Jason Fonder’s Post

I don’t “do” out loud reflection, but today is my 19 years 1 day work anniversary (Humanaversary we call it). I included some pics of some of the people on my journey (some of them when I was 50 lbs heavier😬). 19 years ago today I was in Day Two orientation and met Mary Gagan-Skoldberg who was the facilitator and my life was changed forever. I’d burned out of my last job and took a role as a trainer and just wanted to blend into the woodwork for a while and get my feet back under me. I think we’ve all been there. And Mary took an interest in me and my background and a week later plucked me out of my training class and took me into the hallway. There she asked me if I’d help her with a project. That project would evolve into a job, which would evolve into another and would build (and rebuild) me. There is no way I could repay her. Some years later I would meet my new leader Wendy Dowd who’d be the single greatest advocate I’ve ever had and will ever have. She trusted me, listened to me, and together we did some incredibly cool work. So all these years later, 19 of ‘em, I am grateful for the power of two leaders that made all the difference in my work life. I can only hope to be half the leader, half the person, that they were and are. They made me want to be better. Some would say they were Perfect.