Like more than 2 million women in the United States, I left my job in the first few months of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pressure and stress of performing at work on top of the pressure and stress of homeschooling and caring for my children with no safe child care resources in sight was too much for me to manage. I started this consulting group out of a desire to continue to stay connected to my profession, the work I want to do, and the people I most want to serve, but the journey has not been easy.
Our military family is privileged to be able to sustain itself as a one income household but this is not the case for every family and many women are headed back to the workforce even as we face another influx of Covid-19. Inspired by a post shared by the incomparable Stacey Abrams, I am making the 40 x 40 pledge proposed by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, and offering 40-minute mentoring sessions in the month of August to military spouses and caregivers who are trying to return to work or are considering entrepreneurship.
I am no Stacey Abrams, but the following experiences allow me the personal and professional insight to offer some assistance to the military spouse and caregiver communities:
I served as the Project Manager for the Microsoft Military Spouse Technology Academy where we piloted a program designed to teach job search skills and technical skills to spouses hoping to enter new careers.
While at Microsoft I was a featured speaker in a panel webinar hosted by Fairygodboss, an organization a women's career community, expert career advice, job openings and company reviews to help you advance your career.
I hosted a podcast called SO Unbecoming where I shared the stories of military spouses transitioning into the traditional workforce.
I hosted the first season of the podcast Owning Up for the Association for Military Spouse Entrepreneurs where we told the REAL stories behind military spouse owned businesses.
I am currently a Subject Matter Expert for The Rosie Network’s “Service 2 CEO” program where I have helped dozens of veteran and military spouses prepare to pitch and market their new or existing businesses.
I am currently a faculty associate at Columbia University in the City of New York where I team teach students in the Master of Science in Information and Knowledge Strategy program on subjects that include the Future of Work and knowledge strategy development and consulting.
As a Doctor of Social Work and recent graduate of the University of Southern California, I am passionate about and skilled in developing solutions and new possibilities in the face of highly difficult global challenges from social isolation to equity.
I am the mother of 3 children, 19, 10, and 8, and I value my own need for professional fulfillment and their need for present, loving, and capable caregivers and educators.
I am the daughter of a woman who has lived with advanced dementia for over a decade who has had to put her care in the capable hands of others and who lives with ambiguous grief as our family has moved across the country in service to the nation without her.
It brings me tremendous JOY to serve and support others.
Interested in a 40 minute mentoring session? Sign up for a timeslot here! I am looking forward to our chat!
With Gratitude and Kindness,
Jamie
