A New Beginning
Originally published on November 8, 2018 on LinkedIn
Last month, I resigned from the Boeing Company, after 13 years, 2 months, 2 week, and 3 days. WHAT A FEELING!
I wanted to work in Aerospace since I was a small kid when I used to pore over atlases and space books and soak up as much knowledge as I could about the scientific universe. It’s the driving force that brought me to the USA at the young age of 17, leaving my parents and the safe confines of my home and the full exciting life I was living in the greatest city in the world, London.
After graduating with my degree in Mechanical Engineering, I remember getting my first job with Boeing flight test engineering, supporting the testing of some of the most complex and amazing machines in the world. It was incredible. Moving to Seattle, earning my own money, and succeeding in a company where most people didn’t look or think like me, was so rewarding. I designed airplane test installations, flew on extreme test flights, traveled to remote testing locations, and helped define the strategic direction of the organization as a leader and manager, always prioritizing the involvement, learning and development of people along the way. I guess you could say I achieved what I had wanted for so long, and yet, I wasn’t feeling well physically, and struggled to not pour my heart and soul into my work, at the detriment of my wellbeing, and also my ability to be a present and whole mother for my 2 little girls.
This year has been extremely tough for me with my health issues getting so bad that my body was telling me I had to make a change, and this time I had to listen. I have suffered with chronic pain in my neck, shoulders, and chest, for over 10 years and my desk job has inflamed the situation. I have 2 little girls, a wonderful husband, a job that I love, and none of this left time for me and my health so after many years of battling this pain, I had to place my health not just higher on the list, but at the top.
So here I am….
A new beginning.
Whats next? First and foremost — health, and being present for my family. Next, I’m cooking up a business, and applying my love of creativity, technology, and organizational design to my new venture. I am designing the life I need right now, and disrupting myself so I can experiment with a life and career on my own terms around issues that I am passionate about. I will definitely be sharing more in this arena, so please stay tuned.
I am so grateful for my journey, for the process of evolving as a human being, and for my fellow travelers. Here’s to making things better and moving towards change even when its freaking scary!
