Hello readers,

I’m excited to jump back into my leader onboarding series, but first I wanted to share a quick update on where I’ve been!

The last few weeks have been quieter here because, honestly, I hit a bit of a wall with my layoff. At first I was doing fine, maybe even better than fine. But once the adrenaline and novelty wore off, the grief hit hard. My career had been my anchor for so many years. It gave me purpose, shaped my days, and connected me with people I truly cared about. I built my education and development around the idea of spending my working years there, so letting go of that hasn’t been simple.

Talking with others who went through the same layoff has been such a gift. We have all felt the same mix of confusion, loss, and unfinished business. Hearing their stories has reminded me I’m not alone and that it’s okay for this process to be messy. It may sound dramatic to grieve a job, but working in healthcare came to mean a lot to me. When you put so much of your pride and identity into meaningful work, it is a big adjustment to see that end. I’m grateful to the colleagues who are checking in for walks and talks. It makes all the difference!

At the same time, I’ve had some wonderful reminders of why I started this blog. The notification that I had passed 500 views was a real spark for me. I received personal messages from people who said they appreciated my vulnerability, were impressed that I created this so quickly, and were genuinely interested in what I was sharing. That encouragement showed me this space is resonating and gave me the motivation to keep writing. It has been incredibly grounding and cathartic.

My big update is that I’m taking some exciting steps forward. In a burst of “what next” energy, I signed up for a full-time term of continuing education at UVic. I’ll be diving into courses on data analysis for management science, which include business intelligence, coding, visualization, and storytelling. These are skills I’ve long wanted to strengthen. Much of my work has required building strong cases for resources and collaboration, visually demonstrating systems, and creating learning in a clear, digestible way. With stronger data skills, I’ll be able to present ideas more succinctly and compellingly.

Attending in person feels both strange and refreshing after years of virtual life. Even my MA in Leadership was mostly online. Having the time and space to focus fully on personal development is a real gift, and I’m reminding myself to enjoy the process whether this is just one term or the start of something more.

I’ll share updates along the way, and next up I’ll be back with the continuation of my leader onboarding series. Thank you for sticking with me through the quiet stretch.