I am grateful for my experiences at IBM, but it is time to let go. In February, I chose to stay where I am rather than comply with a “return to office” (RTO) mandate, or forced move, for managers and executives.  I was part of high-performing, fully distributed/remote teams for nearly nine years.  I was crystal clear about my decision while simultaneously feeling grief and excitement. I am exploring senior product manager and pre-sales roles, and maybe more! 

Finding my Map – Thank you to Scott Hanselman’s Hanselminutes podcast for introducing me to Ginny Clarke. I joined her community and gained insights through her Career Mapping Workbook.  This workbook will open up new avenues for me in my career journey. Learn more in Ginny’s video, “Activate your Career Map: Navigating your Career.“

Reaffirming my Path – Thank you to Mark Kilby for introducing me to Disgruntled Millennial Podcast: Episode 1—Beyond the office: The transformative power of remote work. Thank you to Matt Leger, Lauren Farrer, and Aaron Bolze for this illuminating, thought-provoking conversation full of examples and data. Keep up the outstanding work.

Illuminating my Impact – Thank you to my extended team for the outpouring of love and appreciation.  My team always supported me, and walking through this experience only made that feeling more concrete.   I revisited your messages again this week and was inspired to create this Bragbook/Kudos Journal. I am incredibly grateful to Mitch Ferrer for introducing me to this practice.

I wish you peace, a sense of purpose, and fun in your work days. 

Image: My Joan Jett rock-n-roll costume at a team virtual Halloween party.
Photo credits: Katie Borin

Today’s musical accompaniment: R.E.M. Finest Worksong [YouTube]