We Celebrated Her

If someone had told me seven months ago that I'd be posting a picture of my chickens on LinkedIn, I would have thought they were crazy.

LinkedIn is where many of us present the version of ourselves that feels safe in the corporate world. Personal things didn't belong on LinkedIn. And if I ever posted a photo, it certainly wouldn't be a chicken standing in a patchy clover-covered lawn.

Last night, I completed a coaching engagement that marked an important milestone in my coaching journey. As we reflected on her journey, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and humility.

Someone had trusted me enough to let me see parts of herself that she rarely shared with others—thoughts, feelings, fears, and questions she may not have even spoken aloud to herself.

It was a privilege to walk alongside her as she chose a new path for herself.

And we celebrated.

We celebrated the career that now provides meaning and supports her family. We celebrated the conversations she chose to have when they were emotional, uncomfortable, and difficult. Most importantly, we celebrated her—her courage to keep showing up, the hard work she did behind the scenes, and the small but meaningful steps that helped her gain clarity, trust herself, and pursue what she truly wants—believing that her needs matter and deserve to be met.

So yes, I posted about my chickens.

Not because I suddenly became a lifestyle influencer, but because I want to share a little more of who I am outside of Teams calls, meetings, deliverables, and paychecks.

I'm an engineer. A coach. A mother. A woman who loves her chickens.

Technology and AI will continue to shape how we work, and they will influence much of what we do. But there is one thing they can't replace: human connection.

The tears. The laughter. The breakthrough moments. The happy dances. The virtual high-fives.

Those moments remind me why I do this work.

And for that, I am deeply grateful.