided it was as good a time as any to start on the journey to figure out what was wrong with me?! As it turns out – nothing was wrong, I’m just neurodivergent. My brain works differently.
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Armed with that knowledge, another realization: I simply couldn’t go back to cosplaying a neurotypical corporate baddie - it just wasn’t the healthiest environment for my particular brand of neurodivergence. I also realized; I can do whatever I want! Granted, it will be hard to build the life that works for me – but the lifestyle I was living was just as hard, and it was making me sick. So, that’s what I did. Thus the creation of The Artful Advisor Virtual Assistant.
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I’m passionate about working with neurodiverse women, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ small business owners and creatives because a) that’s where my intersectional identities are, and b) because I GET IT. There is so MUCH creativity, productivity, innovation, and problem-solving brilliance in the neurodivergent collective it’s just, our brains work a little different and we might need a little help with organization and execution of the details of that work. That’s what I do! My flavor of neurodivergence LOVES all that! It’s stimulating and fulfilling work for me. Whether it’s managing your inbox or streamlining your processes, I’ll take care of the details and create systems tailored to how your brain works so you can put your focus back on your creativity, your clients, and your passions.
Kendra's Fun Factoids
I know a thing or two, because I'm a creative, too! I'm a life long vocalist and performing musician. Throw in some musical theater, sprinkled with screen acting, interviewing and announcing. I've also served as MC and entertainer a time or few.
I'm almost never without my earbuds (yes, even indoors). Podcasts, audiobooks, and my carefully curated, mood specific, playlists are the soundtrack to just about everything. My love for audio content led me to pursue a dream of my own: Voiceover and Narration. If you're curious, you can check out my voice acting site here: www.kendrawoodsva.com.
​I'm a homebody with granny core hobbies. Reading, video games, puzzles, knitting, crocheting, canning & preserving, and DIY home decor projects are my go to's. I've just started learning acoustic guitar and building my vinyl collection. But my most favorite is problem solving in the kitchen! I love adapting beloved recipes (and creating new ones!) to work with alternative diets (gluten free, vegan, dairy free, low sugar/natural sweetener).
