labor, leadership, and learning to be visible ᡣ𐭩 •｡ꪆৎ ˚⋅

 

i first shared this in facebook and facebook has always been a space where i’d share a favorite photo, promote something, or reshare a memory or two — but not like this. not in a journal kind of way. honestly, i get nervous sharing too much — especially when it feels a little vulnerable. but since it’s labor day, a day that honors the heart behind all kinds of work, it feels like the right time to share a few things that have been sitting with me.

lately, i’ve been stepping into spaces that once felt foreign — doing things i never imagined i’d have to do. things that ask me to be seen in ways i’m not used to.

for most of my career, i’ve stayed behind the scenes — happy in my little world of numbers and spreadsheets and month-end reports. i liked it there. i loved the structure and stillness of numbers. i used to think that was enough. that doing good work quietly would speak for itself.

but lately, things have changed. the season has called for more. i’ve had to stretch — to listen more closely, speak more openly, show up more fully. not just for myself, but for the team, for the mission, for the people we want to serve.

and honestly? it still feels a little weird. introducing myself as a co-founder? a coo? that used to feel too loud for someone like me — someone who never really saw herself as the “face” of anything. i used to prefer the quiet, behind-the-scenes kind of life. but i’ve realized that sometimes, being visible isn’t about ego. it’s about responsibility. it’s about standing behind the work you believe in.

so i’ve been putting myself out there — even if just a little. it still feels awkward sometimes (linkedin telling me someone viewed my profile? instant overthinking 😂), but i’m learning to welcome that discomfort. i get it now — this is part of what it means to grow something with intention.

i guess this season is teaching me that showing up can look different than i imagined. it’s not about being loud or performative. it’s about being present. being willing. being honest.

i’ve been listening more — to our team, to our clients, to the people we want to serve. what do they need? what matters to them? where are the gaps we can fill?

and in the midst of all the change, i found myself circling back to my why.

why this company was started. why we kept going, even when things got hard. why we care so much about doing things right — even when no one’s watching.

we’ve been working closely with nonprofit organizations over the years. and that’s not just a niche for me — it’s a calling. who would have thought i'd end up in nonprofit accounting? it wasn't even something i paid attention to in college. now i get to work with mission-driven organizations who are out there doing the real work: feeding, healing, advocating, protecting, educating. and i get to play a small part in helping them keep their finances in order so they can keep doing what they do best.

and we’re doing our best to keep this work going — not just for the clients we serve, but for the people behind the scenes, too. for our team, who have always given so much heart. for the students we welcome in, hoping to give them a space to learn and grow. we’re working toward something sustainable, something rooted in care.

so yeah. maybe this season is awkward and stretching and a little bit scary. maybe i still hesitate when i hit “post.” maybe i still overthink every time i show up online. but it’s also beautiful — because i know i’m not doing this just for me.

i’m doing it for the mission. for the people we serve. for the team i care deeply about. for the dream that’s bigger than me.

on this labor day, i’m holding space for the ones who quietly carry the weight of the work — the steady hands, the listening hearts, the behind-the-scenes souls. i see you. i’m with you. and i hope you’re proud of the work you do.

happy labor day to all the hardworking workers — especially those who don’t always raise their hands first, but still choose to show up anyway.  💻🌿☁️🚶‍♀️

and happy labor day to the incredible team i've had the privilege to work with. grateful for your heart, your effort, and the quiet strength you brought into everything. wherever life takes us, the work we shared will always mean something to me. 💙

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