Taking the Time to Reflect
By: Melissa Madzel, Managing Director, Equity Initiatives for Koya Partners
If Covid has brought nothing else, it’s been time to think. We’ve reflected on what’s important and what we need, but also about where our lives might benefit from change. For some, that means thinking about our careers and the ways we can make adjustments to achieve greater fulfillment and meaning. Before we get into the busy-ness of gala season and end of year fundraising goals, I encourage you to carve out some time for a self-assessment. Invest in yourself for an hour. Take stock of where you’ve been and where you want to go next.
Think about your last six months of work. On average, how much time do you spend talking about your job? When you’re talking about it, is it with enthusiasm and excitement? Or, are you feeling burdened or burnt out? If you’re focused on positive challenges that are helping you grow and you’re finding satisfaction, that’s great! Applaud yourself for all you’ve done to reach a place of professional happiness for this point in your journey.
For a lot of us, the last 6-18 months have been a time of professional exhaustion or frustration, dealing with the double burdens of Covid and racial inequity and the ripple effects of all those things. If your self-assessment shows you anger or disappointment, try to determine if your feelings are specific to your current role, your organization, or the general state of languishing that most of us are facing. Separate those things, so you understand what’s actually changeable or what we’re all still muddling through.
This might be the moment to invest in working with a career coach to help you define what’s important and where your best skills are for your next chapter.
As you ask yourself these questions, recognize your overarching patterns. If you have a litany of major issues at work, those might be challenges that require attention. If there are only small inconveniences that would exist in any role, put those into context, especially considering that work life is quickly evolving. People are going back into offices, organizations are addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion in new ways, and childcare is returning to normal.
If you’re realizing you are truly unhappy in your work, think about what possibilities might exist for you. We are in a job-hunters’ market right now, especially for people of color, and there are exciting and new opportunities at every level. This might be the moment to invest in working with a career coach to help you define what’s important and where your best skills are for your next chapter. This is also a moment of unprecedented entrepreneurship. If you’ve been toying with the idea of building your own business, start to research what would be involved in bringing your passion project or your side hustle to life as a full-time role.
As you think about your recent work, remember to consider what’s going well. If you’re content, celebrate the fact that you’re in a situation where you can deepen your expertise. Think about the areas where you might want to stretch and start moving toward a promotion in the coming year or so. Or, determine if now is the time to focus on life outside of work and look for areas in your job where you can give yourself some breathing room.
For a lot of us, the last 6-18 months have been a time of professional exhaustion or frustration, dealing with the double burdens of Covid and racial inequity and the ripple effects of all those things.
Even if you aren’t job-hunting, update your resume, LinkedIn, and bio. Be ready when that recruiter calls with the dream job you didn’t know existed or when you’re invited to give a speech and they need your bio. Update your materials and remind yourself of your accomplishments and the lessons you’ve learned.
Also remember to do a social media check-up. What shows up when you Google yourself or in your Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn profiles? Are you proud of what you see, or do you think anything posted might send an impression about you that isn’t comfortable?
Looking ahead at Black Philanthropy Month, the last thing on your self-assessment list can be consideration of how you’re giving back. How are you sharing your time, treasure, and talent with causes that are meaningful for you? While there are plenty of reasons that your support can help organizations with compelling missions, you will benefit from the positive glow of contributing to an organization doing work that’s important to you.
You have a moment now to consider what lies ahead and there are no boundaries. Spend some time reflecting and then dive into the next chapter!
Melissa Madzel, Managing Director, Equity Initiatives for Koya Partners
As the Managing Director, Equity Initiatives for Koya Partners, Melissa is responsible for ensuring that Koya’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is infused into every aspect of the firm’s work with clients and candidates. In leading this work, Melissa applies her experience as a search leader for numerous organizations, as well as her background in social work and staff development.
Prior to this role, Melissa served as a Managing Director, Executive Search with Koya Partners, primarily focusing on identifying senior leaders for social justice organizations. Melissa led or co-led CEO/Executive Director searches for organizations including: Innocence Project, Demos, Community Change, Foundation for a Just Society, MoveOn, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Hetrick-Martin Institute, among others.
Through her earlier nonprofit work, Melissa developed a deep understanding of a variety of nonprofit roles and organizational cultures. Prior to joining Koya in 2015, she held positions with UNICEF USA, Safe Horizon, and Cities of Service, mainly in the corporate development space. She also served as a Founding Corps Member and Program Manager with City Year New York.
Melissa serves on the Advisory Council of Equity in the Center, a national initiative dedicated to creating a more diverse and equitable social sector talent pipeline. She also actively volunteers her time to provide coaching and mentorship to leaders of color and in the LGBTQ+ community.
She holds a Masters of Social Work from the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her BA in Human Services and Theatre Performance from Northeastern University. Melissa is based in Brooklyn, NY.
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