Where do you belong in 2020?

The extraordinary events of 2020 have forced us all to slow down, think differently, improvise, and deal with new and sometimes unprecedented challenges. Over the past several months, the feelings of fear and isolation arising from the global pandemic and quarantine have come to the fore of our daily lives. For someone used to commuting to an office, working alongside my teams, and collaborating with partners, these dramatic lifestyle shifts have been jarring and, more than anything, isolating. As I’m sure many of us do, I miss the sense of connection that these communities give me. I began to wonder, “Where do I belong?”

Here are 3 steps I’m taking to make my isolation obsolete:

1. Reflect and Calibrate for Personal Growth: 

The first step I’ve taken is to invest time in self-reflection. Life is different now–and things may never go back to the way they used to be. With everything going on around me, I need to calibrate my emotions for personal growth. 

When the COVID quarantine started, it marked a new chapter of my life. The shift to working from home was an adjustment, but I managed. Then, in the blink of an eye, the realities of COVID set in. My employer reduced the size of the company by 30% and, in doing so, laid off most of the marketing department. Just like that, the talented members of my marketing team and I prepared for yet another shift–from working from home to unemployment. 

The rollercoaster of emotions ranged from surprise to disappointment to sadness. All of these feelings were driven by external forces beyond my control. Nevertheless, it was tough. My friends kept telling me, “just take one day at a time”. So I decided to calibrate and organize my emotions around staying connected to the world around me. On the one hand, we had COVID and quarantine = don’t go out. On the other, more people were turning to digital platforms to maintain some degree of connection, as well as use their voices to take a stand for social justice. 

It was clear that if I wanted to stay connected during this time, I would need to shift my mindset from “Things will go back to normal soon” to “How can I continue to do meaningful work now?”. For me, this process involved a fair bit of self-reflection. I used this time to think about my path forward. What makes me happy? What’s important to me, both personally and professionally? What communities do I belong to–or should I belong to– that could use my help? At the same time, I recommitted to self-care in the form of daily workouts and meditation which, admittedly, had gotten away from me in start-up life. And, I even took this opportunity to adopt a rescue puppy...an adventure I have been wanting for a long time. Her name is Rémy-Ko.

My days began to feel more focused and productive and I began to hit my stride again with positive forward momentum. But it wasn’t easy! Reflecting and calibrating your life is hard work. It requires discipline to look inward, being honest, and staying true to yourself so that you can show up as your best self every day. 

2. Recommit to your purpose.

The second step I took during this time was to recommit to my purpose, no matter the constraints around me. My personal mission is to help move the world forward. In the past, I have used my work and career to drive positive change in the world. Being unemployed in a COVID world, I struggled to know just how to continue fulfilling my purpose. Right about then, the Black Lives Matter movement started to regain momentum. My desire to connect with others and use my voice grew stronger than ever. If resilience is about enduring difficult times, I needed to shift my mindset to agility. For me, this meant proactively reaching out to those I could help, starting with my family and my chosen family, then my former work family and the broader community. 

In the spirit of shifting from resilience to agility, I’ve devoted my time to serving my community, pouring my heart into mentoring, coaching, and advising–adding value digitally and remotely. I remain committed to helping my former marketing team members find new jobs. I work with the StreetCode Academy providing free courses for communities of color. I participate as an Executive Mentor for the Adweek community to help others rise. I advise VCs on funds that support diverse entrepreneurs and I joined a global task force for social justice with my friends in the PTTOW! community with the goal of being catalysts for change in equality and empowerment. Essentially, I’ve recommitted to my purpose within communities where I can: talk about challenges; interact with other thought leaders; collaborate with fellow creators; mentor and coach the next generation; and support others who want to use their voice. Suddenly, my days became filled with inspiring work across a variety of communities using digital platforms to connect on real issues.

It’s easy to put limitations on your life’s purpose by thinking about what you can’t do or should not do. To gain momentum, focus on what you should do and what you will do. Name it and claim it! Digital platforms and communities have fueled my ability to recommit to my personal mission to focus on empowering the next generation and to build communities that can move the world forward. Once you know what your purpose is, there will be little that can stop you from going after it.

3. Reimagine “Belonging”

The third step I took has led me to the next chapter in my career. With the global events of 2020, I realized I needed to expand my definition of the word, “belonging”, beyond simply “an affinity for a place or situation”. In previous roles, I’ve focused on a powerful, but narrow, expression of community. At Nike, I created a digital training community through Nike Training Club. At VSCO, I fostered a digital creative community. I’m proud of these accomplishments and the impact of these communities. But 2020 has helped me understand the even greater potential in digital communities to find purpose and belonging.

Turns out, the universe really does work in amazing ways, especially when it comes to presenting you with the right opportunities at the right time. Only after I had recalibrated my mindset for new ways to grow, and after I had recommitted to my purpose to move the world forward, was I introduced to Jason Citron, the CEO/Co-Founder of Discord. And, I felt ready for the opportunity he presented to me. It was inspiring and refreshing to learn that Discord exists to give everyone the power to create belonging in their life. More than ever before, Discord had become the place for me and, at the same time, I had become the person for Discord.

And so, I am excited to announce that I have joined Discord, Inc. as Chief Marketing Officer. The company is expanding to become the place to talk for all kinds of communities: people who play games online, of course, but also creators, students, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to find community. I will oversee the company’s brand, consumer, and product marketing functions. Come join me on this journey. We’re hiring.