The HR Kaleidoscope

Thirty-five years ago today, I walked into the lobby of Accenture in West Hartford, Connecticut, to begin my first day as an HR Coordinator. I was naïve but curious. Wildly ambitious, but still very much in need of coaching and guidance. And I was completely seduced by all the shiny things a budding career could offer, especially at a company like Accenture: world-class leaders, tools, technology, processes, and opportunities.

I was firmly in the honeymoon phase of my HR career. And, in many ways, the joy and excitement I felt that first day have stayed with me all these years.

Don't get me wrong. There have been plenty of days that brought heartbreak and disappointment, days when I questioned my career choice and the path I had taken. After all, HR is centered on perhaps the most complex and unpredictable part of any organization: people.

But when you view your career as a calling, it hits differently.

I've long said that I felt called to HR and that you can't spell "heart" without HR. Beyond the policies, procedures, and protocols lies the deep humanity of this work. That is the part of HR I fell in love with, and the part that has kept me here for 35 years.

I've had the privilege of sitting with employees as they've shared incredible personal news, celebrated promotions and career milestones, or simply needed encouragement during a difficult season. I've had the opportunity to coach leaders through challenging circumstances and experience the satisfaction of watching something we taught or discussed come to life in the way someone leads, communicates, or shows up for their team.

And then there have been the harder moments. The conversations that hit hard but needed to happen. The unexpected life events. The devastating losses. The times when there wasn't a policy, process, or perfectly crafted sentence that could make things better, and the most important thing I could do was simply be present.

Whether those moments lifted my soul or broke my heart, it has been an extraordinary honor to walk alongside so many people through the intersection of work and life. I remain deeply grateful for every person who has trusted me enough to let me into those moments.

On September 9, 1991, I could never have known that walking through those doors would begin the career journey of a lifetime.

Thirty-five years later, I see it as a beautiful kaleidoscope of experiences. With every turn, something has shifted. The people have changed. The workplaces have changed. HR itself has changed tremendously. And so have I. Yet somehow, with every turn, the picture has become richer, more colorful and more meaningful.

If I could say one thing to that young HR Coordinator walking into Accenture all those years ago, it would be this: The shiny things will catch your eye, but the people will capture your heart.

Thirty-five years later, they still do.

What an incredible privilege it has been to make a career out of caring for people, helping organizations become better because of them, and being trusted with some of the most meaningful moments of their working lives.

I started this journey believing I had found a career.

What I discovered was a calling.

And 35 years later, I still feel incredibly blessed that it chose me.

Before We Count What We Missed

Life has a way of reminding us what matters.

This past week, I received news that a friend unexpectedly passed away. My first thought was, Here we go again.

Over the last year, I've had an intimate relationship with grief. Caring for those I love, saying goodbye to my father, and learning firsthand how precious and fragile this life truly is.

But this time, something was different.

While I grieve the loss of my friend, I also found myself grateful.

Grateful that I've been more intentional about spending time with the people I love. Grateful that I immediately said "yes" to an upcoming girls' trip to the beach without worrying about whether it was practical. Grateful that my son and I finally booked our long-awaited trip to Italy. Grateful that I've returned to editing the book that has been waiting patiently for me. Grateful for lingering dinners, good food, good wine, and the kind of conversations with loved ones and dear friends that make you lose track of time and wish the evening could last just a little longer.

For years, I've gladly spent my life pouring into others—my work, my family, and the people I love. But this past year deepened that calling in ways I never expected. It became a season of caregiving, loss, and learning that love often asks the most of us when time feels the shortest. Those experiences changed me.

They taught me that when our time comes, no one will measure our lives by how many emails we answered, meetings we attended, or tasks we completed. The people who gather around us will remember how we loved, how we showed up, the memories we created together, and the lives we touched.

So this is your reminder, as much as it is mine:

Call the friend.
Take the trip.
Write the book.
Order the dessert.
Fall in love, even if it scares you.
Make the memories.
Tell people you love them.

Don't wait for life to remind you that life is short.

Choose to live fully before you're forced to count what you've missed.

Women Who Inspire

When I was asked by two social media platforms who I would recognize for International Women’s Day, my first thought was to name the iconic women we often celebrate, the trailblazers who have influenced not only my life but society as a whole.

But the truth is, the women who inspire me most are much closer to home.

These are not distant figures or stories I’ve read about. They are real women I know. Women I work beside, women I love, women I have watched navigate incredible challenges this past year with a level of courage and grace that continues to inspire me.

I work in an agency that is 70% women. I’m also fortunate to have an extraordinary circle of female friends who have been my lifeline through some very painful seasons over the past few years. When I think about the women who inspire me, I think about them.

The mother who tragically lost her child and somehow finds the strength to rise each day for her family, while still showing up at work determined to contribute and carry on.

The mother confronting painful adolescent challenges with one child while still trying to be present for her other children and her career.

The woman who lost her husband of 60 years and is courageously learning how to navigate a world without him. Sixty years of shared mornings, quiet routines, inside jokes, and a life built side by side. Now she is finding her footing again, one day at a time, carrying both the weight of grief and the strength of the love they built together.

The woman who endured profound childhood trauma and transformed that pain into purpose, writing a book to guide others that went on to win awards and be recognized by esteemed panels.

The new hire, fresh out of college, who moved across the country for her first job, leaving behind everything familiar to boldly chase the life and career she has been dreaming about.

The woman diagnosed with breast cancer who looked it squarely in the eye, told it exactly where to go, and beat it.

The female leaders who work tirelessly to guide their teams, make difficult decisions, while also carrying the responsibilities and demands of life at home.

The woman who spent years battling through the courts and finally secured a divorce settlement that allows her to move forward with her life.

The daughter who lost her mother and is caring for her rapidly declining father, all while never missing a beat at work.

The woman who slays all day at work and then spends her weekends and PTO helping manage her father’s health, finances, and daily life.

The many women, young and seasoned alike, who made the courageous decision to walk away from toxic and/or unfulfilling romantic relationships.

The entrepreneur who closed a successful business because the commute was too taxing on her and her young children, and bravely started over closer to home.

The women who are quietly carrying the responsibilities of both mom and dad.

These are the warriors and queens among me that I have the privilege of witnessing every day and every week. They inspire me more than they know. They fill my cup when my reserves run low. And if I’m being honest, this past year tested those reserves deeply as my family walked through my father’s illness and eventual passing.

What I’ve learned is that the women we most need to admire are often the ones right beside us — the beautiful souls we encounter in ordinary places, navigating messy, complicated, and sometimes heartbreaking life circumstances while still showing up with strength, grace, and determination.

These women may never make headlines. But they are fierce. They are resilient. They are extraordinary. They champion me as well as challenge me.

They are my tribe.

They are the women I aspire to be.

And I hope, in some small way, I can be that kind of woman for them too.

Happy International Women’s Day to the quiet warriors, the resilient hearts, and the everyday queens who lift one another up and keep moving forward.