SHIFT | The Season of Becoming
The Season of Becoming: How Career Pivots, Purpose, and People Shape Our Next Chapter
The Shift | Opening Reflection
Earlier this year, I found myself circling a concept that felt equal parts liberating and terrifying: the portfolio career. A professional life not defined by one title or a singular trajectory, but by a constellation of callings, each one meaningful, each one mine.
The idea wouldn't leave me alone. It followed me into quiet moments. It asked questions I wasn't sure I could answer. Eventually, it demanded something of me: the courage to reimagine what my career could become.
But before I could design that life, I had to sit with an uncomfortable truth: I didn't know what it would look like yet. I only knew I wanted to live and work in deeper alignment with my purpose—even if the path there was still forming.
So, I gave myself permission. Permission to explore without a finish line. Permission to write, create, experiment, and sit with uncertainty. I drafted essays. I completed a book manuscript on an issue I've championed for years: closing the gender and racial wealth gap. I leaned into the discomfort of not having all the answers.
And then something shifted.
When Alignment Meets Opportunity
They say that when you step into alignment, the right people show up. They did.
My network, mentors, champions, former colleagues, and friends rose to meet me in ways I didn't expect and couldn't have orchestrated. They offered introductions when I needed direction. Collaborations when I needed momentum. Encouragement when I needed reassurance.
In ways both quiet and profound, they helped me see what I couldn't yet see in myself: that the next chapter wasn't something I had to force. It was something I needed to trust. The vision that once felt aspirational began to take shape.
Becoming a Career Chameleon
Today, as the year closes, my career looks nothing like the linear path I was conditioned to pursue and everything like the portfolio life I once only imagined.
I am currently serving as Interim CEO of a Los Angeles nonprofit dedicated to sending talented students from underrepresented communities and under-resourced high schools to college.
I am also co-creating and consulting on a timely and important social impact initiative designed to strengthen civic engagement and support a healthier civil society.
And I continue growing Sampson Dearborn Consulting, coaching leaders, advising organizations, and supporting missions rooted in equity, inclusion, and committed to making a measurable impact.
Three roles. One purpose.
This is the life of a career chameleon—someone who evolves without losing their essence, adapts without compromising their values, and pivots while still moving forward.
The Real Story Behind the Pivot
Let me be honest: this journey has not been seamless. Career reinvention rarely is.
There were months of uncertainty, stress, and no revenue. Moments when I questioned whether I was moving forward or just moving. Times when clarity felt maddeningly out of reach.
But what this season has been is transformative.
I confronted uncomfortable questions about identity, value, and what I truly wanted my leadership to stand for. I rebuilt my sense of self not from scratch, but from something truer—values and purpose. I learned to trust the process even when the outcome was unknown.
The universe met me with generosity but only after I faced the fear, embraced the courage, and leaned into the unknown.
And none of it would have been possible without my network. They offered encouragement when the pivot felt heavy, insight when choices felt murky, and opportunities when I needed to rebuild momentum.
This year reminded me: no one transforms alone. A strong network isn't just helpful—it's often the bridge between possibility and reality.
A Year of Grace, Gratitude, and Growth
As I reflect on this season, I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. For grace. For unexpected doors opening. For meaningful collaborations. For every person who believed in my ability to contribute, lead, and inspire.
Reflections | For Professionals Navigating Their Next Chapter
Alignment:
What part of your career no longer aligns with what you aspire to become?
Where do you feel most energized, curious, or called to contribute?
Adaptability:
In what ways have you already demonstrated resilience or reinvention?
What would it look like to permit yourself to evolve professionally?
Purpose:
What causes, communities, or issues matter most to you right now?
How might these passions inform your next move?
Network:
Who in your circle can offer insight, introductions, or encouragement?
How can you deepen relationships that support your growth?
Impact:
What kind of legacy do you want your next role to help you build?
How do you want people to experience your leadership?
The Last Word | One More Invitation
As you consider your next career move or how you want to give back, I encourage you to explore local nonprofits doing meaningful, measurable work in our communities. Your talents, whatever they are, can make a lasting difference.
Sometimes the most transformative pivot isn't just about what we do next. It's about who we become in the process.
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.