College is amazing. You learn great stuff. Yet they don’t teach you one of the most important things to get you ready for your career. The thing that would make an easily crossable bridge to your first job and to each role after that. Any guesses as to what it is?

I’m going to go out on a limb and assert that while the world of work has changed dramatically since I graduated from college, the way college prepares you for that world has not. And because the pace of change has accelerated almost beyond comprehension, mastering the art of experiential learning  - or learning by doing - might be the most important thing you could do in college. Over time, I’m going to show you exactly how to do just that. For now, let’s explore this idea and test it out.

As an undergraduate, for me it was mostly idea learning -- about concepts and stories that had been articulated by others in the past. Don’t get me wrong, this is a beautiful and important...

I’m walking home from the bus.  I realize I’m about to do something radical. I’m going to leave my cushy change consultant job and start a non-profit. I want to do something that makes a real difference for women. I need to, and now. “I have no idea what I’m doing” I tell my husband, “but don’t worry, I’ll figure it out.”

You know how you always read these walk-away stories where people leave their corporate 9 to 5 and stumble into humongous success and change the world? This is not one of those stories. I did start the non-profit though, and based on what the women who went through our programs have told me, we did have an impact. And it was an amazing, life-changing adventure.

What I got out of it was that I love working with women and helping them to step boldly into their future. And I have something valuable to offer them. All these years later, this possibility still lights me up.

How my work experience informs...