SHIFT | Navigating the Bends of a Purposeful Life
Opening Reflection
Life—if we're fortunate enough to live it fully—is not linear. It curves. It bends. It humbles. And when we allow it, it rises. I call this bend the ARC: Ascension. Resilience. Catalyst. In a world where careers are disrupted, reimagined, and rebuilt faster than ever, understanding your ARC is no longer simply reflective work; it’s a survival strategy.
Professionals at every level are experiencing this bend. The average American now holds nearly 12 jobs over a lifetime, and median job tenure is down to 3.9 years. Reinvention is no longer a disruption, it’s the default.
I've seen this truth reflected in countless stories. As a visiting executive participating in university career programs, I've had the privilege of both sharing my journey and witnessing others share theirs. I think of the senior leader who grew up on the "wrong side of the tracks" yet outpaced peers born into privilege by cultivating a relentless work ethic and developing an eye for untapped potential in overlooked markets. And then there’s the colleague who mapped his path into aviation— only to enter a job market with minimal demand. He pivoted into sales and built an advisory practice serving highly specialized healthcare professionals. His story reflects a reality: in today’s rapidly shifting workplace, career paths seldom hold to the plan.
Each of them bent toward their purpose—not through privilege or luck, but through resourcefulness and resilience. Each proved that the arc of a meaningful career isn't about avoiding obstacles; it's about what you build while navigating them.
Ascension. Resilience. Catalyst. This is the roadmap of destiny: a life shaped by faith, force, and fire. A prism of triumphs, detours, lessons, and legacies. A reflection of what happens when you trust the process, even when the process makes no sense.
"The ARC is not a straight climb. It's the dance between surrender and strength."
Ascension | The Power of Purpose
From my earliest days, I understood the power of possibility—even when it wasn't directly handed to me. I wasn't born into privilege. I was born into purpose. And that purpose pulled me forward.
Education opened the first doors. Corporate life taught me fluency—how to speak the language of power while preserving the poetry of my voice. I earned my way, through hard work and persistence, into rooms where few looked like me and I was intentional about making space in those rooms for others. I became a leader of people, a voice for equity, and a builder of culture. My leadership became synonymous with integrity, inclusion, and innovation.
Ascension is the set of experiences, opportunities, and intentional decisions that lift you into your purpose and the leader you’re meant to be.
" Success isn’t just about climbing the ladder. It’s about making it sturdier for those coming behind us."
Resilience | The Art of Rising Differently
But the climb isn't the whole story. Resilience lives in the valleys—in the layoffs, the restructurings, the whispered "too much," "not enough," or the coded "too experienced."
In a world where stability is no longer guaranteed, resilience is becoming one of the most valuable leadership competencies.
I've been counted out and still showed up. I've sat in silence when my voice was ignored, then with great resolve built a platform so strong it could never be silenced again.
It's what sustained me when the work of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—work I had poured my soul into for two decades, became politicized and under attack. When I lost not only my role but a piece of my identity. It's what I leaned into when reinvention wasn't a choice but a command from life itself.
“Resilience isn't recovery, it's transformation."
Catalyst | The Call to Impact
There's something sacred about being called to your work, your community, your impact.
Leaders influence people. Catalysts ignite movements. I've spent years as a consultant and corporate leader helping organizations find their compass, helping leaders find their courage, and helping communities find their voice. Not everyone recognizes their calling. I hope that you will.
Being a catalyst is rarely the easy path. It requires moving forward even when the terrain is uneven and uncertain. It demands the courage to be misunderstood, underestimated, or to walk alone—because your work isn't meant to attract applause. Your work is to spark change, ignite momentum, and create sustainable transformation.
I've walked through fire and emerged with an indomitable strength. I've coached leaders, mentored rising stars, designed strategies that shifted cultures, and held space for both the bold and the brokenhearted.
My life's work has included building bridges between corporate strategy and the soul of organizations.
"Purpose doesn't promise ease—it promises evolution."
But here's what I know for certain:
No matter how strategic or flexible I've been, I didn't get here on intellect or sheer luck. I got here through grace—however you define it and through community. Through mentors who saw potential I couldn't yet see. Through colleagues who opened doors and held them open for others. Through family and friends who believed in my vision when the path was unclear.
We rise collectively, not alone. And whatever success we achieve belongs to the web of support that made it possible.
"Grace fills the gaps that strategy can't."
Insights from the Field
If you've scrolled through your LinkedIn feed lately, you've seen the relentless pattern: another round of corporate layoffs, another accomplished leader reinventing themselves mid-career, another professional navigating the uncertain terrain between what was and what's next.
The numbers tell a sobering story. Hundreds of thousands of professionals have faced job loss in recent years—not because they weren't talented, dedicated, or strategic, but because markets shifted, priorities changed, and entire departments vanished overnight.
If you're one of them, I see you. Your experience matters. Your expertise still holds value, even when the market temporarily says otherwise.
The economic pressures are real. The uncertainty is heavy. And the truth is, many people are not okay and that's okay to acknowledge. We don't need to perform resilience we don't yet feel.
“The ARC isn’t just personal, it’s a professional imperative.”
But here's what gives me hope, and what I've witnessed firsthand: the same ARC that defines a life well-lived also defines a career that bends toward purpose. The professionals who not only survive these transitions but emerge stronger aren't necessarily the most credentialed or connected, they're the ones who embrace their full arc.
If you're navigating this difficult season, consider this your invitation to explore your own ARC:
Where have you ascended? What victories, skills, and strengths can you carry forward?
How have you demonstrated resilience? What adversity have you already overcome that proves your capacity to rise again?
What kind of catalyst can you become? What impact do you want to create in this next chapter?
Ascension. Resilience. Catalyst. These aren't just inspiring words, they're professional tools for survival, reinvention, and leadership in today's volatile world.
May your journey bend toward something not just viable, but purposeful. May it be interesting, prosperous, and above all, meaningful.
You're not starting over. You're building on everything that brought you here.
Closing Reflection
Life and leadership are not straight lines; they are arcs. They twist, stretch, and sometimes break before they bend back toward purpose.
So, wherever you are on your journey—ascending, rebuilding, or rediscovering your call, remember this:
The question isn't whether you'll face valleys. The question is: What will you become because of them?
What's your ARC teaching you right now? I'd love to hear your story.
Whether you’re leading a team or leaning into your new chapter, the following questions are designed to ground you in your ARC.
“Your ARC shapes not just where you’ve been, but the career decisions you make next.”
Reflections | For Professionals
🟢 Reframe the Valley: What lesson might your current challenge be preparing you to teach someone else?
Action: Write down your current challenge. Now complete this sentence: "This season is preparing me to teach others how to ___________."
🟣 Define Your Ascent: Where are you climbing out of obligation, and where are you climbing toward purpose?
Action: Create two columns. Label one "Obligation" and one "Purpose." List where you're investing energy in each. What needs to shift?
Reflections | For Leaders
🟠 The Culture Check: Does your organization create space for employees to fall, recover, and rise differently?
Action: Ask three employees: "Does our culture give you space to fail, recover, and grow differently?" Listen without defensiveness.
🟣 The Legacy Lens: What ladder are you strengthening for the people coming behind you?
Action: Identify one person, perhaps an emerging leader or a rising star. This quarter, create one opportunity, introduction, or development experience specifically for them.
Leaders don't just manage behavior, they model possibility.
From the Editor
Perika Sampson
Founder & Principal, Sampson Dearborn Consulting
The editions of SHIFT begin with reflection—because meaningful change always starts there. I hope that this space becomes a home for thought leadership, practical wisdom, and stories that inspire both introspection and action.
If you find resonance in these words, I invite you to share them and to join me in shaping conversations that move us from awareness to accountability, from fatigue to renewal, and from inequity to collective healing.
Let’s exchange ideas, courage, and commitment—one story at a time.