“Leadership cannot be a reward for a different job well done; it is a skill set that must be honed through training and self-reflection. It is an act of service, not of ego.”
Pronouns: any (they/he are most common)
I am an interdisciplinary, non-binary, queer, neurodivergent storyteller. That means:
My brain works differently
As someone with ADHD, my brain works differently. Its difficulties with dopamine presents challenges, to be sure, but I have learned and am learning to manage them effectively. More importantly, however, are the benefits my brain presents, including lateral thinking, hyperfocus (also sometimes called a “flow state”) for some tasks, creativity, resilience, conversational and interpersonal skills, and a strong empathic sense. Some people refer to folks like me as “wildcard people,” or a “utility player” who can be counted on to jump into the middle of a project or situation for short, intense periods, make sense of it, and help steer things in a more effective direction
I refuse to put people second
I am a firm proponent of the business case for taking care of your people first and foremost. Content team members and collaborators who feel supported and cared for will stick around far longer than those who don’t, and as someone who has done a lot of onboarding and training of others, it takes far too long and costs far too much to simply accept a high turnover rate. I am an advocate for anti-racist and inclusive practices in hiring, performance evaluations, conflict management, and all other facets of HR/People work, which includes salary transparency and advocacy for applicants. Short-term gains at the cost of long-term relationships will always hurt an organization or institution more than it will help it. Much like you shouldn’t go out to eat if you can’t afford to tip, you shouldn’t be hiring if you can’t afford to support and show gratitude to the person you’re hiring. I refuse to accept “because that’s how we’ve always done it” as a justification for any business practice. It may be the best course of action, but I can guarantee that’s not the reason why.
I’m good at a lot and an expert at some
I have professional experience in healthcare, the arts, non-profit organization, higher education, food service, event planning, public speaking, and curriculum development, among others.
I have managed projects with budgets ranging from hundreds of dollars to over a $1,000,000.
I have personally interviewed and hired close to 100 people over the last 10 years, let a handful go, and overseen the onboarding and training of many more.
I have overseen HR responsibilities in small organizations and in departments that were part of a larger organization, though my titles do not reflect that.
I have been a key proponent of DEI work and professional development in multiple institutions and have guest lectured to university and medical school classes on topics ranging from LGBTQ+ issues to self-advocacy in the professional world to simulation techniques for portraying difficult physical symptoms in simulation.
I have trained learners ranging from ages 5 to 85 and have trained dozens of trainers too.
I have experience with graphic design, social media marketing, high quality photo and video editing and PR.
I’m continuously learning even more skills