I loved doing theater growing up and even dreamed of being on Broadway (ah, what might have been). Ultimately, I followed the traditional script (see what I did there?) getting my master’s degree and began climbing the corporate ladder. 

I got promotions, led huge company-wide programs, and was asked to lead a team. As an HR Business Partner, I had the unique experience of being a part of strategic discussions about people and their careers within the company. I consulted the C-Suite down to first-line managers.

I’ve had really amazing jobs and really terrible ones. I’ve been both respected and gaslighted. Challenged and bored. Trusted and dismissed. Energized and burnt out – once so much so my husband removed all email and messaging apps from my phone! 

But one thing was consistent – I owned my career. I was strategic in the moves I made and never let someone else discourage me or stand in my way. If I was bored, I raised my hand for something new to learn. If I didn’t feel valued, I found a company that did. While I was always open to opportunities, I never left my career in the hands of my manager.