Syncing Up My Professional Pursuits

By: Shelley Klingerman

Have you ever had the challenge of trying to represent two things that you do, but they’re so diverse that you struggle with how to represent them both?  It’s especially tough when you’re expressing your professional image. I know, because that’s exactly what my challenge has been for the past four years. Ever since I began pursuing my passion to educate women about creating good safety habits and being vigilant, mostly based on my own experiences and frustrations.  

Up to that point, my career path had been in the corporate and most recently the startup world working in entrepreneurship, technology and innovation. That’s why I’ve been struggling to figure out how to mash my two worlds (safety and startups) in my professional online presence. I don’t want to miss any opportunities to connect with people in both worlds.  But then I realized something really important … I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. Both sides of my professional coin fit perfectly together and provide layers of experience and a unique perspective.

What I truly enjoy is empowering people.  I really like working to empower people who I feel have a disadvantage in areas where there is inequity.  With my company Stiletto Agency, I get to work directly with women (and men), but especially women, on how to stay safe.  Ladies, I’m sure you can relate: if you don’t feel safe in your environment, be it work or social, you can’t focus or relax.  Pause to think about a time when you were in a situation, getting a bad vibe about something, especially if you were by yourself or alone with another person you didn’t now well or at all.  Were you in the moment? Were you able to close a business deal or enjoy a social event? Or were you distracted by fear or feeling vulnerable?  That is my work in Stiletto.  

What I truly enjoy is empowering people.  I really like working to empower people who I feel have a disadvantage in areas where there is inequity.

But, I’m also a managing partner of a venture studio. Venture studios are all about helping visionaries take their idea to a product (or service), and that product (or service) to a company; then infusing it with the talent and capital needed to scale and grow the company.  My company — shameless plug here, NEXT Studios, — does a lot of “impact” work with diverse founders (black, brown, female, LGBTQ, rural).  Founders who are often at the disadvantage in the start-up/venture capital world; so much so that they receive less than 2 percent of all venture capital deployed.  

My Personal Mission

So that’s it!  That’s how and why what I’m doing appears on LinkedIn to be worlds apart, but quite frankly is one and the same when you look at my personal mission:

To find peace, purpose and passion in all things that I do and help all those around me to do the same.

And yes, that really is my personal mission statement. I wrote it four years ago to figure out what the hell I was doing with my skills, talent and passions while working with my executive coach and now dear friend, Dana. Thank you, Dana, for helping me get to exactly where I need to be. 

Syncing Up

So when you interact with me on LinkedIn, you’ll see I’m building my own company around my passion of empowering people by teaching them how to be safe (Stiletto Agency) and helping others pursue their passion by helping them build their own companies rooted in their own passions (NEXT Studios). Not dissonant at all, but hand-in-glove connected.   

So … what is your personal mission statement? And how does it inform everything you’re pursuing personally professionally?

On Key

Related Posts

safety tips for business travel

5+ Safety Tips for Business Travel

Though many business travelers will tell you that being on the road for work is anything but glamorous, it does challenge them to be street-smart savvy and require some safety tips for business travel.  Regardless of where you’re traveling to, it’s important to take safety precautions anytime you enter a new setting.  For the female business traveler, whether solo or with a group, it’s essential to keep safety as a top priority. Below we highlight our top safety tips for

what are the 5 types of imposter syndrome

Imposter Syndrome: What It Is And How To Beat It

Have you ever doubted yourself? Felt like you weren’t good enough? Like you don’t belong? You may be experiencing imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is currently a major topic of discussion and one that many employees, especially women, struggle with today. If you’re facing this issue, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome it.  Below, we explain the definition of imposter syndrome, the causes, and how to conquer it. What Is Imposter Syndrome? People who face imposter syndrome believe

healthy work habits

Develop These 5 Simple Habits to Reach Your Goals for the New Year

Have you ever found yourself creating big resolutions for the new year, but struggle turning them into reality? Having trouble forming healthy work habits? We’re here to tell you the key to accomplishing them; developing simple, yet proactive habits (and sticking to them) for your every day. Below, we outline 5 healthy work habits to implement in your daily life to actually accomplish your goals this year!  1. Decide What You Actually Want To Accomplish  Determine what you want to

christmas shopping safety tips

Your Ultimate Winter Personal Safety Guide

As it gets dark out earlier and snow begins to fall, it’s important to retain your vigilant mindset into the winter and follow Christmas safety shopping tips. This is so you can avoid the many potentially dangerous situations that come with the colder months. Below, we outlined the key safety tips for Christmas shopping, or for traveling anywhere this winter—whether it’s a long road trip, or to your local grocery store.  Prepare Before You Drive Anywhere First things first, it’s