A Few Bits and Bobs About the Founder
Hi! I’m Rachel!
I’m the human being behind the Green Banner Gang. GBG started as a scrappy little idea during my own seemingly never-ending job search, when I realized: “Wow, this really sucks out loud!” I know the process of finding a job right now is lonely, overwhelming, and requires copious amounts of caffeine, resilience, and tolerance for bullsh*t (unfortunately).
Those who know me can attest to some pretty crazy results when you leave this brilliant, neurodivergent, possibly overeducated, definitely misunderstood, swear-y, but lovable woman unsupervised with too much time on her hands. I either crawl inside my own head and build a blanket fort, or I come out swinging with a plethora of ideas, unhuman amounts of energy, and just enough crazy to keep it interesting.
Let’s just say, this is no time for blanket forts. Mama Bear didn’t come to play!
Background
From my humble professional beginnings as a paralegal, to my humbl-ing tenure as a project assistant and executive assistant, to finally starting to shine as a Chief of Staff, Head of Operations, and then CAO, I have amassed quite the expansive skill set. My ChatGPT, who has been named Sabrina, tells me that I have collected titles and skills like Pokémon cards. Aside from the self-appointed title of HBIC at my last job, my favorite out of the various nicknames I’ve been given over the years is Operational Swiss Army Knife.
Here’s the thing, though. There are actually TWO things I love doing the most. Making things work better and helping others. It doesn’t matter if I’m balancing a budget, running RFPs and implementation for new software, cleaning up disastrous workflows, or smoothing feathers that have been ruffled from contentious team dynamics. All of that makes my brain happy. That said, none of the professional stuff matters without the people stuff. Guiding, coaching, listening to, supporting, and cheering on others is what makes my heart happy.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to checkout a the Decline Invite podcast episode with me as the guest. Ryan Drumheller and I talk about Green Banner Gang, my background, leadership, being neurodivergent, and even video games. We had a lot of fun!
Why GBG?
Why not? Seriously though… I didn’t launch GBG as a business. No pitch decks, no profit plan. I launched it because job hunting can suck the life out of even the strongest people, and I wanted a place where we could swap tips, vent honestly, and keep each other moving forward. When I know people are hurting, I can’t do nothing. It’s simply not in my nature.
Now, this thing… this whim of an idea… has grown into a community bigger and faster than I ever expected. That tells me it was needed. It proves what I’ve always believed and truly try to live my life by: a rising tide lifts all boats. Sometimes that looks like resume feedback, sometimes it’s just someone saying, “I understand.” Both count. Both are valid.
What next?
I’m so glad you asked! Despite the fact that I am now working at an absolutely fantastic wealth management firm doing a dream job with an exceptional team, Green Banner Gang will keep going!
With the help of an awesome volunteer group things like an onboarding session (now recorded rather than done live), support via the Slack community, resume reviews, interview prep, etc. will all still be provided completely FREE for GBG members. I will continue to show up in the Slack channels and the LinkedIn group to be a sounding board and provide support and guidance. I have no plans to bail on GBG now that I have a job. Too many people still need help. And yes, this rockstar can do it all. I have also been told by several current members that, “Mama Bear can never leave!!!”
So that’s me – Equal parts spreadsheets, sarcasm, strategy, and snack breaks. (despite the em dash in the first sentence, I swear this was all written by me) Feel free to scroll down to the bottom of the page for a carefully curated playlist of fun songs from a variety of decades that can help put a smile on your face and a tap in your toe. If you’re curious about some of my favorite things or what keeps me going, I am in the process of creating a list (including links) of my absolute faves and will be posting it soon. It will include everything from my favorite kind of pens to the absolute best eco-friendly coffee pods for your Keurig (or knock-off k-pod type brewer). So stay tuned! (and again… that podcast is also below!)
If you are looking for ways to help, you can click over to the How to Help page and either volunteer your services, or drop a little “thanks” in the virtual tip jar. If you want to join GBG, click over to the How to Join page and follow the steps to sign up. We’d love to have you!