Do-overs only exist in blogs.

26 March 2024

Last month I was fortunate to win the Early Career Scholar Award at the Academy of Human Resource Development conference in Arlington, VA. While I had been informed that I was winning, I didn’t realize (or remember) that I would have the chance to give an acceptance speech. When my name was called, I said a few clumsy words at the podium and then scrambled down to take my picture with the President and President-Elect. As I returned to my seat, I immediately felt that I wanted a chance to redo my speech. Since there aren’t chances for do-overs for most things in life, I’ll use this short blog to share what I would have said:

Thank you, Josh, and everyone on the award committee. I feel incredibly honored to stand here in front of so many colleagues, friends, mentors, and researchers. There are so many people to thank, but I’d like to highlight one individual who has supported me along my scholarly journey.

It was a hot spring day in Chiang Mai in 2014 when my phone rang with an unknown number. I answered, somewhat skeptically, and ended up having a wonderful conversation with a scholar from the George Washington University about my interest in the Human and Organizational Learning program. Given the 12-hour time difference, this person had stayed up late to catch me during the daytime in Thailand. When I hung up the phone, I knew that GW was the place for me.

At GW, I was nurtured as an emerging scholar through my coursework and dissertation, but the most powerful experience during my time was the constant mentorship, advising, and eventual friendship with Dr. Maria Cseh who I have come to know is one of the most brilliant minds on the planet. Thank you, Maria, for supporting me along my journey and helping me become the scholar I am today.

Onward.