Seasons of Life, Seasons of Work: Learning to Adapt as Life and Work Evolve

As a proud member of REACH and an Inmar Intelligence employee, I had a front-row seat to something pretty special: our Pink Couch panel event, “Seasons of Life, Seasons of Work,” hosted at Inmar and open to all employees. Between in person and virtual, we had more than 250 people join, which says a lot about how much this topic resonates.

This event was a partnership between REACH and WIN—Inmar’s employee resource group, Women’s Impact Network. (I’m also lucky to serve on the WIN steering committee!).

WIN exists to celebrate, empower, and elevate the women of Inmar with allies fully in the room. Built on shared learning and honest conversation, WIN creates space for women to show up authentically, support one another, and explore how gender diversity strengthens our workplace and communities. This panel embodied that mission in the best way.

Moderated by Pia Ostos (EVP & Chief Performance Officer), the conversation featured Dr. Libby Kelly, Chancellor Bonita J. Brown, and Kevin Crockett, each offering perspectives shaped by very different paths, but strikingly aligned truths.

1. Work and Life Don’t Take Turns, But They Move in Seasons Together

One of the most resonant themes across the panel was the reminder that our professional and personal lives don’t operate on separate timelines. They overlap, influence one another, and often demand different versions of us at different moments.

Kevin Crockett, VP of Strategic Initiatives at Inmar, described this beautifully by naming his current season as one of learning how to show up differently, both at work and at home, as his career evolves and his children grow more independent.

“That transition is finding ways to show up and contribute now, but also trying to prepare for what’s next, even when that’s ambiguous and not necessarily known…and learning to show up in a different way with my family.” -Kevin Crockett

That idea echoed throughout the conversation: seasons require adjustment rather than perfection. Sometimes work asks more of us. Sometimes life does. And sometimes the skill is simply recognizing which season you’re in and giving yourself permission to adapt accordingly. Rather than forcing balance at all times, the panel encouraged us to embrace fluidity, knowing that growth often comes from honoring what each season needs most.

2. Self-Awareness Is the Unlock Before Any Big Change

Dr. Libby Kelly, ER physician-turned-career-coach, and creator of WonderWomen, reminded us that before you change anything externally, you have to get radically honest internally.

She shared practical tools, like mapping your personal “lifeline” or asking yourself what energizes you versus what you dread, but the deeper message was about noticing patterns and listening to the feedback around you.

“Are you burned out?...Is this a time where I can make some changes and reevaluate and reassess and then reinvigorate this life chapter?” -Dr. Libby Kelly

Her framing of change as whitewater rapids resonated: fear and excitement coexist. Growth lives in that tension but only if we pause long enough to understand where we really are.

3. People Skills Aren’t Optional, They’re the Future

In a conversation that touched on AI, technology, and constant disruption, Chancellor Bonita J. Brown brought it back to something timeless: understanding people.

Leading in higher education, she described her world as a “constant hurricane,” where success depends on reading the room, understanding cycles, and knowing how different people operate, especially in moments of stress or change. And even in this uncharted age of AI we’re in right now.

“You still have to understand people and how they think and how they move, how they react, so that you know how to use the AI. Because how do you know which question you’re asking and what you want to do if you don’t understand people?” -Chancellor Bonita J. Brown

Her advice was clear: trust your skill set, build relationships before you need them, and don’t navigate storms alone. Leadership isn’t all about control, but it’s almost more so about connection.

The Big Takeaway

At the end of the day, “Seasons of Life, Seasons of Work” wasn’t about finding perfect balance or having all the answers. It was about awareness, adaptability, and connection.

The panel reminded us that work and life move together, that self-reflection is a powerful leadership skill, and that people skills (empathy, curiosity, and relationship- building) are more essential than ever. Those ideas don’t just shape better careers; they create stronger communities.

That’s where the magic between REACH and WIN really shows up. Both create space for women and allies to learn from shared journeys, support one another through different seasons, and grow, both individually and collectively. Whether you’re reaching up, reaching over, or reaching back, these conversations help us do it with more intention and a little more grace.

If the energy in the room (and on Zoom!) was any indication, this is exactly the kind of dialogue women, and the allies who champion them, are craving. And it’s a reminder that no matter what season you’re in, you don’t have to navigate it alone.