Our Spotlight series lets us tell the stories of the people who make up the Lions & Tigers community. A gifted writer, Brittany Richardson-Don (she/her) knew she had found a fit in Lions & Tigers when she could focus on the work she likes best while maintaining the flexibility she wanted in her life.  As a dedicated mom and a foster caregiver, Brittany appreciates being able to maximize her most precious resource, her time, as a Lions & Tigers Consultant.

ABOUT BRITTANY
I grew up in the Seattle area, spending most of my time outdoors either hiking, biking, skiing, playing soccer, running track, or exploring the woods (and construction sites, as kids were wont to do in the 90s). University took me to California, adventure took me to Italy, and the dreary job prospects of the Great Recession gave me the freedom to choose further adventure in Europe over beginning a traditional career.

FAMILY
I met my Dutch husband, Jaap, in Milan, Italy, and we lived in the Netherlands for 5 years before returning to the PNW in 2015. Now we have two kids, Theodore (5y) and Emelise (almost 3y), as well as a ‘loaner’ (2y – more on that later) and our third on the way in mid-May (surprise!).

PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
To call my employment history a “career” may be a stretch and is best described as “eclectic.” However, one thing that ran strong throughout each twist and turn – from my first post-graduation internship with a Microsoft partner in Milan to co-founding an edutech startup in Rotterdam to supporting nonprofits – was writing. I love writing, specifically the kind of clear, concise, inspiring writing that clears the way for others to live their lives or do their jobs better.

WHY LIONS & TIGERS
When I heard about Lions & Tigers, it almost seemed too good to be true. The idea of being able to focus on a specific area I like best – writing – while being compensated well and maintaining the flexibility I wanted to support my growing family and other focus areas was…extraordinary. Two years in and L&T is something I am consciously grateful for every single day – no exaggeration. I have found that being able to start slow and work my way into more opportunities as I became more familiar with the client and consulting landscape really served me well and helped me build confidence.

AREAS OF INTEREST & PASSIONS
Lions & Tigers fits so well into the overall lifestyle we’re pursuing. My husband and I recognize how incredibly fortunate we’ve been in life and make an intentional effort to be good stewards of our privilege. On the one hand, that means taking the time to truly enjoy what we have – our home, our family and friends, the amazing trails that lie just behind out house. On another, that means finding ways to mean something to the people around us. We live that out in many small ways, but one big way is by becoming foster caregivers. Right now we are hosting one of the happiest little people that ever was and have had the immense privilege of watching his parents grow and make tough changes to get him back. It has been inspiring and (like parenting in general) humbling. I also love to read.

RECENT READS
Most recently I read Well: What we need to talk about when we talk about health (Sando Galea), The Lifegiving Home (Sally & Sarah Clarkson), and am now working through Gone with the wind (Margaret Mitchell) for the first time. I have really loved unearthing classics that I had missed or failed to appreciate during my obligatory school reading days.

BENEFIT OF HIGH IMPACT, FLEXIBLE WORK
The biggest benefit to flexible, high impact work is being able to maximize my most precious resource: time. My workload ebbs and flows a lot, and I love being able to shift between work and personal life fluidly. Knowing what I do is valuable to the client helps me stay motivated when other things vie for my attention and continue to grow.

SAGE ADVICE
I think my only encouragement is to recognize that life has many seasons and to hold your plans loosely. I’ve learned that our lives are not linear, they are like little pools along a stream where each season has its own focus and intensity. I think we get caught up in trying to do all the things all the time, or make progress in all areas consistently. I’ve found that allowing the needs and purpose of a season to shape how I prioritize aspects of life provides much less striving, greater satisfaction, and a better sense of balance. Whether you’re in a season of ramping up your career or wanting to maintain impact while maximizing time for other things, choosing to work with a company like L&T that values your values is a solid choice.

Interested in joining Lions & Tigers?  Check out our open roles here.