About
Hi, I’m Maianna. Welcome to my blog!
This is a reflective writing hobby for me as I pause after a lay off. I’ll share posts about career transitions, personal growth, and navigating identity beyond job titles. If you’re in a similar place or just curious about the journey, I’m glad you’re here and hope you’ll connect!
Category: Uncategorized
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Be real, Mai. Is Chat writing these posts? No one has actually asked me this, but I know we’re all skeptics these days. Personally, I’m still mourning the loss of em dashes. I’ve always loved how much impact that little line holds. This post shares my unfiltered thoughts on how I use ChatGPT effectively, ethically,…
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I’ve applied to a position that centers around planning and performance, and find myself revisiting some of the core talents and values shaping my work over the years. Thinking about stepping into this work full-time has reminded me how lit up I get when collaborating with leaders and teams to clarify the north star we’re…
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Why Succession Planning Matters Leader succession planning is something I’ve cared about for a long time. A good leader steps into their role to support their people and do meaningful work. But even the best leaders eventually move on, whether to new opportunities, retirement, or the next stage of their lives. Strong organizations recognize this.…
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It’s been three weeks since I went back to school, and I couldn’t be happier with the decision. When I first shared the news, many people were skeptical: Why data analytics? Coding? Isn’t that so hard? Do you even need it? From where I sit now, I’m so grateful to myself for this choice. Why…
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This morning, getting ready for my 9 a.m. class at UVic, I reached for my laptop bag instead of my usual backpack. Muscle memory kicked in and I spent three minutes looking for my work phone, until I remembered: I don’t have one anymore. Then came the reminders: a cupboard snack bag held shut with…
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Leader Onboarding Series part 3: How to Onboard Yourself as a New Leader You may not control the whole system, but you do control how you show up. The first few weeks are a chance to lead with presence, purpose, and curiosity. Being a new leader in today’s climate is often nerve-wracking and confusing. It…
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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…
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In my last post, I explored what we often get wrong when onboarding leaders and why those missteps matter more than we think. Now it’s time to talk about how to do it well. But let me be clear from the outset: this isn’t a checklist of best practices. Most organizations (hopefully) already offer the…
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Leadership onboarding, development, and succession planning is something I’ve cared deeply about for a long time. My original Master’s capstone was focused on this exact topic, and I spent years working closely with leaders across healthcare and academic settings. What I saw again and again was this: when new leaders are set up to succeed,…
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Now that the layoff has started to sink in, I’m turning my attention to what comes next. A retreat in Bali? Walking the Camino de Santiago? Volunteering on a permaculture farm in Costa Rica? Just kidding. Louis, my partner, is still working full time, we have a five-month-old puppy, and I’m actively looking for my…
Living work-adjacent 