Throughout my career, I’ve learned one fundamental truth: the power of one person can change lives, but often, it comes at the cost of enduring immense challenges. As a former public relations and corporate communications executive, my journey has been nothing short of eye-opening.
I’ve seen the extremes of corporate power, the raw pain of loss, and the resilience required to break free from systems that prioritize profit over people. Along the way, I’ve come to understand how the choices we make and the courage we summon can have a profound impact on those around us.
The Dark Side of Corporate America
My story begins in the unforgiving world of corporate America, where I spent many years climbing the ranks in public relations. It was a world where titles, financial success, and connections were paramount – often at the expense of integrity and fairness. I quickly discovered the harsh realities of the corporate structure: unequal pay scales, pervasive sexual harassment, and a toxic environment where power was wielded without accountability.
It became painfully clear that those at the top – the C-suite executives – were held to an entirely different standard. Their actions, often questionable or downright immoral, were overlooked because of who they knew, their status, and the profits their businesses generated. These individuals were shielded from scrutiny, while the rest of us were left to navigate the system with little support or fairness. This inequality crushed morale and eroded any sense of trust in the workplace.
The worst part was the sexual harassment that was so normalized that it was barely addressed. The system was rigged in favor of those with power, leaving the rest of us to endure the consequences. I lived in this toxic environment for so many years, but eventually, the weight of it all became too much to bear. I realized I had to leave if I wanted to preserve my dignity and mental health.
A New Dream Takes Shape
The decision to leave corporate America was difficult, but it also opened the door to a new, deeply meaningful path. For years, I had been drawn to the idea of becoming a funeral director. In a world obsessed with success, power, and wealth, I wanted to serve people in their most vulnerable moments – when they needed compassion and support the most.
It wasn’t until I faced the loss of my own mother that I fully understood the significance of this role. My mother died unexpectedly, and in my grief, I found myself consumed with rage at the funeral director. How could anyone profit from such a painful time? I confronted him, asking how he could live with himself, making money off of others’ pain. His response was unexpected: “I see it differently. I’m not making money off of people’s pain. I’m here to make a reality we all face a little easier to bear.”
This perspective stuck with me. He was offering solace, guidance, and support to families who needed it most. In that moment, I realized that being a funeral director was not about the money – it was about the people, the families, and the impact you could have on their lives when they were at their most vulnerable. I knew then that this was my true calling.
The Corporate Funeral Industry
After years of training and certification, I finally became a funeral director. However, I made a mistake early on in my career by joining a corporate funeral establishment. In hindsight, it was akin to walking into a situation where both clients and employees – were treated as commodities.
For those familiar with the show Six Feet Under, I had essentially joined the corporate equivalent of that world, where everything boiled down to profit margins. The bottom line was all that mattered, and people – whether families or employees – were mere statistics.
The long hours, the emotional toll, and the disconnection from the real mission of the industry began to wear me down. And when I sustained an injury on the job, I was rendered unable to perform some of the physical tasks required. That’s when my value was reduced to zero. My worth was no longer measured by my skills, but by my ability to meet the company’s bottom line. I was out.
Rebuilding My Life and Career
At this point in my life, I was feeling defeated. I had spent years working toward becoming a funeral director, only to find myself back at square one. But I wasn’t ready to give up on my dreams. I turned to freelance writing, a passion I had nurtured for years, and also began pursuing life coaching. Slowly but surely, my life coaching business began to take off. I felt a renewed sense of purpose, helping others transform their lives by guiding them to discover their true potential.
Then, just as things were picking up, an unexpected opportunity came across my path. I saw an ad for a funeral home admin position at a family-owned funeral home. It was hard to ignore. I had a deep sense of hesitation – did I really want to go down this road again, especially after all I had endured? But this time was different. This was not a corporate funeral establishment focused on profits. It was a well-respected, family-owned business where empathy, service, and genuine care for people were at the core of everything they did.
I decided to take the leap and applied for the position. I was offered the job, and soon, I found myself immersed in an environment unlike anything I had experienced before. This was a place where people came first, and financial success was never pursued at the expense of human decency. It wasn’t long before I realized I had found my professional home – a place where I was not just an employee but a valued member of a team that cared deeply about the families we served.
Living in a Divided World
In the world we live in today, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the anger, division, and hostility that surrounds us. Political divides, social unrest, and constant negativity often leave us questioning where we fit in, how we can make a difference, and whether it’s even possible to restore a sense of unity. Every day seems to bring new challenges, and it’s easy to lose sight of the goodness that still exists.
However, we must remember that even in such a divided world, it is crucial to find places of peace and solace in our own part of the world. We can choose where we place our focus and who we choose to surround ourselves with. Sometimes, it’s in the quietest moments, within the walls of a business or community that values empathy, that we find hope. It’s in these places that we can witness firsthand the incredible power of kindness, compassion, and the ability of individuals to change lives.
In my journey, I’ve found that creating pockets of peace, where respect and service reign, is not only possible but essential. We must create these spaces in our lives and in our communities. If we can do this, even on a small scale, we are helping to push back against the waves of negativity that too often dominate the headlines.
Restoring My Faith in People
I can honestly say that, at this stage in my life, I never expected to be pleasantly surprised by the humanity I’ve encountered. After years of corporate corruption and disillusionment with various industries, I had all but given up on the idea that meaningful change could come from within. But my experience with the family-owned funeral home has completely transformed my perspective.
I’ve seen firsthand that it’s possible for a business to thrive without sacrificing its soul. Even after all these years, I have been reminded that people have the ability to do extraordinary things when they come together with the right intentions. My faith in humankind has been restored in ways I never thought possible, and I feel deeply grateful for the opportunity to be a part of something that matters.
Working with Tania and our Cornell Family has shown me the power of the human factor – the difference it makes when people choose empathy, kindness, and integrity over profit and power. It has been a humbling reminder that, even in a world filled with division and adversity, there are still spaces where humanity shines through.
The power of one person truly is remarkable. It only takes one person to make a difference, to change the course of an industry, and to remind us that what we do in this life is about more than just what we earn. It’s about the lives we touch, the hearts we heal, and the legacy of kindness we leave behind. I now live each day with a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that, no matter the industry, I can make a difference – and so can you.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What has been your experience in the corporate world in America or any other country? Have you found something else in a family-owned business environment? Where do you think you fit in best in your working years?
