This quiet week between Christmas and New Year’s has been perfect for resting and thinking about what worked in 2024 and what I want to focus on next year.
Consulting and Professional Life
The past year brought fascinating projects with terrific clients, split between strategic development work with smaller nonprofits and AI coaching/consulting for nonprofits and small businesses.
For 2025, I’ll continue working with a limited client group. While I’m currently fully booked, I’m open to spring projects in three areas:
- Building AI tools and supporting AI integration in nonprofit organizations
- Strategic and systems development for small/emerging nonprofits (development plans, grant strategy, major donor and board development work)
- Projects that support federated data, metadata, and the open web.
Board and Pro Bono Work
- I’m proud to serve on the Hack the Hood board. If you’re curious about this highly effective BIPOC and woman-led tech equity nonprofit focused on young people aged 16-30, let me know.
- I set aside time each quarter for pro bono 1:1 AI coaching sessions with nonprofit leaders of community-focused small and emerging nonprofit organizations with budgets less than $100K. If you are interested, please contact me.
Exercise and Health
After two years of weightlifting, I’m setting some new goals:
- More workouts, more weight – aiming for 5x weekly gym sessions to build strength and endurance
- Exploring competitions – planning to check out some local meets this winter as a spectator, maybe compete in masters later this year (not expecting records, just sounds fun)
- Getting back to yoga – it’s a great complement to lifting. I did it for six months before stopping and want to get back 1-2x weekly.
Asks and Appreciations
- Ask: Help Me Find A Mutual Aid project in Oakland or Berkeley.
- What is a great local volunteer-driven mutual project I can work with? As I explore what is out there, I welcome suggestions.
- Appreciation: So many people made this year interesting and worthwhile. Thank you, Miriam Abrams, Dan Aronson, Lauren Ekman, Barbara Gee, Janet Heller, Lauren Hall, Cindy Johanson, Beth Kanter, Jolie Karno, Avril Landes, Kenyatta Leal, Sharyl McGrew, Meredith Curry Nunez, George Oates, Elisa Camahort Page, Madeline Porter, Sylvia Nachingtal, Trevor Parnham, Sylvia Paul, Charley Wang, Eliza Wing and Renee Ventimiglia for your excellent ideas and energy. I look forward to more good work and fun together in 2025.
Personal Learning and Growth
- Better work/life balance: One pleasure of 2024 was seeing my work/life balance conflicts become easier to manage. I started the year conflicted about my ambition and the time I wanted to spend at work. By the end of 2024, I’d resolved those issues and felt okay about letting some opportunities go so I could stay part-time.
- Improved habits around food and drink: Mindless eating and social drinking have been issues for me. It’s so easy to consume because others are or because I am not paying attention. This year, I cut way down on my drinking and also paid closer attention to what and when I ate. The improved numbers in my blood work proved it’s working.
- Getting more chill: Aging seems to be about saying no to things you don’t want to do and stressing less about battles you don’t need to fight. Letting go of having an active opinion about everything has benefited my stress level and my mood.
Life Outside Work
- Reading: OMG, I love to read! Thank goodness for digital library books. I read 175 books this year and welcome hearing about books you loved in 2024.
- Cooking: Yeah, I cooked over 220 dishes this year; I cut way down on the baking and focused on vegetables and protein.
- Friends: Friend dates are the best! I was doing well seeing friends regularly until Thanksgiving, but the winter holidays kicked it all to the curb. It’s time to reset.
Values and Purpose
I’m heading into 2025 actively listening and reflecting but also insulating myself from the toxicity of our news cycles and our incoming government. Ways I want to show up include:
- Doing more with our synagogue
- Supporting youth and our trans and LQBTQIA community
- Continuing to stand up for education and career affordability, access, and equity
- Being deeply connected to friends and family.
Looking Ahead
This past year taught me a lot about what matters: doing meaningful work while staying true to my rhythm, keeping close to friends and family, taking care of my health, and showing up for my community. I’m entering 2025 feeling more confident about my priorities and more comfortable with my choices.
I would love to connect if our paths cross in any of these areas: AI in nonprofits, mutual aid work, weightlifting, or a thoughtful conversation over coffee.
Wishing you confidence, prosperity, purpose, and joy in the coming year.
This quiet week between Christmas and New Year’s has been perfect for resting and thinking about what worked in 2024 and what I want to focus on next year.
Consulting and Professional Life
The past year brought fascinating projects with terrific clients, split between strategic development work with smaller nonprofits and AI coaching/consulting for nonprofits and small businesses.
For 2025, I’ll continue working with a limited client group. While I’m currently fully booked, I’m open to spring projects in three areas:
- Building AI tools and supporting AI integration in nonprofit organizations
- Strategic and systems development for small/emerging nonprofits (development plans, grant strategy, major donor and board development work)
- Projects that support federated data, metadata, and the open web.
Board and Pro Bono Work
- I’m proud to serve on the Hack the Hood board. If you’re curious about this highly effective BIPOC and woman-led tech equity nonprofit focused on young people aged 16-30, let me know.
- I set aside time each quarter for pro bono 1:1 AI coaching sessions with nonprofit leaders of community-focused small and emerging nonprofit organizations with budgets less than $100K. If you are interested, please contact me.
Exercise and Health
After two years of weightlifting, I’m setting some new goals:
- More workouts, more weight – aiming for 5x weekly gym sessions to build strength and endurance
- Exploring competitions – planning to check out some local meets this winter as a spectator, maybe compete in masters later this year (not expecting records, just sounds fun)
- Getting back to yoga – it’s a great complement to lifting. I did it for six months before stopping and want to get back 1-2x weekly.
Asks and Appreciations
- Ask: Help Me Find A Mutual Aid project in Oakland or Berkeley.
- What is a great local volunteer-driven mutual project I can work with? As I explore what is out there, I welcome suggestions.
- Appreciation: So many people made this year interesting and worthwhile. Thank you, Miriam Abrams, Dan Aronson, Lauren Ekman, Barbara Gee, Janet Heller, Lauren Hall, Cindy Johanson, Beth Kanter, Jolie Karno, Avril Landes, Kenyatta Leal, Sharyl McGrew, Meredith Curry Nunez, George Oates, Elisa Camahort Page, Madeline Porter, Sylvia Nachingtal, Trevor Parnham, Sylvia Paul, Charley Wang, Eliza Wing and Renee Ventimiglia for your excellent ideas and energy. I look forward to more good work and fun together in 2025.
Personal Learning and Growth
- Better work/life balance: One pleasure of 2024 was seeing my work/life balance conflicts become easier to manage. I started the year conflicted about my ambition and the time I wanted to spend at work. By the end of 2024, I’d resolved those issues and felt okay about letting some opportunities go so I could stay part-time.
- Improved habits around food and drink: Mindless eating and social drinking have been issues for me. It’s so easy to consume because others are or because I am not paying attention. This year, I cut way down on my drinking and also paid closer attention to what and when I ate. The improved numbers in my blood work proved it’s working.
- Getting more chill: Aging seems to be about saying no to things you don’t want to do and stressing less about battles you don’t need to fight. Letting go of having an active opinion about everything has benefited my stress level and my mood.
Life Outside Work
- Reading: OMG, I love to read! Thank goodness for digital library books. I read 175 books this year and welcome hearing about books you loved in 2024.
- Cooking: Yeah, I cooked over 220 dishes this year; I cut way down on the baking and focused on vegetables and protein.
- Friends: Friend dates are the best! I was doing well seeing friends regularly until Thanksgiving, but the winter holidays kicked it all to the curb. It’s time to reset.
Values and Purpose
I’m heading into 2025 actively listening and reflecting but also insulating myself from the toxicity of our news cycles and our incoming government. Ways I want to show up include:
- Doing more with our synagogue
- Supporting youth and our trans and LQBTQIA community
- Continuing to stand up for education and career affordability, access, and equity
- Being deeply connected to friends and family.
Looking Ahead
This past year taught me a lot about what matters: doing meaningful work while staying true to my rhythm, keeping close to friends and family, taking care of my health, and showing up for my community. I’m entering 2025 feeling more confident about my priorities and more comfortable with my choices.
I would love to connect if our paths cross in any of these areas: AI in nonprofits, mutual aid work, weightlifting, or a thoughtful conversation over coffee.
Wishing you confidence, prosperity, purpose, and joy in the coming year.