The real reason this gal won Young Professional of the Year

Last night Delainey McIlwain , a coworker of mine was named Young Professional of the Year, an extremely high honor in the Lancaster Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce neck of the woods.?Delainey and I work together on the Park National Bank internal communications team.?So, the fact that a sister in my industry, who is in internal communications wins such a title, it’s worth a LinkedIn article.?

Now as y’all know, being in internal communications, I was giving the pleasure of writing the promotional post for Delainey’s award and given that we work in a conservative industry, my post had to be short, concise (which everyone knows is not my strength) and it had to be, of course, professional.

But if I could have written the post in my way, in my own words, here is what I would have said….

Although Young Professional of the Year, Delainey McIlwain is an old soul.?Not only does she give so much in all the roles she plays, she gives from her heart, from the very essence of her being.?

Because she is a channel for her soul’s calling, light oozes from every cell of her being.?

Now, here's what this award didn't say...

What this award didn’t say was how she makes our entire team laugh when she breaks out into random song, singing Broadway show tunes.?What the award didn’t say is that she has 55 of the same candle in a quaint candle closet that she designed.?What the award didn’t say is that she is on a quest to hike, yes literally hike, all the greatest places from coast to coast, referring to Yosemite as “Yas-Mite.”?What the award didn’t say is how her smile wraps around her face when she speaks of her addiction to ice-cream and it's what motivates her to get up every morning at 5 am to work out.?What the award didn’t say was how she made me feel when she rewrote, “The Night Before Christmas” into a meaningful birthday story that she performed for me on my birthday, and what the award didn’t say is how she is a huge reason why my days at work are filled with joy, laughter, and inspiration to create internal communications that fill associates with surprise and delight.?

Delainey won this award because at the core of who she is, one could argue, is at times the opposite of “professional” if we’re talkin’ buttoned up all the time, hard to approach, proper, etc.?She won because she makes everyone feel like you’ve known her forever.?No matter where she goes she is the same, owning and embracing all the things that make her special, show tunes and all.

So if you are a young-in’ out there seeking mentors twice your age, look no further.?There’s one right here in your own backyard, who’s your age and her name is Delainey.?Go on and try it, embrace the fullness of who you are, no matter how weird, odd, or quirky you think you may come across.?Because the truth is, even at the office, we want to know that side of you.?And if you are lucky enough to work with good leaders and in an environment where the fullness of who you are is celebrated, then go for it, be you, be ALL of you.?Because it gives the rest of us, permission to be our full weird selves too.?And that my friends, is a great recipe for belonging.

Thank you Delainey, looking forward to kicking off our next team retreat with our favorite Broadway hit. ?And thanks to Park National Bank for allowing us to be our full weird selves, even in the office.??