I usually struggle a lot with December and Christmas, for many reasons that I will not go into today; I am just taking a moment to count my blessings.
At the end of June 2023, I finally left my HR Analyst job, and I have never looked back.
I had been working for Together for Mental Wellbeing for 9 months, and before that The Law Society / Solicitors Regulation Authority for 17 years. For 5 years, neurodiversity advocacy had been my passionate side quest, while my role as HR Analyst was my main mission. This year, mainly thanks to an offer of Associate Consultant work for Belonging@Work, I was finally able to quit my (often stressful) permanent HR job to turn Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging into my main mission on a self-employed basis.
Ausome Charlie had already been my social media name for 5 years, and in June 2023 I founded Ausome Charlie Limited.
December 2023 is the first December in over a decade that I haven’t been stressed and burned out. Many HR and Payroll teams are under intolerable pressure due to early December payroll cut-off and issues that have to be resolved before the Christmas break. However, this December I have been enjoying myself, doing the things that matter to me, at my own pace. I am not burned out, in fact I am unusually chilled.
HR EDI consultancy work is building up slowly for me, despite my two decades of experience and recently renewing my CIPD qualifications, so I have really appreciated the wonderful people who have given me the opportunity to speak at their events this year. Public speaking has become my bread and butter in the latter half of this year, and I love it!
My clients for speaking events this year have included: Lexxic, Heathrow Airport, Unmind Equal Experts, Standard AI, University Hospitals Birmingham, AGCO, and Vodafone.
I have also been a guest on many live streams and podcasts – usually unpaid work which helps to build my confidence, gives exposure to my name and brand, and helps my ideas and advice to reach a broader and more diverse audience so I can help more people.
I hope to do more of both in 2024, and more writing too. I am finally finding my voice, and my sense of purpose, on my own terms, and that feels amazing!
Ausome Charlie 