Laid off & Planting Seeds: A Lean Experiment

Being laid off is the ultimate, forced "0-to-1" initiative. You have the raw materials, but the roadmap is suddenly completely blank.

Recently, my career journey took an unexpected detour. One day I’m influencing senior leadership decisions, leading teams of brilliant designers, and piloting AI adoption and integration programs for our entire Technology Organization. The next? I’m looking at a blank canvas.

As someone wired for action and strategy, sitting still isn't exactly in my toolkit. So, while I am actively scoping out the next phase of my career in UX, Research or L&D, I’ve decided to build something else from scratch: A Wildflower CSA. I've had a 6x20 plot at the Lake Claire Community Landtrust in Atlanta for several years. This summer I’m going to run a lean experiment, test my entrepreneurial spirit, and share the fruit of my labor with my intown community. 

Here is the thing about corporate "growth" versus literal growth: they require the exact same mindset.

Whether you are trying to guide a cross-functional team through ambiguity or trying to figure out which seeds can survive the harsh Atlanta summer sun, you have to know what environment your people (or your plants) need to thrive, and you have to be willing to get your hands dirty to support them.

I want to build and lead teams that are resilient, strategic, and unafraid to challenge the status quo. I want to lead projects that are impactful, sustainable, and memorable. 

I’m currently looking for my next opportunity to do just that. In the meantime, I’ll be over here watching things grow. 

What is a "0-to-1" project—at work or at home—that completely changed your perspective?

Lake Claire Community Land Trust (Plot 4), Atlanta, GA