In Good Company with Lena Anderson
For someone who once led Team USA to seven silver medals in dragon boating, you might expect a story about speed. But for Lena, it’s not about speed. It’s about direction and the intention behind the journey.
At just 14 years old, Lena commanded a team of 20 paddlers, keenly aware of what her team was capable of and constantly scanning the other boats around them.
Perhaps this thoughtful leadership style, cultivated like one of her 25 plants—under the sun and in the water—naturally led her to a degree in Conflict Resolution at George Mason’s very own Carter School. Now, she brings that same instinct to her work with our Human Resources team.
The Training Assistant Who Keeps Us in Sync
Five months ago, Lena landed on her next pot to grow into: the Organizational Learning and Development team’s Training Assistant.
As a puzzle master, she’s the kind of teammate who can find and piece together information that allows our trainers to create the bigger picture.
That’s meant cleaning the ODL team’s literal and figurative closet – sorting data in a way that makes learning opportunities seamless and allows our participants to thrive. Thanks to her everything from session logistics to post-session reports is easier to access, track, and improve.
And Lena doesn’t just support learning, she studies it. She listens in on sessions and programs, watching how people engage. Her favorite part of the job is being surrounded by people who are excited to be there – who want to learn more and grow within their ever-expanding communities. By helping those programs run more smoothly, she sees firsthand how that clarity supports learners.
She’s guided by a clear goal: “I want to help people like their workplace.”
And her teammates make that easy. “They’re personable, curious, and invested in helping me grow, not just professionally, but as a full person.”
A Treat to Have in the Office
If you’re ever looking for Lena outside of work, you’ll most likely find her baking. During her second week on the job, she brought a fresh batch of homemade cookies and cupcakes to celebrate her teammates’ birthday. It’s that kind of thoughtful touch that’s become her trademark.
World-Building, On and Off the Page
If you’re a fan of fantasy and sci-fi, you’re in good company. Lena’s recommended read? Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan.
Her favorite part of any fictional universe is the way it’s built. More specifically, how character relationships evolve and the way the world itself shapes their decisions. Spoken like a true Conflict & Resolution graduate.
Steady in the Water
Ask Lena for her personal motto and she’ll say, “Your direction is more important than your speed.”
It’s not about racing ahead, it’s about knowing you’re on the right path. For Lena, it’s a reminder that she’s exactly where she’s meant to be; doing what she needs to do, living the life, and making the choices that feel right.
That quiet confidence shows up in everything she does, grounded in the belief that growth doesn’t have to be rushed to be real.
This article was written by Ray Dominguez, the Communications Specialist in Human Resources.