Ever thought about ditching your corporate job and finding your place in the nonprofit world? That's what Mary Robinson did. As Executive Director of Imagine, she founded and runs a grief support center for children. Join Mary and Andy Levine, Host of the Second ActStories podcast, for a conversation about what it was like to transition from corporate America to making a difference for kids.
After working 14 years at Prudential Financial in Newark, New Jersey -- the first nine years in information technology and the last five years in community initiatives (perhaps whetting her appetite for the nonprofit sector) -- Mary was feeling restless. One day, she confided to a friend that she felt like a fish out of water there. "She told me, 'Mary, you march in there tomorrow, get yourself a latte, print your resignation letter and hand it to your boss.'" Mary did exactly that the next morning and said: “I'd never had a latte before. It was delicious."
Since leaving Prudential, Mary has founded two grief support centers. Her current organization, Imagine, provides grief support for children who've lost a parent or close family member. The work has special meaning to Mary, who lost her father at 14. She was named a CNN Hero for her work at Imagine in 2019.
Mary will be interviewed by Andy Levine, creator and host of the Second Act Stories podcast series. Fascinated with storytelling and second acts, he is always on the lookout for a good story. He manages a specialized marketing firm for his day job. Learn more about Andy and the Second Act Stories podcast series here.
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