Field Notes from a Career in Social Impact
After years in this field, you gather a collection of lessons that stay with you. Not the headlines or the reports, the human moments. The stakes behind each decision. The quiet truths that shape how you lead and why you keep going. The lessons that you will never forget. These are the observations that shaped me across gaming, nonprofits, and the land I steward at home.
I move fast when the stakes are real
Urgency is built into this work. Humanitarian crises. Blood shortages. Wildlife rescues. Situations where hesitation slows real support. After more than a decade of working in these environments, acting quickly became second nature. I make decisions with clarity because I know which questions must be asked immediately in a Sev 0 and which ones can wait a day/week. I focus on alignment and remove anything that creates confusion or delay.
It’s not pressure to me. It’s a responsibility that I take very seriously.
Communities are engines for change
I’ve witnessed gamers raise millions of dollars in a matter of days. I’ve seen fandoms show up for causes that seemed impossible to reach, and break fundraising records. I’ve seen how trust builds when a brand respects the people who make it successful. Community is not a marketing channel to me. It is the heartbeat of impact work.
That belief guides how I build campaigns and partnerships.
Stewardship shapes my values as much as any job
Impact work is not something I step into and out of. It is part of my daily life. Outside of Aizle Impact, I manage more than twenty acres of Pacific Northwest forestland. I restore habitat, track wildlife, and protect the land with long term health in mind. It’s slow, steady work that teaches patience and respect.
It keeps me grounded and reminds me why mission matters.
Directness and care belong together
Impact work can be emotional. One moment you are celebrating an adoption. The next you are reviewing the effects of hunger across communities. The contrast takes a toll. Over time, I learned that teams need two things. Clear direction and genuine support. I cut through noise so people can act, and I also make space for how they are doing.
People can’t carry this work alone, and they shouldn’t have to.
The work should hold up over time
I’ve seen campaigns go viral for a day and disappear. I ‘ve also seen campaigns turn into long lasting programs that helped causes grow and communities feel seen. I always aim for the second category because the work should endure long past the campaign end date. The impact should be measurable. The partnerships should feel like real relationships, not seasonal tactics or check-the-box programs.
Curiosity keeps the work honest
There is always more to learn, understand, and refine. My career taught me that nothing in this field stands still, and things are constantly evolving. Community needs shift, causes and their missions evolve, and brands change focus. Staying curious is not optional. It is how you stay effective. I will always remember a quote from the retired CEO and President of the USO, J.D. Crouch: change is hard, but irrelevancy is harder.
Curiosity is also how you stay human in a line of work that demands a lot from people.
These are the truths I carry with me. They shape how I lead, how I build partnerships, and how I show up for the people doing the work. If you’re new here, this is the lens behind Aizle Impact. A mix of urgency, stewardship, community, clarity, and a belief that impact is strongest when it is honest and human.