How does skydiving relate to your career?
What does skydiving feel like, both literally and figuratively? I've done it twice, physically, and now, once professionally. Here's my story:
I’ve unclipped from the aircraft that was my almost 17-year tenure at Mercer, and now I’m free-falling into the expansive, thrilling unknown.
🪂 Before the Jump:
I equipped myself well before taking the leap. My career thus far has taken me on a thrilling journey through a myriad of landscapes, from comp & benefits, client relationships, and business development to industry meetings and crafting thought leadership pieces, traveling many territories and residing in over four countries, most recently the US.
🪂The Free Fall:
If you have skydived before, you know that jumping from the aircraft is the hardest part! Now, I am literally in free fall. In this thrilling descent, there’s no parachute deployed for “What’s Next?” I’m embracing the rush, the uncertainty, and the liberating fear.
🪂 When to Pull the Cord?
Is there a right time to decide the next move? Before diving into another awe-inspiring chapter, I'll embark on an international journey to reconnect with my roots, visit family in Europe, and seek inspiration from various corners of the world. Sometimes we get so immersed in a routine that we forget we're flying. If you find a disconnect between your daily activities and the main challenges of your field, it's time to take a step back.
I'm trusting that, when it’s time to pull the cord and glide into the next adventure, the winds will guide me favorably.
🪂 New Landing Zone:
The world has transformed. High performers, particularly mothers, are not just seeking, but demanding more. We don’t want a nursing room - we crave an environment where being a top-tier professional and a mother isn’t a juggling act but an integrated identity. Because, let’s face it: balancing implies a constant risk of dropping something.
Integration is the future. My eventual landing will position me in a field where a new narrative for moms is being written: one where being a trailblazer executive and a guilt-free mom are not mutually exclusive.
🪂Sharing the Jump:
Did I hesitate before posting this? Absolutely. While LinkedIn often showcases a highlight reel of promotions and successes, let's keep it real—life is also about the unknowns, the pauses, and the brave 'I don’t know' moments. For every professional who skydived through their career with a planned path, there were those of us free-falling, rolling with the unexpected, and soaking up the unknown.
May this moment be remembered as the reshaping of our modern workplace, one that our kids will enjoy and further improve upon tomorrow.
