by Julie Zhu
As I walked under colorful falling leaves, I realized how quickly time passes. Around this time last year, I was preparing to begin the LeadingAge Leadership Academy. I was filled with both excitement and nervousness.
The LeadingAge Leadership Academy is a developmental program that helps aging services professionals uncover and strengthen their natural leadership abilities. The program’s focus on “action learning” allows participants to apply learned skills and make a meaningful impact on their organizations. The Academy also allows participants the opportunity to meet other professionals and expand their perspectives.
Now that this journey has come to an end, I’m once again filled with mixed emotions. This time, it’s bittersweet—joy for what I’ve achieved and sadness at saying goodbye to my wonderful fellow LeadingAge members. Looking back on this year-long experience, I could never have imagined just how much this program would bring to my life.
My Encounter with Goodwin Living
To be honest, I never expected my career to be connected to the aging services field. My journey into this career began with a series of “wow” moments at Goodwin Living which inspired me to commit to this work.
My first exposure to aging services was during college in China, when our volunteer team visited an “old people’s home.” The residents were joyful and eager to talk with us, but the environment was dim and crowded. The experience left no lasting impression and certainly didn’t spark my interest in the field.
A decade later, my husband told me that his mother had moved to Goodwin House Alexandria. When we visited her, the moment I stepped through the doors I thought, “Wow! This looks so elegant!” That single moment changed my perception of what senior living and healthcare could be.
In 2020, my mother-in-law had surgery. Because the pandemic kept her children abroad, Goodwin Living took care of her throughout her recovery. She healed quickly and well. That was my second “wow”. Goodwin Living offers a beautiful environment, care from team members who support, honor and uplift older adults with professional expertise and family-level compassion and respect for the team members who make this organization a top workplace.
A year later, when my husband and I moved to the United States, I applied for many different jobs related to my academic and professional background. Goodwin Living was the first to offer me a position as an Accounting Assistant. After joining, I quickly adapted to the warm and supportive environment.
I vividly remember when Director of Supply Chain, Lisa Wallace, shared her personal story about how her father’s aging journey led her into this field. Because my role closely interacted with Supply Chain, I often saw the dedication in their “due diligence,” even with the smallest purchases, always trying to get the best for our residents. That became my third “wow”: team members at Goodwin Living don’t just work for a paycheck, they work with commitment and purpose.
About a year into my role, our department participated in a job satisfaction and expectations survey. I saw it as an opportunity and expressed my desire to take on more responsibilities and grow within the organization. Soon afterwards, our Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Xan Smith, met with me to learn about my background and aspirations. Since then, I’ve been encouraged to embrace new opportunities. Over the years, I transitioned from Accounting Assistant to Payroll Administrator, and eventually to Payroll Manager.
The LeadingAge Opportunity and My Year-Long Academy Journey
One day, our Controller, Becah Duah, forwarded an email about the opportunity to apply for the LeadingAge Leadership Academy. I had only heard of LeadingAge vaguely and knew nothing about the Academy. After some research, I hesitated—Is this really for someone like me? I’m hardly a leader and only four years into this field. But the email said it could help me develop leadership skills, and I realized there was no harm in trying.
After being selected by Goodwin Living for nomination into the Academy, I submitted the final application. To my surprise, I was accepted! I felt excited, but also anxious. I had never attended such a program and didn’t know what to expect.
During the first session, I felt out of place. Many participants were at director-level or above, with long careers in the field. I felt far outside my comfort zone. However, during the second session, our educator, Judy Brown, shared a phrase that stayed with me: “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.” That was an “aha” moment. Over many small-group conversations, I realized that even the most confident leaders face uncomfortable moments, and that learning to embrace discomfort is a key leadership skill.
Throughout the year, we explored dilemmas in aging services and discussed how we could make meaningful contributions. We worked on individual Action Learning Projects (ALP) based on our aspirations for the field. Coming from an international background, I’ve seen both Western expats in China and immigrants in the U.S. struggle to find senior living communities that align with their language or cultural needs. My ALP allowed me to explore this more deeply, speak with people who have experienced these challenges and broaden my perspective.
Beyond the leadership tools and theories that we learned in the Academy, what mattered most to me were the lasting relationships I formed. The leaders I met in the program offered invaluable life and career advice. As the “Circle Theory” suggests, the LeadingAge Leadership Academy gave me the opportunity to meet amazing people and expand my circle of knowledge and perspectives. Meanwhile, it also stretched my boundary with the unknown, reminding me of how much more there is to learn. This realization motivates me to keep growing so I can better serve in this field.
The fellows in the Academy were also incredibly observant and caring. They listened deeply and offered help even before I asked. We shared our vulnerabilities and learned together. I realized that this is exactly how leaders at Goodwin Living have treated me by seeing my needs, hearing my voice and supporting my growth. I want to carry this forward and treat the team members I work with in the same way.
Being Thankful and Continuing the Journey
One of the most meaningful lessons I learned from the LeadingAge Leadership Academy is the importance of gratitude. Great leaders express appreciation and pass it along to their teams.
At the time of writing this blog, Thanksgiving was around the corner. That holiday reminded me of how grateful I am for the chance to have participated in this program. I could not have completed this journey without the support of my family, LeadingAge and my colleagues at Goodwin Living.
My coach in the LeadingAge Leadership Academy, Nicole Gann, once said “A lot of us came into this field by chance, but we stayed on purpose.” That is true for me. Goodwin Living is a place that remains deeply committed to its mission to support, honor and uplift the lives of older adults and those who care for them. If you want to work in a meaningful and supportive environment, click here to explore our careers.
________________________
Julie Zhu moved to the U.S. in March 2021 and joined Goodwin Living in May 2021. She began as an Accounting Assistant and now serves as Payroll Manager. She chose Goodwin Living because it was the first organization to offer her an opportunity in the United States—and she has stayed because she feels purpose and belonging here. She also loves bringing her children to work from time to time so they can enjoy intergenerational connections.
