Every change is driven by a catalyst. Sometimes expected, sometimes unexpected. Sometimes welcome, but usually a blessing in disguise. Which means spending a lot of time saying “WTF” and “Why me” before it makes sense.
On December 9th 2024, I woke up to a new meeting on my calendar: “Organizational Update.” I knew at that moment that my head was on the chopping block in the latest round of big pharma reorgs. And it was. The organization was facing “headwinds” that impacted my role. No further information would ever be provided on why MY role was the one impacted. Lots of platitudes of how they would “support me,” but also, my last day would be December 23, which would require turning in my computer and ending my network access. Merry Christmas to you too!
This catalyst challenged me at the core. I’m a career person and define myself by my career success. Is that healthy, probably not. But it’s true. As someone lost in a sea of imposed change, I threw out some lifelines to my professional community, but also to my “woo woo” community.
The professional community helped me network and make a plan to find a new role. They helped me land interviews at great companies and within my own company. My woo woo community helped ground me, helped me take a minute (or months) to explore what could be. They helped create space for a pivot. They helped me land in conferences with other female entrepreneurs (I’m not one, but maybe?), in writer’s workshops (I’m not one, yet here I am), in real estate school (I’m not a realtor, and now I can be).
Now 6 months later, I’m standing strong in the pivot, holding so much space for what is and what will be. I’m excited about it. I’m confident that it will all work out, and I know this is in fact a blessing in disguise.