It’s good to reflect on your professional journey from time to time. There are so many things you may have forgotten but, the more you reflect, the more you see your professional and maybe even your personal evolution. Here are the highlights of my professional journey…to date.
Jumping Out on My Own
I launched my first consulting business Great Performance in May 1996 while working as Division Training Manager with Cola-Cola Enterprises in Maryland. Looking back, I’m sure I was scared, but I did it anyway. No website. Just a few marketing materials. This was a high risk turn in my professional journey.
By January 1997, my business had grown so much through word of mouth that I could step out and pursue it full-time and financially support my family. I ran the Management Institute at Chesapeake College for 3 years, coached the President and her leadership council at Anne Arundel Community College, facilitated organizational training for The Baltimore Sun and designed and facilitated executive retreats, and developed leadership, customer service and sales programs for a variety of clients. I was humbled to earn the trust and business of my clients with only 8 years of HR experience. The risk was worth it!
Jumping Back In
In 2000, one of my clients asked me to join them part-time. I hesitated, but after thinking about the work that needed to be done, I agreed. I could support them, have my benefits covered and continue to pursue my business. It was a perfect situation! In 2001, when I was asked to take a full-time position as Director, Workforce Development with the same company and I jumped at the chance. I could build on the work we had been doing together and take it further faster. I kept a few clients for the first 2 years, but I was so busy at The Baltimore Sun that I needed to make a choice. I chose the corporate position and made another key turn in my professional journey.
I continued in corporate positions working with The Baltimore Sun for 5 years and in 2006, accepted a Vice President, HR position in California with Cox Communications. Leading several organizational consolidations in California, in 2016, I accepted a national position with Cox as Executive Director, HR Business Partners in the corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
Taking A Break
By 2017, I needed to make a decision – continue to live as a bi-coastal family or return to California. Cox is a great company and my gold standard for how they work with and support their employees, so it was a difficult decision for me. After careful consideration, I chose to leave Cox and I returned to California in early 2018. Another turn and major risk – leaving a job without a job.
I was grateful to have a very stable work history, but when I returned to California, I knew I needed to take a break from working. I needed to “decompress”. The last time I gifted myself with a few months off was back in 1998 when I had my own business.
Taking time to decompress was one of the best decisions in my life. I could breathe again, shed the corporate persona, and regain perspective on what I wanted and where I wanted to contribute. I highly encourage you to do this if you can. It’s good for your soul, your mental health, and your life.
I enjoyed my 3-month hiatus from working and then I did what was expected. I networked and looked for a full-time position. But for me, it just didn’t feel right. I was simply going through the motions. By June, I figured it out. I needed to expand my options. In addition to looking for a full-time position, I wanted to consider going out on my own again. That’s when the excitement came back. That’s when it felt right for me!
Jumping Back Out Again?
I put my energy and focus into creating my next company – Doing HR Differently. The name came from a place holder I had put on my resume. As I was networking, someone gave me feedback that Doing HR Differently was my differentiator. So, I decided to make it my company’s official name.
This was an exciting time! The creative juices were flowing! Doing HR Differently would be my platform for transforming HR, coaching, and developing leaders and building strong people organizations. I learned how to create my website from scratch. I began writing blogs and doing “Car Conversations” videos. I also created another website called Clarity and Wisdom for my faith-based interests. It was a huge learning curve, but extremely rewarding. At that point, I was learning and building, not pursuing the business or clients. Would this be the next turn in my professional journey?
I knew it was important to to expand the options you create for yourself, so I decided to take a 3-prong approach to finding my next opportunity – (1) Develop Doing HR Differently as a business; (2) Partner with a consultant in their business, (3) Explore corporate positions. I would let the options play out and whichever came first was fine with me.
Back Into a Corporate Position
By September, I began interviewing for a few corporate positions. I ultimately accepted a position at Falck USA in December 2018 as the National HR Director (Head of HR) for the US business. This was a great opportunity to work for a global company in transition. It checked all my must-have boxes. I planned to continue to pursue my business, I didn’t. I put it on the back shelf and invested 100% of my time in Falck.
2018 and 2019 at Falck were turnaround years – strategically, financially, and culturally. They were tough, hard years, but we were building something together and the camaraderie we created as a senior team was exciting.
In 2020, COVID hit and Falck, like most other companies was just trying to hold on and figure out the path forward.
2021 was a difficult year personally for me at Falck for a variety of reasons. I can honestly say that over the course of my time at Falck, I had never worked so hard, at that level of intensity for so long in any position before, not even when I was working for myself. It was constant stress and at some point, I allowed it to take over my life. I had to pray and power through each day, only to do it over and over again. Who can continue to work 15 hours days and weekends and have a life? It was crazy and I allowed it.
My turning point came when I felt a “departure of values” about mid-year. This is my term for when you realize there is a misalignment of values and it’s just a matter of time before a change needs to be made. So, in August 2021, we parted ways. Yes, this is the next turn on my professional journey.
Challenging Myself to Be Bold and Just Go!
Now, I’m betting on me again and am working to develop MY business. I have so much more experience, skills, and ways to help organizations and leaders than when I started my first business Great Performance in 1996.
I’m revitalizing Doing HR Differently with an updated focus on what I’m most passionate about and excel in:
- HR Consulting
- Leadership Coaching and Development
- Facilitated Collaboration
These are 3 critical areas for any business that depends on people to achieve their goals and to thrive in the future.
Doing HR Differently is an intentional work in progress. Our customized solutions are activated by unique challenges. As long as business is changing, we’ll be changing. I’m asking you to support my new business by giving me the opportunity to earn your business. We all know if you want something, you have to ask for it!
I hope to grow my business as I did before – by work of mouth – the best advertising available! I appreciate your support, encouragement, patience, and partnership as I launch Doing HR Differently and grow it with you.
I’m ready! Let’s go!