This month’s CatchUp is with MomUp superstar, Allison Sobel, now a Charitable Coordinator at Audax Group!
Tell us a bit about you!
I live in Sharon, Massachusetts with my husband Ron and our children Leah (8) and Benjamin (5). I am also a Girl Scout troop leader for the second grade Brownie troop.
How has MomUp helped you?
Until recently, I worked as a fundraiser for a number of nonprofit organizations. Thanks to Michelle and the MomUp team, last October I started an amazing job as Coordinator of the Audax Charitable Foundation (ACF). My new job has completely changed my life – for the better. I have never come across a job listing like mine in any public job sites. I have had jobs I liked before, but I’ve never loved a job until now. I always thought people were either lying or just very different from me when I heard that people “loved” their work!
My job at ACF provides a livable salary, full benefits, and is only 30 hours each week. I work on site about 50% of the time and my schedule is extremely flexible which is exactly what I need as a busy mom with young kids. Benny has Autism Spectrum Disorder and we have a lot of medical appointments and paperwork to complete. My last job was full time and very rigid and it was extremely hard to balance work and home life. Having a job that values me despite needing a flexible schedule has transformed my life. I am finally getting enough sleep, my anxiety has dissipated, and I have time to play with my kids.
Michelle was also amazingly helpful during the offer and negotiating stage. I hadn’t worked with a recruiter in the past and it was wonderful to have an advocate I could trust!
What career highlight are you most proud of?
Hmm. It’s hard for me to point to a single highlight, but I am proud that I’ve been able to raise money to help sustain organizations doing critical work to improve our world. Frankly, it’s a tremendous highlight for me to support increased corporate philanthropy in my current role in order to have an even greater impact.
What was your first job?
After college I worked as an editorial assistant at Penguin Books.
What are your best job search tips?
The single best piece of advice I ever received for job seeking is to do at least one thingtowards your search every single day. Even if it’s just working on a resume, updating LinkedIn, or reaching out to one person to network. Your search will always move forward if you commit to doing at least one thing each day. And definitely reach out to MomUp!
What do you enjoy doing in our downtime?
I don’t have much downtime. But I love to hike, cook, practice yoga, read, and spend time with my kids.
Any advice on balancing work and personal life?
Say no to things that aren’t important. Say yes a lot to your spouse and kids and things that bring you joy. Lean on everyone you can when you need help. Help as many people as you can when you can. Always believe in yourself and know your worth. Be polite and kind but not a pushover. Empower other people to take things on.
