MEET HOLLY O'DELL

Holly currently serves as Vice President of Legal and Strategic Services, for SAIF Corporation. They set the industry standard in workers’ compensation for affordability, availability, innovation, efficiency and service quality. Their vision is that Oregon is the safest place to work, and they exist to serve and protect the Oregon workforce. 

Holly recently took her P.MAI backpack on an trip abroad to China. We caught up with her on the experience.

TELL US THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU

Caring, insightful and stubborn.

WHAT'S YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON LIFE IN ONE SENTENCE? 

I strive to use my talents and abilities to their highest and best use, for good.

You already had your JD. How did you decide to recently get an executive MBA?

I’m a lawyer and a nurse, and am currently in the Wharton executive program for my MBA. I went back to school to gain a lifelong peer group that always pushes me to continue growing – both personally and professionally. I thrive when part of a community of thoughtful, engaged, global citizens.

What has been one of your biggest career challenges? How did you overcome it?

One of my biggest career challenges has been consciously maintaining work-life balance. I started my first full-time role as an attorney nine weeks after delivering my daughter. I determined at that time to always “be in the right place at the right time,” which for me, means reallocating time and energy to make sure I have no regrets. The key to this has been constant assessment and readjustment. When the calibration is momentarily off, my family and I can tell!

What advice would you share with others considering a law career?

For others considering attending law school, I would say “Go for it!” You don’t have to know in advance what you want to do when you grow up. A law degree is useful for all sorts of pursuits – first and foremost, for understanding the world around us. Even the simple things – I understand news events more clearly after learning the logic associated with a law degree.

Tell us about your recently China trip.
I went to China recently with my 11-year-old daughter and some friends to tour, in advance of a Wharton trip related to innovation. We spent the night on a rural area of the Great Wall, where a local woman cooked us an omelet with veggies grown in her garden. We practiced new words in Mandarin, and tried calligraphy. When we travel, we meet new friends, and strengthen our understanding of the richness of the local culture.

MEET HOLLY O'DELL

Holly currently serves as Vice President of Legal and Strategic Services, for SAIF Corporation. They set the industry standard in workers’ compensation for affordability, availability, innovation, efficiency and service quality. Their vision is that Oregon is the safest place to work, and they exist to serve and protect the Oregon workforce. 

Holly recently took her P.MAI backpack on an trip abroad to China. We caught up with her on the experience.

TELL US THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU

Caring, insightful and stubborn.

WHAT'S YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON LIFE IN ONE SENTENCE? 

I strive to use my talents and abilities to their highest and best use, for good.

You already had your JD. How did you decide to recently get an executive MBA?

I’m a lawyer and a nurse, and am currently in the Wharton executive program for my MBA. I went back to school to gain a lifelong peer group that always pushes me to continue growing – both personally and professionally. I thrive when part of a community of thoughtful, engaged, global citizens.

What has been one of your biggest career challenges? How did you overcome it?

One of my biggest career challenges has been consciously maintaining work-life balance. I started my first full-time role as an attorney nine weeks after delivering my daughter. I determined at that time to always “be in the right place at the right time,” which for me, means reallocating time and energy to make sure I have no regrets. The key to this has been constant assessment and readjustment. When the calibration is momentarily off, my family and I can tell!

What advice would you share with others considering a law career?

For others considering attending law school, I would say “Go for it!” You don’t have to know in advance what you want to do when you grow up. A law degree is useful for all sorts of pursuits – first and foremost, for understanding the world around us. Even the simple things – I understand news events more clearly after learning the logic associated with a law degree.

Tell us about your recently China trip.
I went to China recently with my 11-year-old daughter and some friends to tour, in advance of a Wharton trip related to innovation. We spent the night on a rural area of the Great Wall, where a local woman cooked us an omelet with veggies grown in her garden. We practiced new words in Mandarin, and tried calligraphy. When we travel, we meet new friends, and strengthen our understanding of the richness of the local culture.