Name
Ellen Brinkman
Company/Organization
SharkNinja
What Does Your Company/Organization Do?
SharkNinja is a consumer-obsessed organization focused on creating small household appliances and cleaning solutions that fit the lifestyles of busy people.
Age
33
Accomplishments
- University of Illinois James Scholar and Bronze Tablet recipient.
- Youngest member of United Federal Credit Union’s Supervisory Committee
- Southwest Michigan Star Volunteer Award recipient
- Certified Public Accountant
- Lean/Six Sigma Fundamentals certified
- Boston Marathon qualifier
What else do you hope to accomplish by the age of 40?
By age 40, I would like to expand my professional skillset, gaining more experience launching innovative products in new marketplaces, and rise to a level of increased leadership responsibility at my company. I would also like to explore more volunteer opportunities and leadership roles within the community and St. Joseph school system.
Education
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, with Highest Honors
Residence
St. Joseph, MI
Where were you born?
Peoria, IL
What was your first job?
Growing up, I thought I wanted to become a veterinarian, so my first job was a kennel tech in a local veterinarian’s office.
Best advice you ever got?
The best advice I ever got came to me in the form of a quote from hockey great Wayne Gretzky: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” This advice has been pivotal to a lot of key moments in my life. Whether it be taking a new job in an unfamiliar subject area or company, running a marathon, or having the confidence to mentor young women in the early stages of their education or career, I have found that it’s often best to have faith, trust in my abilities and take the chance.
Who inspires you most?
The person who inspires me most is my mom. One might think an only child who grew up with a single mom working full-time as a communications professional at a major corporation would feel lonely or ignored. My mom made sure the exact opposite was true for me. Throughout my entire life, my mom has always put my needs ahead of her own, never hesitating to walk away from the next big promotion or social engagement if it meant she could spend more time with me. She has always demonstrated determination, intelligence, bravery and grace. Even in the face of two cancer battles that would have been enough to make any person give up, she pressed forward with positivity and strength and is now cancer free. She has taught me the importance of advocating for and believing in myself, treating others with kindness and respect, and approaching life with a sense of fun. I can only hope that I am able to pass down these lessons to my own daughter.
That one thing about you we’d be most surprised to learn.
Most people I meet and spend time with are very surprised to find out that I’m an introvert. While it’s true that working in sales and having the reputation of being able to have a conversation with a brick wall don’t usually go hand-in-hand with introversion, a good friend once told me that being an introvert or extrovert is all about the source of your energy. While I enjoy building relationships and meeting new people, I find that it’s during my alone time (which can definitely be hard to come by as a busy mom!) that I can truly recharge.
What do you love to do in your downtime?
My husband tells me I am one of those crazy people who actually enjoys long-distance running. Listening to some good music and getting outside for a run is one of my favorite things to do when I have downtime. I also really enjoy making new recipes for my family and friends.
What book are you reading now?
I just finished re-reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini. The women in this story demonstrate true heroism in the face of unspeakable hardship and life circumstances in a war-torn country. This book contains so many lessons on the role of women in society and on our relationships and responsibilities to each other as human beings. I find these lessons are particularly applicable to our lives today.
Volunteer activity you love the most.
One of the most rewarding volunteer experiences I have had was as a SMART tutor in the Benton Harbor school district. As a student who always had to work a little harder at math myself, I went into the opportunity thinking it would be a great way to give back and help local kids raise their standardized test scores. I ended up finding that the mentoring relationships I formed with the students were the most impactful and lasting part of the experience.
What motivates you to give back to your community?
I am motivated to give back by my love of this community and my desire to grow my family in this close-knit, supportive environment. I have felt at home since the moment I moved to St. Joe over 10 years ago, and I am so glad my daughter gets to grow up here.
What Superpower would you most love to have? (for example, the ability to fly or to be invisible, or incredible strength, etc)
I would love to be able to teleport! With all the craziness at the airports these days, it would be great to make it to my office in Boston and back home without losing any time with my family.
What would you like to leave behind as your legacy once you are gone?
I want to leave behind happy kids who know that I worked hard and gave everything I could to provide them with a loving and creative environment.
What does the honor of being named to the 40 Under 40 most mean to you?
It is an incredible honor to be included as one of the 40 under 40. This group of individuals, as well as past recipients of the award, are true leaders and innovators in their industries and community. It is truly humbling to be included.
