Redirecting.work

I retired for the first time at 70. It didn’t stick. So this time, I called it something else: redirecting. I’ve redirected my skills and passion for research to the topic of….redirecting.

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I’ve never been one to toot my own horn, so this piece has been difficult to write. But I confess, I am a recognition junkie–so here goes.

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What I Pivoted From

A bit of life background for me. I was the first female to graduate from college in my extended family. My parents did not support my choice to go to college. So, I put myself through college. 

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In my early life, I had a grandmother who helped raise me. She adopted my mother. She was a single woman so such adoption was almost unheard of in the 1920s. She was a school principal. I think I got my love of books, reading, loving being curious–and bucking the system from her. Curiosity and bucking the system stood me well in my career.

 

My career is a tour through the evolution of workplace technology. I began working out of college as a COBOL programmer in 1967, eventually becoming an application development manager implementing payroll and personnel systems. I had to fight to get that first job as a programmer – first woman.

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At my first job's welcome lunch, I met Claire Giannini Hoffman, daughter of Bank of America's founder. She said, "I know computers are the wave of the future, but remember that people—people—use them." That stayed with me. Every automation effort impacts individuals, and they must be involved in decisions about their futures. This has been a hallmark of any change management effort that I’ve been involved in.

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In the 1970s working at Stanford University Hospital, I helped pioneer one of the first integrations of computer hardware with word processor hardware—so patient bills looked less like data printouts and more like a friendly letter.

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My first major pivot—from practitioner to consultant and researcher—came when SRI International recruited me as their first woman management systems consultant in the late seventies. I worked globally with clients like TWA, Prudential, and Fujitsu, providing office automation strategy and conducting early research into employees’ and organizational needs for office automation. Oh, the stories—and the challenges—especially for a woman in tech in the ‘70s and ‘80s. 

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At the 1982 Office Automation Conference, I led the Integration program track, a theme that would also continue to shape my work. One other theme: how tech impacts employment. I researched and wrote “Facing Up to Reality: Dilemma of the Dislocated Office Worker” which laid out job losses and wins from office automation, with more in the win column. 

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With Bay Area colleagues, I co-founded the “Culture Club”—a monthly gathering to discuss how technology was shaping workplace culture. This early grassroots community, really early social, but in real life face-to-face helped us all navigate tech adoption long before it became mainstream. Check out the hair-dos in the eighties.

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From there, I became a futurist at the Institute for the Future, focused on groupware and “learning organizations.” I also returned to school for a master’s in Organization Development, driven by my interest in how people adapt to change. My thesis—“Business Team Participation Impact on Family Life”—showed that team involvement that included clerical support personnel built trust, personal accomplishment, and even improved negotiation skills at home. One woman said, “I’m better at this with my husband and children.” It highlighted how overlooked employees benefited from inclusive work structures—something we’d do well to revisit today.

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I married in the mid-eighties. In addition to the love of my life, I inherited two young children who have brought the deepest joy, including now, five grandchildren.

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I later launched my own consultancy to help vendors realize that superior service—not just technology—drove market success. With Seybold Office Computing, I led research for Microsoft on a product called Opus—designed to bring word processing to managers. One finding made Bill Gates yell at me. I yelled back. That research helped shape Microsoft Word for Windows 1.0.

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In the mid-‘90s, I joined a startup building self-service kiosks as VP of Marketing—until SAP steamrolled us. Our customers integrated with SAP HRMS, and SAP thought they could do better and convinced our dozen or so customers to jump ship. (They couldn’t, for another five years.)

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I then joined The Hunter Group, where I supported PeopleSoft clients on early self-service. Between projects, I launched the HR Systems Survey in 1997, which I led for 15 years. This marked the first job that I remained with for more than four years. When I wanted to retire at 70, after seventeen years, my boss told me to find a successor. I chose Stacey Harris, who continues the work through the Sapient Insights HR Systems Survey.

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But I wasn’t done working. After an 18-month sabbatical spent cocooning, traveling, and training as a Master Gardener, I returned to part-time work at Visier as head of research—staying seven years before leaving at 78.

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To brag: I received a Lifetime Achievement Award at Unleash, 2023; IHRIM’s Summit Award, 2013; one of top ten to receive the HR Executive’s HR Tech Award, 2014; and on the list of the top 100 HR Tech influencers for many years. And David Green selected my people analytics research pieces several times as well as on his podcast. I am a recognition junkie!

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Current Direction: Researching Successful Redirection

Before leaving Visier, I gave this phase a name: redirecting. I knew I wouldn’t stop contributing—I’d redirect my skills, values, and passions into something new.

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I began with cocooning again—something my husband and I first did in our 50s through Frederic Hudson’s Life Launch program. I explored three ideas that I wanted to explore: toxic workplace behavior, ageism, and the psychology of career and life redirection. I still may do the first, although I’ve been encouraged to change my pet name of “Men Behaving Badly” to call it “Leaders Behaving Badly.” Ageism is well-covered elsewhere. The psychology of pivoting felt right—and I needed to understand myself how to succeed in this life stage.

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What began as a retirement study evolved into something broader. I’ve now interviewed more than 50 people at all stages of life and work about how they’ve pivoted. Talking to people in their 30s into their 80s shifted my mindset. Everyone redirects—and their stories helped guide mine.

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Advice to Others: Redirection Wisdom from a Lifetime of Learning

Some lessons I expected, based on my early hypotheses. Others were new for me. All of them are shaping how I live now.

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• Start with cocooning. Before any pivot—retirement, career shift, or personal reset—get clear on your values, strengths, and weaknesses and only then, redirect.
   

• Get clear on your purpose. What gives you joy? If the word “purpose” feels too big, try this guiding phrase: Give and grow. Give back and continue to grow.
   

• Create a vacuum. Actually start by “cleaning.” Literally clean your space. Clear out what no longer serves you. That includes clutter, outdated beliefs, even relationships. Making space from ineffective relationships is what allowed me to meet my husband forty plus years ago. Cleaning my physical space helped me acknowledge all I'd done. Cleaning gave me the space to do something new.
   

• Build financial security. We were lifelong savers, so we had the freedom to retire on our terms. For those pivoting their careers, I recommend 6 to 18 months of runway. Without financial stability, it’s hard to redirect with confidence that you can choose what you really want. Amy Wilson said this best.
   

• Prioritize health. Get healthy. I schedule Pilates, stretch classes, hikes, and I manage my weight. My mom became an invalid after retiring. I learned that staying active is non-negotiable. So many women I spoke with, especially those undergoing menopause are doing this. You will feel so good about yourself!
   

• Nurture relationships. My husband is my best friend and tech support. I’ve always had a ‘kitchen cabinet’ of advisors. I have one now too. I also fervently believe in supporting friends and colleagues. It brings me joy and maybe it will for you too. This is one of my remaining research topics to cover. Coming soon!
   

• Keep learning. I picked up watercolor painting, learned Wix, and have been using AI tools for over two years. I also completed the five-month Master Gardener training the first time I retired and now write for a local newspaper, an audience that I’ve learned is a different readership than that using my research. Learning new stuff brings me joy. At least, maintain your curiosity. Coming soon.
   

• Volunteer with intention. I help with my local land trust and Master Gardeners’ program. Small acts keep me engaged and connected to important communities away from the work communities I’ve had and still cherish. Getting away from what you normally do is good for maintaining joy too. 
   

• Manage your time to manifest your goals. One of my mentors, Naomi Bloom, counseled me to look at how I spend my time. So, I tallied up where I spend my time and was pretty shocked that after allocating for all my non-negotiable activities I didn't have much time for research. I’m learning now to adjust my activities to balance what's important to me.
   

• Tend your inner life. I’ve meditated since my 20s. Whether it’s church, mindfulness, or reflection, don’t neglect your spiritual health. Many I interviewed found this crucial to navigating change. This too is another research topic I’ll cover. Coming soon.

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My retirement doesn’t look like my parents’. While it contains lots of travel, golf, and spending time with family and friends, I want to attend to my purpose. Redirection isn't an endpoint; it's a way of life. After 50 stories and 55 years of work, I'm convinced: the best pivots are built on reflection, curiosity, and never losing sight of what brings you joy.

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Thank you for being part of mine.