My career path found me. As you know, I always wanted to be a litigator and was working as a civil litigator in a big firm. After divorcing my first husband, I needed to start an action to get sole custody of my kids. During the proceeding, my then lawyer asked me to consider working with her. The words, "No, I'm very happy where I am," quickly came out of my mouth. Two weeks later I had given notice to my former civil firm, began working as a divorce lawyer and never looked back.

PS Kudos on a successful panel!!!!!

You know about the "No plan plan"

Man make plans, the universal consciousness laughs.

Love the flexible plan. And LOVE that your daughter was involved in this and you got to moderate it. Getting the women out there. We will save the world.

In terms of subject area political/ policy & communications strategy yes; in terms of working in local government and later in my private practice not exactly.

Great event! I was a panelist at the Yale Women's Leadership Conference as well - Jaclyn did an amazing job! To your point, Nance - my panel was on Career Paths, and was called: Expecting the Unexpected. Each of the fabulous women on this panel was highly successful in a career that they never anticipated they'd be practicing. What lead them each to their milestones and transitions, was opportunities created by skills they had developed. Skills create opportunitiy for career evolution far more than passion. :)

How did a female liberal arts major in the 1970's wind up designing the first microprocessor based autopilot? I guess it just found me!

My career found me too! When my son was 7 months old, after 8 years in Retail, I quit the job of buyer for a major Retail store so I would no longer spend 3-4 hours a day commuting (Queens to NJ) + endless nights with tons of paperwork. I applied for a job, an ad in the New York Times, for an Admin position five minutes from home. The location and words "College Grad, No typing" were the big draw. Turned out to be a Sales/Marketing person for a staffing company. After 12 very successful years there, I opened my own bz. now 17 years old. I never took a single Business, Sales, Accounting or Marketing class, I was a Theater & Communications Double major, and ended up as a Small Bz. owner and in the Staffing Industry....only downside after 29 years I still miss my huge retail discount.

Congratulations Nancy on your panel presentation & your proud Mom event!