When I graduated with my doctorate, I did so alongside eight men. As part of the ceremony, each person stood up and gave a short speech. Nearly every man expressed heartfelt gratitude through tears to his family for the time they sacrificed with him in the doctoral process. But when it was my turn to … Read More
Recently, I had two separate conversations with friends who were in career crises. Each crisis was catalyzed by a sense of disillusionment with work—the feeling that the world had promised them something and was failing to make good on that promise. One friend, in her mid thirties, is in the midst of a corporate career … Read More
Recently, I was chatting with a client of mine who was a few years into resurrecting an organization that had nearly fizzled out under previous leadership. When she assumed leadership of the nonprofit, it had run out of money, was unclear on its mission, and had major personnel problems. As we talked, she described to … Read More
I graduated seminary in 2011, on the heels of the Great Recession. Very few companies were hiring. In fact, many were laying people off. Let’s just say that in a depressed economy there is very little demand for someone with an advanced degree in theology and no record of success in any industry. To complicate … Read More
I was on a panel recently that opened up with this question: As a woman, what are some of the ways you’ve been discriminated against in the workplace? And, how does the Gospel shape your response? Whoa! Talk about starting off strong. I loved this question. So, seeing that none of my panel-mates were eager … Read More
I hate icebreakers. Maybe it’s the introvert in me. Or maybe it’s because I’m Irish and my face heats up every time I’m put on the spot. Either way, I hate icebreakers. Four or five years ago, during one such icebreaker, I was paired up with a man and asked to talk about our jobs. … Read More
Someone asked me once, “Why are you afraid to fail?” I remember wading through a bunch of half sentences until I admitted, “I don’t want to fail because I’m afraid of who that means I am. Basically, my identity is at stake.” Even though I know that my being is more important than my doing, … Read More
I recently went back home to the Midwest to visit family. While there I visited the coolest nail salon I had ever been to. I was so enamored with the aesthetics, art, and ecological decisions in the salon, that that I struck up a conversation with the owner. We quickly learned that we had gone … Read More
Together, my husband and I own a creative agency. Separately, I work as a practical theologian and he is a filmmaker. Like many of our colleagues and friends, we are busy “building” our careers. And while I admit to daydreams of snorkeling and sleeping until 10 a.m., our chosen trajectories are ones that require long … Read More