The Work Changed Because I Did

Ten years ago, I thought my work was about changing systems.

Five years ago, I thought it was about changing organizations.

Today, I realize it has always been about people. And NOT changing them. It has been about helping people understand themselves.

When I started this chapter of my career, much of my work centered around diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. I wanted to help organizations recognize inequities, understand bias, and create environments where everyone had an opportunity to thrive.

I still believe deeply in that work.

But I understand it differently now.

Over the years, I kept noticing something.

We can give people all the tools, strategies, policies, and frameworks in the world, but if they have never stopped to understand themselves, lasting change becomes incredibly difficult.

What do I value?

Why do I believe what I believe?

Which parts of myself have I embraced?

Which parts have I hidden?

Where do my biases come from?

When my intentions and my impact don’t match, am I willing to get curious instead of defensive?

Those questions took me somewhere deeper.

They also forced me to ask them of myself.

And THAT changed my work.

Today, I describe myself as the Authenticity Amplifier™. I speak, write, coach, and facilitate conversations that help people better understand who they are so they can live and lead in greater alignment with their values.

It might sound like a pivot from the work I started doing ten years ago.

I don’t think it is.

I think I finally found the root.

Because systems are made up of organizations. Organizations are made up of people. And people bring their identities, experiences, beliefs, fears, biases, values, and beautifully complicated humanity into every room they enter.

So, where am I going next?

Deeper.

I want to spend less time telling people WHAT needs to change and more time creating spaces where they can understand WHY change is difficult in the first place.

I want to ask better questions.

I want to have conversations where disagreement does not automatically become division.

I want to help people recognize the distance between who they say they are and how they actually show up, without shame, blame, or guilt.

And I want to keep doing that work myself.

Because perhaps the biggest difference between Megan ten years ago and Megan today is this:

I used to think changing the world started with understanding everyone else.

Now I believe it starts with understanding ourselves.

And I’m pretty excited to see where that understanding takes me next.

Let’s keep the conversation going. Follow Megan on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok for more reflections on authenticity, values, and everyday life.