From Job to Intentional Career
Why I Left Nonprofit Burnout to Build My Own Path
Living intentionally is my north star. It brings me fulfillment, internal peace, and a greater sense of purpose. I need to know why I’m doing the task at hand. Lately, I’ve been looking for the common threads connecting each decision I’ve made and how it’s landed me here. Deep reflection on past decisions brings clarity when making new choices.
For many professionals in the middle—coordinators and first-time managers—the question isn’t just about promotion. It’s about alignment:
Do I want to repeat similar experiences, or am I ready for something new?
Do I have more to learn here, or am I hitting a growth edge?
Hitting Your Growth Edge in the Nonprofit Sector
When I left my last hourly position, I had hit my limit. I was ready to grow into a new era of work where I could feel my personal identity contributing to the bigger picture. I needed to create an opportunity to contribute the skills I had been crafting for over a decade.
Building equitable systems that allow people and missions to thrive is what I bring to an organization. If I can’t do that, I’m no longer interested. Power-over systems bore and infuriate me; they are harmful and, plainly said, unoriginal.
But this time was different. I was standing, leaning hard against my growth edge. I could learn from my past, trust the security I had built around myself, and take the leap—or I could continue witnessing the wheels of a limited system turn, yet again.
The Limits of the Traditional Nonprofit Ladder
My intentions were clear: systems need to change to offer real growth to employees and communities. Although I was attempting to follow the initial nonprofit pathway—from Coordinator to (one day) Director—my reach felt limited. My skills were no longer aligning with the offerings.
The "middle" of the organizational chart was going to take longer than I was willing to wait to add my voice. This is a common trap for emerging leaders: the gap between entry-level coordination and executive leadership often feels stagnant, leaving skilled professionals wondering if they are stuck in a career plateau.
Entrepreneurship as Community, Not Isolation
Being an entrepreneur was not my original plan. I love working within a team because it offers community, new ideas, and vital feedback. However, after clearing out some old wounds, my desire for community is coming alive—even within solo entrepreneurship.
I see women everywhere looking to do this work side-by-side:
People at the beginning of their leadership journeys.
Women who burned out and are sharing their vulnerable lessons learned.
Mothers holding up the world around them while naming the importance of their contributions.
Work can be different than how it has traditionally been designed. We can each feel intentional in our choices and valued for the magic we each offer. Although I’m still figuring this thing out, my days now hold meaning, autonomy, and community—more than ever before.
