Do you know what fed your soul this year?

I’ve been asking myself this very question, and I am so happy I did. Looking back on what brought joy, a sense of accomplishment and inspiration just brings a smile to my face. Of course, there are the fundamentals, creating a nurturing environment for my boys, supporting my husband in his ventures and dreams, participating as an active member of my community and being there for friends and family. That’s the bedrock upon which I build.

But this is LinkedIn, not Facebook so let’s talk Professionally.?

• Underpinning this year was the extraordinary chance to learn.?Learning from the best, Steve Demetriou, as he creates value even as he transitions out of the CEO role and into the Executive Chairman position. Appreciating that the finest lead without ego or agenda but with vision and purpose and that results can be delivered through values –indeed, they are sweeter when they are.?
• The creation of Divergent Solutions, our Jacobs-wide initiative to apply data and technology to create a more connected and sustainable world. What an honor to be part of such an impressive team and to build a platform for this incredible talent base that is poised to unlock further potential from the company.?
• Being grateful to help represent and elevate the voices of my colleagues and broader community through events organized by Jacobs One World and the Asian American Pacific Islander community, led by Faith Feng and Kaitlin Ma;?participating as a member of the McKinsey Advancing Women Executives program to increase female C-Suite representation in the Advanced Industries and Energy sectors; and supporting the New York League of Conservation Supporters to champion sustainability, climate response and the environment in our communities, feeding off the inspiration that comes from progress and change created by leaders such as Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard.

These are just a few of the things that brought me joy this year.

2022 has not been without its challenges (the vertigo is just now subsiding and still goes undiagnosed), but through deliberate and focused attention to what matters most, I feel incredibly fortunate and have an overwhelming sense of awe for the abundance of life and the opportunity we have to make something of it.?

So, to remind myself of this abundance, I took the six words highlighted above and created a “catch phrase” for 2023 to inspire me to make the most of what I have.

The deliberate pursuit of learning and creation will create moments of awe, inspiration, and gratitude.

I am looking forward to what lies ahead as I look back and smile at what has come before. May you have the chance to reflect on what brought you joy this year and the time to think about how to create more in the future.

Wishing you a wonderful end of 2022 and start to 2023.

Your partner in learning,

Julie?

SVP Technology and Innovative Solution / Divergent Solutions at Jacobs

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