The Career Moments We Wish For

Last week I climbed up on a bulldozer at the groundbreaking for the 95 East Distribution Center to celebrate the start of a redevelopment project our team has worked on since I came on board as executive director more than three years ago. ?

Is that the behavior expected from someone who just received the Women Who Mean Business award from the Washington Business Journal? I certainly hope so! To be among the class of 2022 alongside such inspiring women doing phenomenal work, is?a great honor.?I've spent some time reflecting on what these types of achievements mean—and why we never get to these moments alone. ?

In our world of economic development, you never do the same thing every day and that means?the years can pass by in a flash. Not every monumental moment is the pitch you've won or the deal you've lost. They aren't the spotlight moments. For me, a lot of the best moments in my career are the regular Tuesday?morning showing up and collaborating with brilliant people who are ready to work together to push beyond the status quo. ?

Quiet moments can offer the most striking ideas—ones that can shake the ground—and those are the moments we wish for in our careers. I am lucky to know what they look like now.??

It is wonderful to receive recognition for the job I love and the purpose that has put me here. Winning this award was not just for show; it is a symbol of my commitment to uphold he standards of my profession, my organization, and my responsibility to pass that on to younger generations of women in leadership. ?

But standing on a bulldozer at a project site showcasing the potential and power of collaboration, not only in economic development, but also across the business landscape, makes me excited for what our future holds.?