Finding Your “Why”
Purpose. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot these days—I find it exciting when I hear someone talk about purpose. But I have been on the “Purpose” train for almost 10 years. When I first heard it, it was an aha moment for me. A light bulb went off that helped me understand the power of tying your every day into a way of life or your overarching life goal.
In the world of work, purpose can feel like a paradox. On the one hand, you might understand what the company does – it’s mission. On the other hand, the personal connection to that mission can sometimes feel murky, especially when the day-to-day grind of meetings, reports, and budget constraints clouds the bigger picture. Yet, aligning our personal “why” with an organizational mission is one of the most transformative things you can do—for yourself and the communities you serve.
The Power of “Why”
Simon Sinek’s famous TED Talk on starting with “why” has always resonated with me. It is one of the reasons that I chose the title of Chief Purpose Officer of my company. When Simon said, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it,” I realized that his codification of why some businesses succeed while others don’t was very simple. While he was talking about business, the principle applies beautifully to other areas of life.
But what about you? Do you know your personal “why”? And, more importantly, does it align with the mission of the organization you’re part of?
Connecting the Dots
When I think about my own journey, my “why” has always been about impact. I want to create environments where people—my team, our clients—can thrive. For me, it was about being a navigator for others—helping them navigate their careers, their journey and being a resource. It was more than helping people find careers or achieve goals; it was about fostering a sense of possibility. This purpose lives on in my new adventures, but it has also morphed into helping others—people, organizations, and departments—find and activate their why. Ignite their purpose.
This sense of purpose has kept me grounded when things have gotten tough and helped me feel steady when the journey is uncertain.
For others, their “why” might be about innovation—challenging the status quo and finding new ways to do things. Or it might be about community—ensuring that every person, regardless of their background, feels seen and valued. Whatever it is, identifying it is the first step. The next is finding where it intersects with the mission of the organization that you’re working for or creating.
Why Alignment Matters
When personal purpose aligns with organizational mission, magic happens. That’s when work stops feeling like just a job and starts feeling like a calling. It’s when we can show up as our authentic selves and bring our full energy to the table. But misalignment? That’s when burnout, frustration, and disengagement creep in. I’ve seen it happen. I’ve felt it myself in moments when the organization’s direction felt at odds with my values.
Purpose in Action
The story that sent me down the direction of purpose—my aha moment—was at a training session with the Disney Institute. At that time, the team I was leading had been working together for a couple of years as a newly formed team. We had a shared vision, mission, and values that we believed in and lived daily. But we were siloing. We needed to think more cross-functionally. I had done some Disney Institute training in the past and decided to take my leadership team to a one-day training session.
During this session, a Disney employee shared how, at Disney, the purpose of “To Make Magic Happen” was the same no matter the “cast member’s” role. Cinderella, the bus driver, the cashier, the captain of the ship—they all shared the same purpose.
He told a story of a time when he was a manager, and a family approached him at the park after an incident. The parents shared how one of their children dropped their ice cream. A nearby custodian told them not to worry and returned with a new ice cream. The parents, expecting him to return with a mop, were surprised and delighted. When they expressed gratitude, the custodian said, “My job here is to make magic happen.”
This story opened my eyes—and my team’s eyes—that it didn’t matter what someone’s functional role was. Understanding the collective why of our team united us. It allowed us to be more engaged, resilient, and guided through day-to-day decisions and actions. Our collective why—“Navigate the Journey”—gave us a sense of higher calling and carried us through difficult times, including COVID.
Your Turn
Take some time this week to think about your own “why.” Write it down, share it with a trusted colleague, or simply sit with it for a while. Then think about how it fits into the bigger picture of your mission. Because when your personal purpose and your professional work align, it’s not just you who benefits—it’s everyone around you.
As you reflect on your career, purpose, and journey, consider pathways and opportunities for yourself or others in career and experiential education within the post-secondary sector in Canada this week.
Weekly Hive Wrap-Up: Career Opportunities in Higher Education (Jan 8, 2025)
Nova Scotia (NS)
Assistant Dean, Student and Resident Affairs – Cape Breton Medical Campus
Institution: Cape Breton University
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 24, 2025
New Brunswick (NB)
Director of Executive Education & Professional Development
Institution: University of New Brunswick
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 27, 2024
Ontario (ON)
Associate Director, Career Services
Institution: U of T (St. George)
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 23, 2025
Experiential Learning Officer
Institution: U of T (UTM)
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 20, 2025
Manager, Business Transformation
Institution: University of Ottawa
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 20, 2025
Part-time Field Placement Officer – Social Service Worker
Institution: Algonquin College
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 15, 2025
Placement Advisor
Institution: Humber
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 21, 2025
Clinical Practicum Coordinator (Temporary)
Institution: Sheridan
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 16, 2025
Strategic Partnership Development Lead
Institution: Sheridan
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 20, 2025
Strategic Initiative Program Manager
Institution: St. Lawrence College
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 27, 2025
Manitoba (MB)
Co-op Program Assistant – Office Assistant
Institution: University of Manitoba
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 21, 2025
Alberta (AB)
Program Advisor, Innovation (Full-time Limited Term)
Institution: University of Calgary
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 27, 2025
WIL Initiatives Coordinator (Term)
Institution: Mount Royal
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 19, 2025
Community Engagement Lead
Institution: Bow Valley
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 20, 2025
Work Integrated Learning Officer (Temporary)
Institution: Bow Valley
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 16, 2025
Career Coach – Career Services (Casual)
Institution: Bow Valley
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 15, 2025
British Columbia (BC)
High School Recruitment & Career Advisor
Institution: University Canada West
Apply Here
Close Date: Not provided
Strategist, Community Programming & Engagement
Institution: UFV
Apply Here
Close Date: Feb 3, 2025
Coordinator, Community Programming & Experience
Institution: UFV
Apply Here
Close Date: Feb 2, 2025
Program Manager – Lifelong Learning – Career & Professional Programs
Institution: SFU
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 15, 2025
Program Manager – ARTS & CMNS Co-op Programs (Temporary)
Institution: SFU
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 15, 2025
Director, Academic Services
Institution: UBC
Apply Here
Close Date: Feb 2, 2025
Managing Director, Student Affairs
Institution: UBC
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 31, 2025
Student Success Coach
Institution: Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Apply Here
Close Date: Jan 20, 2025
Know someone looking for their next career move? Share this list! 🐝
#TheHiveNetwork #CareerEducation #WIL #HigherEdJobs