Finding a Career Where Thinking, Feeling, and Leading Aren’t Mutually Exclusive

Like many of my colleagues and peers, I did not go to college to get a degree in philanthropy. I thought that I would follow in my family’s footsteps and become an attorney or maybe even get involved in politics. I went to the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia to work toward a master’s degree in Policy Studies. While finishing a research-related project at the City of Sydney Council, I received an email that would change my life:

“Hi everyone—we are looking for a part-time admin to help monitor a matching grants program. Please let me know if you would be interested or if you have anyone else in mind who might be a good fit. Information on the role below.” 

What is a grant program? What is required to do this job? How are grants even administered? I had no idea, but I thought to myself, “This is a great way to make some extra money while finishing up my degree.” Plus, it would be part-time and only for a couple of months. I could gain experience and then move to a role in state government or something more policy related.

However, the unexpected happened: I fell in love with the work. Working in grants administration gave me the opportunity to use the side of my brain that loves organization, attention to detail, and creating and planning processes and combined it with my love for people and community. The work allowed me to use my brain and lead with my heart. It also helped that I had an incredible manager and fearless woman leader who gave me the foundations for this work. From that moment on, I never looked back.

Fast forward eight years and a move back to the United States, I found myself at United Way Suncoast managing their community investment process. My manager, a fearless woman leader who taught me how to think strategically and more globally, really believed in developing her team. In my first year, she put my name forward to go to the Florida Philanthropic Network’s Annual Summit on Philanthropy. I vividly remember walking into the grants managers affinity group meeting, looking around the room of about 35 Florida based grant makers and thought: These are my people.

After the session, I ran over to Jaime Dixon, who was chair of the PEAK Florida Chapter at the time and volunteered my services to help in any way I could. I spent nearly four years going to morning coffees with fellow grantmakers, listening to experts talk about critical developments in our sector, and attending the PEAK Chapter Leaders Annual Summit in Washington, DC, still stands as one of my favorite experiences.

All of these opportunities, interactions, and learning experiences led me to my dream job as president and CEO of the Florida Philanthropic Network—a community of funders across the state who want to build philanthropy for a better Florida. I have been in the role for six months and truly feel like this is where I want and need to be at this point my career.

All of the roles I have held in philanthropy in the past 12 years have stemmed from the epiphany I had back in 2009: find work where I could use my brain and lead with my heart. That is the beautiful gift that philanthropy has given me, and I will always strive to honor my position to help others and advocate for what is best for the philanthropic sector in Florida and beyond.