Meet Samantha Giannangeli, Ellevate Chapter Operations Manager

Samantha Giannangeli

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Samantha Giannangeli, Ellevate Network’s Chapter Operations Manager and Executive Assistant to Ellevate’s Owner and Chair Sallie Krawcheck. When I first virtually met Sam, I could feel her enthusiasm and passion bubbling under her professional and friendly voice. As I got to speak with her about what she does for Ellevate, and about her own life path, I discovered a woman filled with gusto for her mission and purpose to help women through her work. Without further ado, here’s Sam…

Hi Sam! Can you tell us a bit more about you and what you do?

Hi! I currently serve as Chapter Operations Manager for Ellevate network as well as Executive Assistant to Ellevate’s Founder Sallie Krawcheck, and work remotely from Texas. I officially started work with Ellevate last Fall, but have been working with Sallie since 2014. I was initially paired with her through a third-party company as an Executive Assistant, and things evolved from there.

What are your main responsibilities in your current role?

As Chapter Operations Manager for Ellevate, I tend to the needs of nearly 300 chapter members, and basically serve as the first line of defense for the organization. I organize new types of events for our members, and also serve as Executive Assistant to Sallie Krawcheck. This is all in addition to working on more strategic projects for the organization.

What’s the most challenging part of your work?

I would say the multi-tasking part is really challenging. There’s lots to do, and not enough hours in the day, pretty much.

I understand you work remotely. How do you like your current work arrangements?

As an introvert, working from home has really been a privilege for me. Actually, the joke aroud the office is that I don’t wear pants while working. On the fun side, I get to be home with my two cats and do work that I love from the comfort of my home office. I personally find the office has way too many distractions, and I tend to be much more productive here.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in your career?

When I made the leap to relocate to Brownsville with my husband, I didn’t know how hard it would be at first. I first thought it was a mistake to drop everything and move to a place where I would have to start from scratch and search for a new job. Yet what I thought to be a mistake worked out pretty well in the end. Had it not been for me taking the plunge, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. So sometimes what you think are your biggest mistakes lead you to great places…

What advice do you have for other women who may want to follow in your footsteps?

I would say to take your time, and carefully do your research. I remember when we first decided to relocate to Texas because of my husband’s job, I literally took on job hunting as a full-time job! But I also made sure to take my time and be careful with the decisions I was making…It’s also about finding a mission that resonates with you. For me, it was about advancing women, so Ellevate’s mission fully resonated with me and it was an easy transition.

Thanks so much Sam, for this fantastic feature on TCS! For more info, please read Sam’s official bio below:

Bio:

“Samantha Giannangeli made her Ellevate Network debut in September 2015, as the network’s Member Success Coordinator. She has since transitioned to Chapter Operations Manager, and spends her days helping Ellevate’s dedicated team of volunteers find ways to make the most of their work with Ellevate and deliver great experiences for their communities. Samantha has also been Sallie Krawcheck’s Executive Assistant since September 2014.

Before joining the Ellevate team, Samantha launched her career as an analyst for the United States government. There, she put her degree in history and international affairs to use by researching, writing, and presenting studies to military members and senior government officials. It was a fascinating experience, but it came to an end when a family move necessitated a career change. Samantha and Sallie began working together shortly thereafter, and the rest is history.

Samantha now resides in Texas with her husband and their pair of cats. When she’s not in the office, you can find her buried in a book, experimenting in the kitchen, or exploring her new hometown by bicycle.”