WORKPLACE
Young Professionals
COMING IN July
BUSINESS INSIGHT FOR CALIFORNIA ’ S CAPITAL REGION
BUSINESS INSIGHT FOR CALIFORNIA ’ S CAPITAL REGION JULY ‘ 20 VOL . 32 | NO . 7
HOPE IN HARD
TIMES
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
Fresh
TAKE
Meet 12 young leaders who are bringing new ideas and visions to the Capital Region
2021
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS ISSUE
2020
JULY ‘ 21 VOL . 33 | NO . 7
Meet 10 young leaders who are making a difference
www . comstocksmag . com
It ’ s time to honor the next generation of leaders 40 AND UNDER in the Capital Region .
Nominations are now open for Comstock ’ s Young Professionals issue in July . If you know a young leader who is bringing new ideas and a fresh vision to our region , go to comstocksmag . com / yp2022 to send in your nomination .
She had to adjust as a professional and as a mother . Her oldest son Tyler enlisted in the Navy just out of high school and went to North Carolina for basic training in 2020 . “ We did not see him again for over a year ,” she says . Her younger son Caden is an outgoing kid who missed his friends and struggled with motivation during virtual learning . Creason was also remote at this time , and she could no longer tune everything out to focus on work while home with her son .
“ I go into a tunnel and I ’ m really , really focused and I ’ m really productive ,” she says , but she had to become more flexible in managing her staff and colleagues and showing care for her son . “ Figuring out how to show up for everybody was really challenging .”
She had to show up differently for herself , too . In addition to running California EDGE and parenting , Creason is vice president of the San Juan Unified School District Board of Education . She ’ s proud of the board ’ s work , like adopting a curriculum that includes the historic contributions of LGBTQ people , and while she ’ d always envisioned running for higher office , that ’ s now off the table . She says she had to ask herself : “ What ’ s really important ? What are really my values ? I know what I invest my time in , but are those really my values ?”
She ’ s already started living her life better in tune with her values . In the past , ‘‘ I ’ ll work morning , noon and night , just get it all done ,” she says , but now she sets boundaries . She ’ ll no longer take calls at 7:30 a . m . and shuts down on the weekends . She used to be embarrassed about setting boundaries so she could be more present for her family , but that shame is gone . It ’ s good for her well-being , and helps others take care of themselves and their families , too .
“ I can ’ t tell you how many women , especially women , have commented on that ,” she says . “ It ’ s like almost giving other people permission to create their own boundaries .”
Kate Gonzales is a Sacramento-based journalist who writes about class , culture and gender . She is the associate editor at The Imprint , a daily , nonprofit news outlet . She has worked in Northern California media for 15 years and earned her sociology degree from Sacramento State . Visit her website at www . kategonzaleswrites . com .
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