I am appreciative of all the positivity that people have sent my way in the midst of my job search. It feels great that so many of my colleagues are willing to be so kind with their encouragements, to say nothing of practical advice and business connections that have been so generously offered.
It occurs to me that, if I am asking folks to keep me in mind for opportunities that might suit me, I should be more specific about what that might mean. I will reiterate that I am keeping an open mind about what my next career move might be. But whatever that is is not unlimited, but rather is constrained by what I bring to the table.
For if there's anything that's non-negotiable about what I want to do next, it's that I have to be able to do it well, drawing from what I'm good at, and adding value and having impact in the process. So it makes sense for me to say more about what I'm good at, enjoy, and want to do more of. So here's a running list for your reference:
1. "Economic development" is probably the most inclusive phrase to describe where my career has tended to focus. Which I'll broadly define as contributing to the economic competitiveness of a place, being mindful of the need to be thoughtful and inclusive in order to do so. And which for me has generally meant a respect for both free market forces and the necessary role of the public, not-for-profit, and institutional sectors. Which in turn requires a respect for and connection to lots of different parts of a region and an understanding of how they can work well together, which my work experiences have afforded me.
2. I know how to run a professional services firm, in all that entails, which I think of in three buckets. One is operating a company, which is big-picture things like creating an organizational culture (and staffing and training towards that) as well as day-to-day matters like making payroll and dealing with HR issues. Two is bringing in the work, which some people call "business development" and which I consider to be a matter of reputation, networking, and closing the deal. Three is doing the work itself, which in the case of my most recent job was about economic analysis but which I'll define more broadly as identifying the problem to be solved, figuring out how to solve it, and then executing that solution in a way that makes the customer happy.
3. I have had varied work experiences that give me a well-rounded understanding of the primacy of leadership and the practice of leadership. Executive positions at both my jobs plus numerous fiduciary board roles represent a body of knowledge from which to address topics that are critical to the health of an entity and a region but that are often neglected because they are difficult and uncomfortable, things like ensuring proper governance and having a succession plan and making unpopular but necessary decisions.
4. I think I am a good friend, confidante, and advocate. This is something I work hard at and do with intention. Being a good listener, sharing vulnerably to give others permission to do the same, being a cheerleader, giving good advice, following through, and going to bat for others: these are personally impactful actions that I take pleasure doing to bless others and that I hope people recognize I do with authenticity and zeal.
If these traits resonate with an opportunity you are aware of, let me know! I welcome the exploration, if not for gainful employment then to better understand some other aspect of this wonderful region we call home. Thank you for your consideration.
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