I took this shot on my final day as a museum educator at the nonprofit I’d adored for nearly 15 years. After finally admitting I could no longer do my deep work there, I’d made the decision that it was time to move on.

The choice hadn’t come lightly. For more than a decade, this job had grown increasingly settled as my identity. I was surrounded by curious collaborators, groundbreaking technologies, and fulfilling projects.

My colleagues and I had a familiar refrain: “I can’t imagine working anywhere but here.”

Walking away was so painful that it still backs up on me sometimes. But glass ceilings are real, and even thoughtful organizations across industries struggle to remove them.

And by this time I’d discovered a podcast that ultimately would change my life. Some mornings before work, I’d ride my bike trainer, crank up The Good Life Project podcast, and cry.

Story after story featured changemakers, people who were using modern tech and creative strategy to make a difference.

These people had a freedom I yearned for, but didn’t yet understand: They’d found ways to own their uniqueness. They’d leveraged their expertise, married it with their humanity, and made an impact–all while empowering others.