She Works Hard for the Money

As promised, it’s time to start filling you in on the major goings on in my life. First up: Work.

This is my organization’s motto. Could there be anything more perfect?

From January 2018 until the start of April 2019, I worked in business development at a human capital solutions firm (aka a staffing company). The opportunity arose at a time when I didn’t want to continue freelancing (partnerships, branded content deals, etc.) but did love building brands and finding synergies between companies. The position appeared to be a chance to do exactly that but in the context of a larger organization. Instead, I found myself in a role that allowed for a bit of creativity and strategy, but to a very defined point and only within my department. Similarly, growth opportunities were very limited.

While I was incredibly successful from a financial perspective, I came to find that for me, success was something more, I needed something that fed my soul. I would come home each day feeling empty, not sure what I had really achieved, other than a nice commission.

So what have I been up to since then?… Leading corporate development (i.e. fundraising) at a wonderful nonprofit that empowers underserved youth throughout the five boroughs through arts and mentoring programs! It feels like a homecoming and is a role where I can be my truest self. Each day I use my sales and partnerships skills while working to make a real impact. As some of you may know, my family has a history in the arts in NYC and most members of my family are involved in public service, either through nonprofits/philanthropy or government work (not of the MAGA variety). To have family members as “industry colleagues” and know that my work is directly benefitting well over two thousand youth, there aren’t really words.

Leaving a job is never easy. Even as unhappy as I had become, I don’t think I slept at all the night before telling my manager that I would be leaving. Sharing the news with my team was even tougher. We were very close; it felt more like a confession than an announcement. As my best friends and parents kept reminding me, it’s not personal, it’s business, you can’t feel bad. Still, no one likes to feel that they’re making someone unhappy, and I knew that there was a chance that some colleagues would take it personally. Luckily, those who I was closest to didn’t miss a beat and were both supportive and excited for me, knowing how much this new role meant to me on a personal level.

Overall it was an experience that taught me a lot about work relationships, success, and myself. Now, I feel truly lucky, an un-ironic #blessed if you will. Of course I don’t always want to get up when my alarm goes off (does anyone?), but I love my work, feel so supported and encouraged to experiment, and end my days knowing that I’ve made a difference in our broken world.

Where do you work? Have you ever left a job?