Let's talk values...
First, why values & where do they come from?
Growing up close to the outdoors in small-town Wyoming taught me how to feel anchored to something: the natural worlds. From there, I've had the privilege of testing & defining my values through a diverse set of experiences around the globe.
As I stepped away from my small-town & started to explore the world in more intangible ways - like leadership - I found that continuing to seek that anchor was critical to staying authentic to myself. My values are constantly shaped by the world around me but have consistently settled into these three categories: meaningful connection, fierce curiosity & long-term vision.
Cultivating intentional connections.
My connection to others and to the planet has allowed me to empathetically walk my path. Authentic connection to me nurturing space in conversations and interactions for someone to show-up just the way they are.
I bring this to my work through requesting and building spaciousness into all interactions. This might look like saving five min at the start of a client call to hear where someone is landing or advocating for user interviews in a learning design process to ensure we are establishing early connections to the people most important to a service.
Driven by curiosity.
At a young age I was already hungry to learn and explore new cultures. Since an ambitious year of high school in Western India, my search for understanding and broadening has serendipitously shaped the career I have held. This inate value of curiosity brought me to Morocco for
- research in 2017 in Morocco
- Moving to Jordan to learn language & discovering an interest in humanitarian development work
- Two years in Kurdistan Region of Iraq
- I have spent much of my career exploring the beauty & complexity of the MENA region.
Envisioning a future.
I've always been an optimist. And it hasn't always been a good thing.