The Professional Rebellion

A Story of Authentic Identity In a Fake Corporate World

It was the week between Christmas and New Year's. i found myself at my kitchen table, facing what felt like a fork in my professional road. It was 2010, and the well-meaning advice i'd just received felt like it triggered an existential crisis.

i was told that to succeed in the data industry, i needed to niche down, to make data my entire personal brand, to essentially become a one-dimensional version of myself.

As the manager of analytics at Spark Networks, overseeing data for a conglomerate of dating sites, i'd already progressed from individual contributor to leadership. But according to the prevailing wisdom, to truly "make it," i needed to become “The Data Guy™️.”

Just the data guy. Nothing but the data guy.

The suggestion sparked something in me, not fear, but defiance. A quiet, resolute rebellion against the idea that professional success required sacrificing the multifaceted nature of who i was, who we all are as humans.

The thought of restricting myself to endless posts and conversations about data analytics felt suffocating. Sure, i'd seen others follow this path to great success with their impressive titles, prestigious FAANG companies on their resumes, and from the outside what appeared to be massive financial rewards.

But at what cost?

i made my choice that day. i would stay in the data world but on my own terms. i decided i was okay with not being seen as an industry influencer or the go-to conference speaker or highly sought after podcast guest, if it meant i could remain true to my complete self. i would continue sharing my two decades of data expertise but also my adventures in home cooking, my music (guitar, bass, piano, ukulele), my software development projects, and occasionally the worlds i build in Cities Skylines and Minecraft with my son.

This decision has revealed most visibly in how i decided to approach professional networking. Each year at the Adobe Summit in Las Vegas, while others chase the next big deal in crowded convention halls, i take a different approach. i book a suite that becomes a sanctuary of authenticity, a place where people can step away from the rehearsed elevator pitches and just be human. Last year, we even brought in rescue puppies for people to cuddle. In a conference known for celebrity speakers and world-class entertainment, people said their highlight was simply being able to be themselves in our suite, playing with puppies and having real conversations.

Perhaps most surprisingly, my passion for cooking has become an unexpected bridge in my professional life. Food photos on my social media have opened doors i never expected. There's something magical about food's ability to connect people across political divides, religious differences, and ethnic backgrounds. In fact, one very large client, let's just say they're known for being the happiest place on earth, came to us because someone followed my food posts on Twitter. They didn't fully understand if we’d be a fit but they liked who we were as people.

i've watched others take the prescribed path, securing corner offices, executive titles, and mansions on hills, only to find themselves professionally successful but personally broken, lonely, and purposeless. Their stories serve as cautionary tales, you can win at the game others have designed while losing at the game that truly matters.

When i see those recurring LinkedIn posts insisting "LinkedIn isn't Facebook" attempting to police professionals into sharing only work-related content (whatever that means), i can't help but push back. We're not actors playing roles in some corporate theater. We're humans, bringing our whole selves to everything we do. Our professional lives are just one facet of who we are and to hide the rest doesn't just do ourselves a disservice, it does the entire professional world a disservice.

My path may not have led to industry-wide influence or speaker circuits but it has led to something more valuable, a career built on authentic connections, meaningful relationships, and work that aligns with who i am as a complete person.

There are endless paths to professional fulfillment. Choose the one that lets you bring your whole self along for the journey.

Much Love 💛

-jason