Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Low-Kramen.
Hi Bonnie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in NJ and dreamed of working in the show business. I majored in Theatre and English at Rutgers, and my first job was in a dinner theatre box office selling tickets. I loved it because it gave me contact and access to everyone involved in making a show, which I found exciting.
Seven years after I graduated, I was introduced to actress and theatre producer Olympia Dukakis, which set my life on a new path. Olympia hired me as the PR Director at the Whole Theatre in Montclair, New Jersey. Eventually, I became her assistant for 25 years and wrote a book from experience called Be the Ultimate Assistant.
An expert in workplace issues, I am a TEDx speaker, published in Harvard Business Review, and my work was profiled in a Forbes (online) cover story in May 2019. I have spoken in 14 countries and 38 states, and have worked with clients that include the Wharton School of Business, the British Parliament, the Four Seasons Hotel, Starbucks, and Amazon. I am working to end discrimination, close the wage gap, and break the cycle of workplace bullying.
A native New Jerseyan and a Rutgers University grad, I know that the secret sauce for an ultimate workplace is cultures of respect and embracing diversity. These themes are the basis for my new book, Staff Matters, to be published in February 2023. For more information: www.bonnielowkramen.com
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Does anyone ever answer yes to this question? For me, my road has often felt like I was climbing a steep, rocky, and icy mountain in a strong wind. As a woman, I experienced bullying, sexual harassment, and discrimination. I was challenged with learning how to speak up for myself to advocate for a fair salary. And I had a hard divorce where the price you pay for freedom is both financial and emotional. My story mirrors many of the women I meet around the world. I learned to seek out and align with the people who wanted what I wanted. I see what is possible when we cooperate and collaborate. Empowerment is supporting others on their journey up the mountain.
As you know, we’re big fans of Ultimate Assistant Training. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
I train Executive and Personal Assistants and the leaders they support in public workshops, corporate events, and conferences. I am known for addressing the challenging issues of our workplace, and I am not afraid to discuss what is slowing us down and stopping us from reaching our goals.
I have written a new book about what is not being said in the workplace called Staff Matters. The staff of the world have a voice in this book. I share their stories, in their own words. After all, they are referred to as the backbone of companies, the eyes, the ears, the heart, and even the soul. If they are that important, why are so many systems in our workplace broken?
There is a serious disconnect between staff in our workplace, and Staff Matters addresses it head-on. In a post-pandemic workplace dominated by webcams, I feel an urgency to get a handle on what is happening for the humans behind the keyboards. Once we do that, the solutions are relatively easy to do. The solutions are rooted in respecting the very people leaders pay to do their jobs.
This is the heart of the matter. I care deeply about the future of the global workplace and see that with some careful thought and focused attention from all the constituencies, we could be working together so much better. The stakes are high. As added motivation, I have two granddaughters born in 2019 and 2021. When they are ready to go to work, I want them to experience a better workplace that Staff Matters has influenced.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc.?
I follow many leaders and authors. Jack Zenger, Sheryl Sandberg, Adam Grant, and Ann Hiatt are a few.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bonnielowkramen.com/
- Instagram: bonnielowkramen
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bonnie.Low.Kramen
- Twitter: @bonnielowkramen
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCErBWWCBIj4vhAwdF6juIQw
Image Credits
Pete Longworth Jon Lowrence Robert Sanders
