Why I started...
Professional Career:
I’ve had a career that has been anything but a straight line. If changing jobs and careers makes someone an expert in career change, then I have some serious expertise. My first plan was to go into filmmaking. My next was greeting cards. I went to graduate school for teaching, then decided teaching wasn’t right for me. I was the office manager for a fine chocolate maker, and, as much as I love chocolate, I left that as well. Do you sense a theme here? If anyone needed career guidance, it was me.
Looking back, I realize I was yearning for fulfillment, not just a paycheck. I found myself taking a series of contract positions until I landed one in the Department of Physics at MIT. I realized how much I enjoyed an atmosphere of knowledge and learning. I’ve now been in higher education and learning & development for 20+ years.
Everyone should have the opportunity to find a fulfilling and meaningful career. Having seen first-hand how difficult it is to find the right one, I know there’s a lot we can do. After spending the last several years helping people improve in their jobs through learning, I’m determined to help career seekers through learning.
I very much know what a gift it is to get help when you really need it. In 2016 I received a kidney transplant from a benevolent donor—a complete stranger. It was made possible by a paired exchange: my wife also donated to a stranger on my behalf. From this unbelievable gift I was given by both of them, I wanted to do more to help others. I volunteer at the Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) Foundation, the Strong Memorial Hospital patient council, and I serve on the board of the Association for Talent Development (ATD) Rochester, NY chapter.
In 2018, a couple of years after receiving my MBA from the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, I started my L&D consulting company Unit One Learning, Inc. I’ve worked with organizations that include Bank of America, Kia, Petco, Johnson & Johnson, Meta, and Cornell University.
My number one occupation, though, is being a dad to my three daughters. As they grow up, I just try to listen, provide suggestions, and get out of the way so they can each find the path that’s right for them. Not too different from my job here.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like more information or have any questions. I hope we can help you get the career you’re looking for.