What I’m Taking with Me in 2024

I thought it made sense to pop in and say hello. Every time I do, I usually say I’m going to write more posts but then it doesn’t happen so I won’t say that. I do want to keep providing content but I have found (as most old school bloggers eventually find) that folks just aren’t as into long-form written content, which breaks my heart because I love writing a nice, long post but I also want to give you what you want! So maybe I’ll focus on quality over quantity for the time being.

On the personal front, I took all of summer 23 off (and the fall, eek). It was not something I expected to do earlier in the year but as most know the administration I was working for came to an end and rather than jumping into the next thing, I decided to reflect and really figure out what made sense for me. I have many thoughts on this and the realizations I came to in re: women in leadership, specifically women of color in leadership roles and how that guided a lot of what I looked for in my new role. But all in due time!

For now, here are a few gems I’d like to share as we go into the new year:

• Only you know your sacrifice. No one knows how hard you work or the nitty gritty details that go into making your work a success. You need to become comfortable with sharing your wins and promoting yourself.
• There’s still frustration in success. The prove-it-again phenomenon continues as your career progresses. You have to not just develop thick skin but identify ways to highlight your work so you receive appropriate credit.
• Find your cheerleaders. Often, when you’re a young professionals, you feel an urgency to seek mentors and sponsors. That is important, but I found as you grow in your career, what you need is motivators to keep you going. One of the most fulfilling parts of the summer was making an Effort (with a capital e) to reach out to folks to grab a coffee or bite. Some I knew for a long time and others I was meeting for the first time. I left each coffee date energized and focused because it often takes someone else to highlight a strength or give you a fresh perspective. If I hadn’t had these coffee dates, I wouldn’t have added greeting cards to the merchandise line; written an op-ed on being a welcoming city; or landed a role in the sector I wanted. The folks that made those connections for me aren’t mentors per se, and some I’ve only met once or twice, but they have continued to cheer me on and I’m excited to develop these new relationships as my career enters a new chapter.
• Be selective in the advice you take. I tell students interested in law school to take advice only if it is meant for them. The same goes for career development. I can admit not every coffee date was a winner. Some I left a little frustrated with the advice, especially advice that encouraged me to think smaller. It’s important when you’re given any piece of guidance that you think about your own experience, goals, and your understanding of your own talents and skills before you decide to follow it.
• You are someone outside of work. Please don’t think I’m going weirdo softy and claiming that we aren’t are jobs or that you shouldn’t aim to grow in your career. No. I’m often wincing at folks who say they’re not interested in climbing the corporate ladder (or whatever variation) but I won’t get into that just yet. So I do think finding work that you enjoy and can develop in is important. I also understand that as attorneys we have a duty higher than ourselves that requires additional commitments for clients. But something I recognized during my sabbatical was the space outside of work that can be an opportunity to do good. Working closely with civic leaders for the past four years, many who advocated outside of their employment, opened a new world for me. Usually my free time was spent on this community (and that’s not changing!), but I’m really excited to find other organizations and issues to support outside of work. That is a lesson and a nudge to all of us–we need more intelligent Latinas taking up space in all settings, work and otherwise.

Those are some of the lessons from 2023! What did you learn last year and what are y0u taking with you into 2024?