Hey Reader,

Welcome to issue #005 of The Next Chapter, a career planning newsletter for LGBTQ+ professionals.

This week, I'm covering:

• Starting your career story with a mission statement​
• How to ask for a coffee chat without the ick
• Claiming credit for your LGBTQ+ inclusion work

I'm glad you're here. Let's dive in.

Start your story with a mission statement

Storytelling is one of the most valuable skills for career navigation.

I'm not talking about making up fake experiences. (Please don't do that.)

I'm talking about having a clear, authentic narrative that connects the dots of your career, especially when the path hasn't been linear.

A strong career story helps hiring managers, recruiters, and networking contacts quickly understand who you are and what you're capable of. It shows how your past experiences have built the expertise you bring today, and where you're trying to go next.

Start by developing a career mission statement: a short narrative that captures what drives your work and where you're headed.

This becomes the foundation for how you talk about yourself in cover letters, interviews, networking conversations, and your LinkedIn profile. It's especially useful if you've changed industries, have resume gaps, or don't follow a traditional career path.

Try this exercise:

Ask yourself: What impact do I want to have? What principles guide my work? What unique skills do I bring? Who do I want to serve? What does success look like for me?

Then draft a 2-3 sentence mission statement that weaves those elements together.

Here's an example:

"My mission is to make data-driven decision-making accessible and ethical in healthcare by democratizing insights for non-technical stakeholders, mentoring emerging analysts, and advocating for responsible AI practices."

Once you have your mission statement, you can adapt it for different contexts. It becomes your north star when you're explaining career pivots, tailoring your resume, or answering "tell me about yourself" in interviews.

How to ask for a coffee chat without the ick

When it comes to career exploration, I'm a big fan of informational interviews and coffee chats.

If you're curious about a job, a company, or a career path, nothing beats talking to someone about their firsthand experience.

Reaching out might feel intimidating if this is new to you. Maybe you're worried about seeming desperate, wasting someone's time, or coming across with an ulterior motive. Maybe you're just worried they won't respond.

Here's what I've noticed: people who are hesitant about this strategy often think they need to DM a total stranger on LinkedIn, craft a formal and compelling pitch, and approach the conversation in a very rigid way.

It doesn't have to be like that.

If you want more "yes" answers and better conversations, try this:

• Start with people you already know. They don't need to be your old work besties, but having an existing relationship increases your odds of getting a reply. Maybe you had a good chat at an industry event, or they worked in another department at your last job. Humans prefer familiarity.
• Lead with your intention. Be direct about what you're exploring and why you're reaching out. A clear and respectful "why" might be something like: "I'm considering a move into product management in healthtech, and I know you worked at [company]. I’d love to learn more about what it’s like to work on [industry/business challenges]."
• Be mindful of their time. Show up on time, ask thoughtful questions, stay focused, and wrap up when you said you would. A 20-minute conversation that respects boundaries will leave a better impression than one that drags.
• Ask for your next connection. End the conversation by requesting one person they'd recommend you talk to next. "I'm also hoping to learn from someone with experience in [specific area]. Who is one person I should meet?" And if you don't know them, ask for an introduction.

By the way, a career mission statement can be a great jumping-off point for these conversations.

Claim credit for your LGBTQ+ inclusion work

I've spoken with a lot of people who have led LGBTQ+ ERGs or owned inclusion initiatives outside their core job responsibilities.

What surprises me is how many people discount these experiences when it comes time to highlight their accomplishments in performance reviews or interviews. As a former ERG leader, I've done this, too.

Here's the thing: marginalized folks are so used to doing invisible labor in the workplace that it's taken for granted. Or worse, it's just expected of us.

Let's change that narrative together.

Just because it was outside the scope of your day job doesn't mean you didn't have a tangible impact on the business. It was just your gay job.

So how do you talk about this work effectively?

• Lead with impact. Rather than saying "led the LGBTQ+ ERG," give a more specific example like: "Collaborated with facilities and leadership to establish all-gender restroom access across 5 office locations, creating a safer and more inclusive environment for trans and nonbinary employees."
• Keep it relevant. Frame your ERG work strategically based on where you're using it. For performance reviews, connect it to company goals. For job applications, align it with the skills and priorities in the job description. While the work is the same, the context should shape the framing.
• Name the skills. ERG leadership involves real skills: event planning, budget management, advocacy, coalition building, change management, and communication. Call them out explicitly so others connect the dots.

This work matters. Make sure it shows up where it counts.

Tell me what’s on your mind

I want this newsletter to be community-driven. It’s meant for you, so it should be valuable to you.

Future issues will look different and cover different topics. I’ll be experimenting and collecting feedback along the way, so don’t be shy about hitting the ‘Reply’ button.

Tell me what you’d love to see—it might just end up in the next issue.

See you next week.