This letter from Joelle Kaufman is part of Pavilion’s International Women’s Day 2025 collection, where the women of Pavilion share heartfelt letters to their younger selves. Through these reflections, they explore the lessons, challenges, and defining moments that have shaped their careers. Read more inspiring stories here.
Dear Joelle,
You're sitting at your desk right now, staring at a lost FedEx package and feeling your heart race as the deadline looms. I know you're focused on proving yourself, on being the person who always delivers no matter what. Take a breath. That's right—just one deep breath.
Here's what you don't yet understand: those "urgent" moments that feel like they're speeding toward you like fastballs are actually curveballs. They're moving slower than you think, and you have more time than you believe. That lost disk that feels like a career-ender? It's actually going to teach you one of your most valuable lessons: people matter more than deadlines.
Instead of pressuring the mailroom, walk downstairs. Yes, right now. Look those people in the eye. Share your challenge. Be human. You'll discover something remarkable – people want to help. Not only that, but when you give them the chance to help, something magical happens: your stress decreases, their engagement increases, and solutions appear that you couldn't have found alone.
You're going to learn this lesson again years later, in a much more profound way, when cancer throws you the biggest curveball of your life. That experience will show you that giving people opportunities to help doesn't make you weak – it makes everyone stronger. It creates more recovery time, more thinking time, and yes, more happiness.
Right now, you believe success means controlling everything and handling every crisis yourself. Oh, how exhausting that is! Let me share a secret from your future: true success isn't about being the tactical hero who swoops in to save the day. It's about building teams who can succeed together, who feel confident in their ability to solve problems collectively.
You'll discover this most clearly when you step away from being the accountable executive to advising CEOs. That shift in perspective will show you something fascinating: there are always more possibilities than any one person or team can explore. When you stop feeling personally responsible for every outcome, you'll actually become more effective at seeing strategic opportunities and creative alternatives.
So here's what I really want you to know: slow down. Those curveballs that seem to be rushing toward you? They're actually giving you time to think, to partner, to create something better than you could achieve alone. Your value isn't in how many crises you can handle by yourself – it's in how well you can help others succeed together.
The journey from tactical hero to strategic leader isn't about doing more or working harder. It's about learning to pause, to partner, and to trust in the collective power of people working together. And here's the beautiful irony: when you finally stop trying to control everything, you'll actually have more impact than you ever imagined possible.
Keep growing, keep learning, and remember – every curveball is an opportunity to transform how you lead.
With wisdom from your future self,
Joelle
P.S. Those moments when you feel most vulnerable? They're actually your greatest opportunities for connection and growth. Embrace them.
The Women of Pavilion Community is a dynamic subcommunity of Pavilion dedicated to fostering belonging, knowledge-sharing, and professional growth for women in go-to-market. Led by Anne Pao, Founder and CEO of Ignite Consulting, and Lindsay Tjepkema, Founder and CEO of Human Brands Win, this group empowers members to break barriers, advocate for themselves authentically, and advance both personally and professionally through curated content, exclusive events, and a supportive network.
Curious to learn more? Explore Pavilion membership.
