The People You Meet Along the Way

It’s easy to think of a career as a series of roles, companies, and accomplishments. But when I look back, that’s not what stands out.

It’s the people.

Most of us spend more waking hours with colleagues than with our own families. Studies have shown that full-time employees spend over 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime—often alongside the same teams, day in and day out. That’s a significant portion of our lives, shared with people who, at least initially, are chosen for us.

We come together because of a job to be done—aligned skills, experiences, pedigrees. But the relationships that last rarely hinge on the work itself. They’re built on something deeper: shared values, mutual respect, and often, shared life moments.

Over the years, I’ve experienced colleagues become my friends as we navigated life in parallel—meeting partners, raising children, grieving losses, celebrating wins. In many cases, the people I worked with were the ones who helped me through some of life’s most defining moments.

What’s interesting is that for much of your career, you don’t choose these people. Much like family, they’re part of your environment. As you grow into leadership roles, you gain more influence over who joins your team—but even then, there’s a level of serendipity.

You don’t always know who will leave a lasting mark.

I’ve been fortunate to work alongside incredibly talented individuals—people from top schools, iconic organizations, with resumes that, at times, made me wonder, “How did I get here?” Imposter syndrome is real. But what mattered more was that many of these individuals weren’t just accomplished—they were good people. And those are the ones you remember.

Recently, I’ve had the chance to reconnect with former colleagues. Those conversations have been easy, warm, and surprisingly meaningful. People are still who they were at their core—supportive, thoughtful, willing to help. Some have opened doors to new opportunities. Others simply reminded me of a shared chapter in life that still matters.

But there’s another side to this reflection. There are people we lose. Colleagues. Mentors. Friends.

One of those people for me was Kat Davis.

I remember the first time she caught my attention. She walked into a leadership meeting in a colorful suit, armed with visual aids and one of the most buttoned-up presentations I had seen in a long time. I remember thinking, “Who is this?”

She was energy. Drive. Precision.

Over time, we worked closely together. I offered to mentor her—not because she needed it, but because I wanted to be part of her journey. She had that kind of presence. The kind that made you want to invest in her success.

Kat moved quickly—engineering, product management, innovation, eventually leading teams and becoming an executive. But she also pushed herself relentlessly. I often found myself encouraging her to slow down, to take care of herself. There were moments when her body forced her to pause.

Eventually, she left for a new opportunity and continued to rise. At the same time, she was battling ovarian cancer. We stayed in touch—texts, FaceTime, checking in when we could. We talked about getting together in person. We even planned for me to sit with her during a treatment. But life kept getting in the way. We never made it happen. She passed away in April. She was 47.

When I think about Kat, I think of strength, grit, and an incredible will to succeed. But I also think about her kindness, her energy, and the way she lifted those around her.

I wanted to help her succeed. But the truth is—she gave me just as much. She made me better. She made me work harder. She reminded me why supporting others matters.

Every once in a while, someone comes into your life and leaves a mark that doesn’t fade. She was one of those people.

So here’s the reminder—for myself as much as anyone reading this: Cherish the relationships you build at work.

• Invest in them.

• Show up for people.

• Stay in touch.

Because in the end, your career won’t just be defined by what you accomplished. It will be defined by who you shared it with.

And sometimes, you don’t realize the impact someone had on you… until they’re gone. In memory of Kat Davis.