As one year gives way to the next, many of us naturally start thinking about what we want to do differently. For me, that reflection has been less about resolutions and more about how I want to show up professionally online.

A lot of senior leaders treat public writing the way my Embassy colleagues treated kumis. They circle around it. Study it. Analyze it. Think about it. But never actually try it.

We were in the middle of an unexpected job loss, trying to figure out what came next, and I was spiraling a bit. Then my wife asked a simple question, “Sweetheart, what if we just move somewhere we know we’d love… and figure it out?”

Apparently the key to a career pivot isn’t confidence. It’s surrender. My wife broke that little life nugget to me a few nights ago.

At some point during my unexpected career pivot, I realized I was spending an impressive amount of time thinking about… myself. Things changed when I shifted from obsessing over my own situation to helping other people with theirs.

Nothing rewires your idea of “good writing” faster than an Ambassador handing your first diplomatic cable back bleeding red.

For a stretch in 2025, I went unusually quiet on LinkedIn. What slowed me down was not a lack of ideas. It was something more basic. My LinkedIn profile itself. I bored myself reading about myself. Seriously.

The fractional work model is booming in the private sector. How can you make it work for you?

Work will take everything we give it—unless you set boundaries. Burnout isn’t success, and work-life balance isn’t a luxury. It’s time to work smarter, set limits, and prioritize what truly matters.

Career transitions aren’t just about skills—they’re about confidence. And they aren’t even just about confidence—they’re also about finding hiring managers who are willing to think…dare I say it (yeah, what the heck?)…outside of the box.

For those who’ve jumped between sectors (and back again, like me), the biggest hurdle isn’t a skills gap—it’s a confidence gap. #FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) has held many career pivoters back. Don’t let it.

Let’s talk about thriving in uncertainty. Because whether it’s a career shift, a reinvention, or a complete pivot, we all face unexpected change. And we all have a choice in how we respond.

Who do I need to drop everything and reconnect with today? Not to ask for a favor, not to angle for advice, and certainly not to climb the proverbial career ladder—just to reconnect for the sake of it. And voilà, this top-10 list was born.

As we head into 2025, one question looms large for professionals across industries: Are we effectively integrating generative AI into our work?

Heading into 2025, we might all need some ways to up our professional and personal game. Here are some thoughts…

Who knew that big life decisions can begin with a deceptively simple question.

Out-of-office (OOO) messages are a necessary part of modern work life. But most are boring. Mind-numbingly, soul-crushingly boring. We can do better.