It’s nice to meet you!

Mom and I, circa 1988, in my Great-Grandmother’s kitchen in Overland, MO

Patti’s story >

I don’t take myself very seriously. It’s part of my charm.

I’m told that when you meet me for the first time, you are greeted with bright eyes and a warm smile, usually with a wink as I outstretch my hand and say, “Nice to meet you, my name is Megan.” I’m casually dressed, no makeup or any product in my hair. I rarely get dressed up unless it’s required or expected.

I’m energized by meeting new people. I’m prone to start random conversations as we wait for our order to be filled at a take-out counter.

Our conversation could span hot topics in St. Louis, history, the arts, sports.

But my friends always laugh after I introduce myself at a networking event in St. Louis because the next question is usually, “Are you related to…” Usually, I am. Also, I look just like my mother, who taught for nearly 30 years. You’d be surprised how many random strangers ask if we’re related. It’s caused quite a few odd conversations while I wash my hands in a public restroom.

I’m a native St. Louisan and I love playing the St. Louis “Where did you go to high school?” game because we probably have a lot of people in common.

For those who aren’t in St. Louis, we are known for asking this question whenever we meet someone new because it tells any native St. Louisan everything about your personality. I went to Ursuline Academy, which is why I am so comfortable to just randomly start a conversation with you because Ursuline students are all very social. If you also went to Catholic school, then we will go down the path of mutual connections which will probably involve our parents, grandparents, and former teachers.

I haven’t always lived in St. Louis. I went to college at Loyola University -  Chicago. I had a stint in Quincy, Illinois before moving to Phoenix, Arizona. I call Phoenix my “exodus in the desert” because we were there for 7 years before moving back home to St. Louis. That pivotal time in Phoenix was not really my choice, but it was when I learned my priorities and what was best for me. I can’t find any good pictures from those chapters of my life because that’s when we still used real cameras and not cellphones stored to a cloud.

My personal philosophy is that we all have a good story to tell. There’s always a reason to smile – but sometimes, you have to look for it. It’s all about people and relationships – that’s where you find the fun. We’re all in this together. And inspiration is everywhere. Never forget to laugh.

Recently, I started looking at LinkedIn again and it’s brought to light how hard the job market is right now. That’s when it really struck me that my stories could help a lot of people.

I always tell my stories about having a disability. I have epilepsy: a common neurological disorder that isn’t well understood and presents itself in many different ways. For example, I don’t have the convulsions typically associated with a seizure. I can talk; I walk. But it’s obvious that something is wrong, and it’s scary for anyone to witness - even if you have seen them multiple times. I’m safer when I work from home, and I have less seizures: only 1-2 per month. And if I’m at home, my coworkers aren’t uncomfortable if I have one during the workday because no one can see me.

And here’s where you laugh: my epilepsy is a result of a genetic digestive disorder. To manage my seizures, I can’t eat vegetables. And that’s real medical direction from the Mayo Clinic. Despite my diet, I’m healthy as a horse. I’m an advocate that health and diet is not “one size fits all.”

I’m also a single mom. My son turned 18 in 2025 so I’m figuring out what to do with my time if I’m not working. We look exactly the same, too. I am fully enjoying his journey in adulthood, which includes interactions at work like, “I recognize your name. I know your uncle. He’s a good guy.”

But when my son was a toddler, I couldn’t make ends meet. I understand government assistance, and the shame we feel when we need it. But it’s not permanent.

Where do you work?

I’m in marketing and communications. I was recently laid off after 10 years at Wells Fargo, and I spent a few years in marketing for the construction industry. I spent a lot of time in retail management, too.

I’m passionate about skills-based employment and hiring that isn’t based on a 4-year college degree. My job in a cubicle isn’t nearly as valuable as the person fixing your broken HVAC or the person who is making our lunch while we chat in line. And a lot of skills come from community service – and some of your best business connections.

What are you doing now?

Good question. I lost my job in February 2026 but I had about 4 months of severance including full pay and benefits, so I had some time to figure stuff out. My former employer also set us up with a firm to help with displacement, and I found a lot of value in that. I’ve made connections all over the world with fellow job seekers in the exact same situation.

I don’t want to go back to a corporate environment with a set boundary of responsibilities. I’ve got a wide range of skills that surprise a lot of hiring managers. I’ve even had conversations where they say, “Have you really done all of this?” Yes. But I follow that immediately with, “these are my gaps.” For example, I haven’t bought media in 15 years. I know how to do it, but I don’t know how to buy media in our current streaming environment. I need to learn, but I’ve demonstrated through other situations that I learn quickly and I am highly adaptable. And that answer also shows that I’m transparent when there’s something that I don’t know how to do. I may not be the right person for your role, but I’d love to know what you suggest I do to catch up.

What really lights my fire is the idea that I could start a business consulting service. In that environment, I can help with marketing, business development, organizational strategy. I’ve been successful doing temporary contract work in the past; it’s just unsettling that the income isn’t guaranteed.

I’ve met so many people over the last few months who are also unemployed. There’s this idea of “fractional leadership” where small businesses can hire specialists on a part-time or temporary basis. I’m naturally a networker, and I’ve met a lot of specialists through this displacement firm. I could set up a small business around this referral network. I’ve always found my value to be connecting people. Clients do business with me because I say, “Eh, you’re not ready for marketing yet because you need to forecast your supply chain needs first. Talk to my friend; they’ll be able to help you.” That’s always been my differentiator: I’ll tell someone when they aren’t ready for marketing or when they don’t actually need marketing.

The network that I’ve built through the displacement firm has encouraged me to pursue job coaching. I’ve been terrible at writing my own resume, but I can share my networking skills with others. And I’ve helped a lot of people think differently about their job search. The greatest compliment is that I help people feel okay with being unemployed. And maybe taking a job in the interim that has nothing to do with the concept of a “career path.”

So I connected with our local SCORE chapter and I’ve connected with a mentor to figure out if I can build a business around what I love: connecting people and helping others succeed.

So that’s where I’m at right now. Just figuring out how to turn my natural skills into income. Help people and have some fun along the way. Figure it out as I go.