A New Career Helping Orphans Overseas
What are you doing now and how did you end up at the Global Education Fund?
I am currently the Program Director of Global Education Fund, a non-profit based in Boulder, Colorado that works to improve the lives of orphans around the world through education, primarily by providing books and scholarships. My path to Global Education Fund has been anything but straight, but I am fortunate that my current job combines my major interests and work experiences.
I graduated from college in 1982 and after a brief stint in commercial banking (definitely not the right fit!), I spent a year backpacking around South East Asia, which was a hugely formative and life-changing experience. I returned to the US committed to working in international development and spent 2 years doing consulting projects for the U.S. Agency for International development. I then returned to graduate school where I met my husband and managed to survive business school. I continued on the international track for a few more years until I realized that lengthy international assignments were not terribly compatible with marriage and starting a family. I made a significant career switch at 31 and began working in domestic education reform for a large Washington DC based non-profit. I loved the work, but as my family grew (3 boys in 5 years), I scaled back. Over the course of six years I went from full-time work to part-time work to consulting and finally stopped working outside the home altogether.
I agonized over the decision to stop working in 1997. I remember being advised to take “the long view” and see my family/career choices in the context of a several decade journey, but that didn’t make sense to me at the time. Ten years later in 2007, I have found a job that combines my passions for both international development and education and I realize how sound that advice actually was.
How much time did you take off from the workplace and what were those years like?
I was out of the formal work force for about ten years. During that time I had a few consulting positions and lots of volunteer experiences, at my kids’ schools and on community boards. When I initially stopped working we lived in Washington DC where many women combined mothering and working and I was constantly faced with the trade-offs of the choice I made. About two years later my husband and I decided to escape the pressures of DC life and ended up in Boulder, CO. For the next eight years I had a great time being a stay-at-home mother. Life was busy and satisfying, in part due to the fact that many of the other mothers in my community were also not working outside the home and there were fewer appealing job opportunities for me.
How did you successfully re-enter the workplace?
I re-entered the work force gradually. I started as a volunteer for Global Education Fund, then joined the Board of Directors and then began to take on program responsibilities. After several years of involvement with the organization I eventually joined the staff as the Program Director.
What is the most rewarding aspect of your career now?
I feel very fortunate to have a job where I can make a positive difference in the lives of children. I’ve always been drawn to helping children in developing countries, where the needs are most extreme. This summer I was able to spend six weeks in Kenya, meeting incredible orphaned children, whose motivation and determination for an education inspire me every day. It is incredibly satisfying to be developing programs that will help these children improve their lives through education.
How important is networking to you?
Networking is very important. The older I get , the more I realize that all those contacts you make along the way can help you in ways you might not expect!
Do you have a mentor? How do they support you?
I don’t have a mentor, but find support from family and friends.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experience?
Learn more about what we are doing at Global Education Fund at our website: www.globaleducationfund.org
