Meet Elite Admin: Barb Balle, EA to the CEO of McDonald's Corporation

Ms. Barb Balle has been employed at McDonald’s Corporation for 33 years. She is currently the Executive Assistant to the recently appointed President and CEO, Mr. Don Thompson.

Facing Career Challenges

She notes that one of the challenges in her job is the ever changing schedule. Ms. Balle says that, “…you have to be flexible and able to adapt to changes quickly.” With schedules changing constantly, she stays organized by using charts. By compiling information in charts, she is better able to see what is pending and complete. She feels that multitasking is “not as good as everyone makes it out to be” and only focuses on one task at a time before moving on to the next item on her to-do list. Her to-do lists keep her organized and on target.

Stress Management

Stress comes in all forms on any job and Ms. Balle is no stranger to stressful moments. As a breast cancer survivor, she attributes her ability to manage stress at work with the support of a team of co-workers who pitch in when necessary. She notes that it is important to know who you can get answers from when you need help. Her favorite quote by McDonald’s Founder Ray Kroc, “None of us is as good as all of us,” confirms her feelings.

Ms. Balle has been married for 20 years and has 11 ½ year old twins. She was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago and is a White Sox fan. In her spare time, she enjoys Jazzercise, baking and watching reality television.

Visit the McDonald’s Corporation website for more information. 

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