Thank You 2021! Hello, 2022!

I've always loved new beginnings, new projects, new jobs, new moves. As I grow older and rise higher, the stakes also get higher and I find myself more fearful and cautious with change. However, that change of a new year is one that I consistently look forward to with anticipation!

As we wrap up 2021 and step into 2022, I like to start with where my thoughts were this time a year ago. My December 31, 2020 post ended with this paragraph:

2021 - I am looking forward to growing as a #STEM # TECH #Entrepreneur, Providing more contributions to the Diversity & Inclusion space through Business Consulting #DiversityConsulting, and continuing to enjoy #FamilyTime while I finalize the Topic for my #doctorate #DISSERTATION by end of 2021.

If I could add hashtags to 2021 in advance I will say #BOLDNEWGROUND #DEISolutions and #EQIMindset

Well, 2021 Goal achieved and Surpassed beyond imagination. Definitely #BOLDNEWGROUNDS and expansion in different areas. Here are some highlights:

EQImindset Launch: Kicking off the year 2021 in January with the launch of EQIMindset was a bold step and with a diversity, equity, inclusion solution mindset. It was a key step in the direction of my passions and an area of great need. I am grateful for the connections that have been established this year and the opportunities I have had to partner with life science and biotechnology companies to provide retention strategies in the midst of #greatresignation and #greatreshuffle. Strategic partnerships started this year included predictive index certified partnership, dialectic solution partner, and for the direction to provide value to people managers, business leaders, and individual contributors within corporate spaces. 2021 was just the foundation.

Launched the LinkedIn Community of Global Employee Resource Groups and started the free monthly live calls on All things ERG. Connecting ERGs across companies to share best practices and network is an opportunity that is now preferentially leveraged in the world of remote/virtual work. This is growing and continuing in 2022!

Looking forward to the outcome of some strategic relationships and partner programs in 2022.

Professional Speaking: Fully kicked off my speaking this year as well and I am grateful for the opportunities (and time!) to officially invest in building out my website and crafting my talks. Had the support of and highly recommend the Speaker Lab Network and @Johanna Walker speaker coaching programs. Check out my speaker website www.lolaspeaker.com or reach out for samples of my talks around Employee Resource Group (ERG), belonging, and leadership. Excited about the speaking opportunities lined up for 2022 and more to come.

Doctoral Program Progress: Hit a major milestone for my doctoral program this year 2021! Check out my detailed LinkedIn post after the last of my pre-dissertation classes this year. Looking forward to the 2022 - Dissertation start year.

Author Alert! First Book Work in Progress: Fall 2021 saw the start of the work on writing my first book (Working Title: "The 1st generation Woman's Experience in Corporate America"). The original announcement on my Linkedin Post goes into a little more detail on how a long-term dream plus a doctoral plan turned into a book research project.

SapientLogic LLC: I am relatively silent about Sapient Logic on Linkedin because our major client base is niched in the defense space. However, I will be remiss not to call out that 2021 has been a growth year for us moving from 2 full-time employees to 5 full-time (fully benefitted) employees and 4 part-time support. I am grateful for the opportunity to partner with my husband here and leverage our complementary skills to make a difference in the STEM ecosystem. Grateful for the team growth, existing and new clients that trust us to serve with excellence always. Shout out to the best PEO company @Insperity for growing with us, consistently providing excellent service, and as I always say to my business advisor turned friend @Mellissa Perrell - Doing HR right!.

FAMILY: As I step into 2022 - I am looking forward to 2 things I know I will always need #FamilyTime and #SelfCare. I am grateful for my family and the increased time with my kids as well as career lessons that I get to continually witness and highlight from and for my 8, 5, and 1 year old. 3rd grade and Kindergarten will soon roll over in 2022 to 4th grade and 1st grade. As I watch my 3 kids grow I am grateful to be setting examples for them and to make memories with them every day.

Moving from a stage of

"living life just for work"

to a phase of

"discovering purpose and building work around passion"

is a process and a lifelong journey. One that stretches me, can be uncomfortable but is impactful, rewarding, fulfilling, and exciting all at the same time.

It might look like an "all is rosy" post but for each of these efforts, there have been sleepless nights, stress, frustration, lack of confidence, and more than a few disappointments. Moments where it feels like an unending uphill journey. However, stepping into a new year I always like to highlight what went well and get excited for the possibilities for the new year. Because we often move from deadline to deadline, issues to issues, and sometimes forget to celebrate what we did complete successfully.

If I could add hashtags to 2022 in advance I will say #BOLDNEWGROUND #SelfCare #ERG #Opportunities. Looking forward to growing as a #Speaker #Consultant #Author #Doctoral Researcher and #WorkingMom

CHEERs to a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2022!