Updating my short bio… or ‘Hello, I’m a dog person’

At the moment I am working on a new short bio to put on my social profiles. It’s not a task I relish because I do a lot of different things and work with a number of communities, so whatever I put will alienate some and attract others. It’s one thing I miss about being a CEO, as at least those three letters took up very little of the character count 😉 . Now that I am my own boss, I am not quite sure what to write. I also work increasingly with folk in digital and workplace wellbeing outside of academia, and to them the title ‘Dr’ is more likely to translate into the assumption that I am a GP or Psychotherapist… which sometimes leads to interesting conversations… .

So I am trying to transform:

I work with edu orgs + non profits as an independent consultant & coach. Author, speaker, podcast host, houseplant enthusiast, runner, dog person.

into something a little more, well, something I like better.

Which brings us to the final few words in the current bio, namely that I am a dog person. I don’t describe myself as a dog parent, but I certainly love the two canine companions that live with us, and I view them as very much part of the family.

I mention being a dog person in my bio to share something real about myself, something that’s a big interest and part of my life. Having a dog was a childhood dream of mine and when I was little I begged and borrowed dogs from kind families on holiday, which I proudly walked around the camp sites.

Now that my dream has become a reality, I am so glad to have the fun that dogs bring in my life. I love waking up in the morning and witness the bouncy morning joy that comes with two labradors who can’t wait to have breakfast, share morning tea and cuddles. Our dogs are definitely morning people.

As a home and hybrid based professional, I also appreciate the extra motivation that dogs bring to my work/life balance. From getting in a couple of miles of walking each day to getting up from my desk regularly to check in with them, open the garden door and so on. Together we attend online conferences… meetings… and get through long, productive days at my desk.

In that sense, mentioning being a dog person in my bio and posting the occasional pictures of them on my blog is a useful shorthand for folk who don’t know me and can provide an easy topic of conversation, too.

So, where does that leave my bio? Here’s my current best draft:

Meticulously informal coaching & courses for established and emerging leaders. Education and adjacent spaces, hybrid working, digital wellbeing, unconventional career paths. Author, podcast host, fan of writing letters, dog person.