BABE #4: MEAGHAN TIMKO, <BR>CEO @ Prime Behavior Analysts
Chelsea DuDeVoire
Meaghan and I connected through theSkimm, and specifically the Skimm'bassador program. She is our first featured babe that I do not actually know outside of the internet, and I couldn't be more excited about that! I'm not only honored that BWH is reaching the interest of strangers, but that babes as talented, busy, and successful as Meaghan are willing to contribute. I'm incredibly inspired by her story; she's chasing her dreams, running a company, advocating for what she believes in and volunteering all while killing it at marriage and motherhood, (things so many women are juggling and not getting enough credit for!) I hope this feature is as beneficial to you as it was to me. Welcome, Meaghan!
The Basics:
Hometown: Orlando, FL Current city: Atlanta, GA Alma mater: Florida State University and Florida Institute of Technology Degree: B.S. Psychology, M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis Jobs: Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Executive Director and Owner, Prime Behavior Analysts
The Interests:
Go-to coffee order: Tall black coffee, which I order like a boss. Then, I take it to my office and add at least 4 tablespoons of sugar-filled creamer to it. Fake it ‘till you make it.
What do you do in your spare time? Run, hike, travel, find good wine and food, spend time with my amazing husband and darling daughters, and volunteer.
Must-have item in your purse: Bobbi Brown lip gloss in
Babe you admire and why: Sarah Blakely, hands down. Aside from the fact that she also attended Florida State and is a fellow Floridian, she just plain kicks ass. There was nothing that stood between her and what she wanted while developing Spanx. I like to imagine her story like a race and she just kept jumping hurdles and ducking and swerving to arrive at the finish line covered in sweat but totally smiling. I may have a slight girl crush on her.
The Hustle:
I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) working with children and families affected by autism spectrum disorder. I started a company in 2009 called Prime Behavior Analysts. I am the sole owner of the company and act as the Executive Director for our clinical and field-based operations team. It has been an amazing ride and not one day is calm, but there’s nothing else I would rather be doing.
What are some previous jobs you've held before getting to where you are now? Working with children with special needs is all I’ve ever done. I started volunteering with children with autism spectrum disorder in middle school and went on to volunteer at the Coalition for the Homeless in Orlando. While volunteering in middle school, I spent a class period three times a week with a boy named Nick who was diagnosed with autism. It was pivotal for me, and after just a few short weeks, I had found what I wanted to do at the age of twelve.
When I started at Florida State, I immediately began volunteering and working with kids with autism. Of course, I had some side jobs to make ends meet. I was a tutor for the athletic department and the football team, and also worked in the admissions office. Those things certainly contributed to my success, but my heart was for a making a difference in the lives of kids with special needs, so I found a way to make that happen.
What does your typical workday look like? I wake up at 5:45 for a 15-minute meditation. At 6:00 I eat breakfast and make coffee, then at 6:30 I get my kids ready and feed them. My amazing husband takes our girls to school almost every day around 7:15, then I run 3-4 miles, listening to podcasts or one of my running playlists.
I’m out the door by around 9:30 every day, and I don’t have a “typical” workday. Some days I’m at our clinic, some days I’m in the field, some days I’m in educational planning meetings to advocate for the kids we work with. Some days are really long and they can be emotionally draining, so I work very hard on balancing my schedule by not working past 5:00 more than once a week.
What's your favorite thing about your job? I watch the families change, I watch a mother's eyes light up the first time her child says something. When a parent tells me that for the first time in a long time, they feel connected with their child, it makes every job stressor worth it.
Any other community involvement? I sit on the Executive Leadership Committee and Board of Directors for Autism Speaks Georgia, where I serve as the communications and awareness chair. I work with my committee on press releases, awareness events, and general board responsibilities. During session, I can be found at the state capital working to make meaningful changes in our legislation to support kids with autism. I am also currently serving on Communities in Schools. CIS serves a population of adolescents who are at risk for dropping out of high school, helping them make it to graduation. It’s been an incredibly eye-opening experience as I had no idea that the dropout rate in my area was so high.
What's something you wish you could change about your job? I wish more people worked in my field. We have to turn away too many people who need help, because we just don't have the hands and feet to do it all.
What motivates you? My girls. I want them to see that you can be a wife, a mother, and still pursue your dreams.
Future career advice for your daughters? I tell my daughters every day, “Be Kind and Love Everyone”. If I can hand down one thing to them, this would be it. It matters not the minutia of who you’re with, what you’re wearing, and how much you have. If you can be really genuine and kind and love people where they are at, you’re winning already.
Career advice for other women? Be your own jam. It took me well into my 30’s to realize that other people’s judgment has absolutely nothing to do with me. I used to keep a keen eye on my periphery and now I’m solid due north. It’s so freeing.