Change is Hard

 

As Dan Leno in the world premiere of ELIZABETH CREE, Opera Philadelphia.

Believe me, I know.

I began my working life as a singer. I studied opera at the university level in the United States and Germany. I loved it, won all kinds of awards, got nice reviews in the national press, had a halfway decent career across the U.S. — and like to think I was fairly good at my job, too.

But change, as they say, is the only constant. I had a very, very satisfying run as a full-time performer (and I still occasionally do small projects on the side, too!) — but at some point I just wanted more than a fulltime career in the arts could give me.

Since I was little, I’ve also been a science and science-fiction nerd, a lover of all things computers, a strategy gamer, an armchair historian and instinctive public policy analyst, and a graphic design and photography/visual art enthusiast, as well. I love complex projects and helping people discover and overcome their challenges.

These are just some of the reasons I found — and now love working in — Product Management.

 

I love helping others find their way, too.

For years now I’ve been having regular conversations with dozens of folks (particularly from the arts and humanities) who are ready for a change.

They love who they are, they love their craft and their discipline — but they want more than it can provide them as a fulltime endeavor. They want to better be able to support their families, to save for retirement, to just “tickle their brain” in new ways. Usually they are either considering new career pathways in tech in particular or in the private sector more generally.

They may already know what that new path could look like, or they may not. But I’ve loved helping each and every one take a few steps further down their own “road less traveled by.”

 

So, if you are:

  • Just considering the possibilities

  • Pondering a significant career change

  • Have questions about tech and the private sector

  • Already taking steps toward a new career

  • Considering going back to school, mentorship programs, certificates, boot camps, etc

  • Actively seeking a job

 
 

I’m here to help.

  • I can offer you 1:1 career coaching with someone who’s already been through all of it themselves.

  • We’ll take a deep dive into your story, your hopes, and dreams.

  • We’ll examine what you want, what you have to offer, and how the market could use you.

  • I pledge to give you at least 30 minutes of my time for free.

  • If we decide to keep working together beyond that, we will work out a deal that feels fair to both parties.

  • I offer a very broad sliding scale for folks coming from the arts, humanities, and nonprofit worlds.

 

Read more about my own journey below: