This week, I attended
Alumni Coffee Connection, a
Columbia College Chicago Alumni networking event that I helped to plan. It featured
Columbia College Chicago alumna from the ’90s, ’00s and ’10s.
The inspiring panel, Michele Anderson of
Lookingglass Theatre Company,
Maggie O’Keefe for 40th Ward Alderman and Meka Hemmon of
SpiderMeka Photography, discussed how they used the skills and connections developed at Columbia, successes and challenges in their career, how all of their experiences led them to their current career path, and mentorship and why it’s important to have a mentor (or be a mentor for someone else).
Michele pointed out, you can “learn from good bosses and bad bosses.” And I loved what she said about her mother, and how she believed there were no limits for her daughter’s generation.
Maggie said “It’s OK to change careers—don’t apologize for wanting to change your path.” And Meka added “no decision is permanent (with the exception of children!)”
Coffee was provided by
Back of the Yards Coffeehouse and Roastery, a roastery and cafe on the southwest side of Chicago (woot!) that is minority- and woman-owned.
Thank you to Shannon Langan of Columbia College and my fellow members of the alumni host committee,
Alexandra Eidenberg of
The Insurance People,
Kate Nicolai of Wine Shop at Home, Rebecca Resman of
Chicago Family Biking, Dafna Nussbaum, and
Kate Alpert of
Women Belong. And, thanks to the attendee who reminded me that I’m part of the Columbia College Chicago 20-year club! (BA in Graphic Design ’94)
