By Lisa Taylor

This past month has been full of transitions for me, Challenge Factory, and the world around us.

June 30 marked the end of my term on CERIC’s Board of Directors. CERIC is a Canadian charity focused on advancing career development as a public good. I’ve been involved with CERIC in a number of capacities. I admire the organization, and I’m grateful for how much it has helped me grow as a leader.

After 10 years of committee and board meetings, no longer having a formal role with CERIC is a strange feeling—but one I embrace. I recognize this moment as a valuable opportunity to reflect on all that I’ve learned from being an active volunteer within the career development sector. Volunteering with professional networks, associations, and organizations is a great way to support and build communities, and it brings significant personal benefits too.

I am now enthusiastically researching and considering how best to join different community organizations, expanding my understanding and experiences. This is a joyous transition.

In the last month, Challenge Factory has also taken refreshing, meaningful steps to advance its own focus and strategy. In the coming weeks, you’ll see an updated website and new approach to how we talk about what we do. It requires us to make choices, be specific, and identify the real impact we have.

It has been so incredibly rewarding to engage with the team and others who know us well to answer the question: Why Challenge Factory, and why now?

Challenge Factory has always had many areas of expertise, working with very different and diverse clients. I can’t wait to share more with you about how we might work together to shape a better Future of Work. This is a transition full of anticipation and promise.

Challenge Factory is also expanding into the US with intention. Over the last 13 years, we’ve had many American clients, who have each found us based on our reputation. Starting in August, we’re no longer waiting to be found.

Our Canadian followers might notice as we shift our tone (and maybe our spellings; a debate is raging in the office) to be more inclusive of our American friends and colleagues. We’ve welcomed Bob Cavnar to our team, a Texas-based Trusted Advisor and energy industry expert. We’re starting with a focus on the role that career development plays in unlocking potential and opportunity as the energy sector transitions from fossil fuels to clean energy. This transition will bring generational impact.

Finally, the world continues to change around us. Political leadership transition in the US and Canada is in the news every day. It’s easy to get caught up in national politics without realizing that we too are changing in our own lives. While each of us may not be future prime ministers or presidents, there are many ways we can lead and grow.

This year, my colleague Emree Siaroff and I have joined the faculty of the Modern Elder Academy, one of Time Magazine’s top 10 places to visit in 2024. We are thrilled to be preparing to lead an upcoming workshop in Baja, Mexico, about how to build a Legacy Career®.

Facilitating later life transitions for individuals seeking new ways to make an impact is why I started Challenge Factory all those years ago. I am excited to bring our core curriculum to MEA in March 2025. This is a transition of deep purpose and personal connection.

As someone who created an organization called “Challenge Factory,” it’s no surprise that change and transition fuel me. As Challenge Factory starts its new fiscal year in August, my hope for the organization is that we continue to navigate all of these transitions with joy, anticipation, promise, impact, purpose, and connection.