The spark that helped me redesign everything

When I think of Paula, I think of clarity in motion. She taught me how to get things done – really done. Not halfway, not rushed, but with structure, intention, and excellence. From her, I learned the art of stakeholder management, of staying efficient under pressure, of delivering quality as a non-negotiable.

Paula could build from scratch and see things through like no one else I knew. But more than the professional lessons – which were many and foundational – there was one experience that profoundly changed how I view my life: a course she organized called Designing Your Life, based on the book by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans.

Together with close friends – Dan M., Laura R., and Dan S. – we joined this course under Paula’s guidance. That journey reframed how I approach work and life. It gave me the courage to make changes I had postponed for years. It helped me realign with what truly matters, especially mentally – where clarity is often hardest to find.

This is Paula’s legacy to me: not just what she taught, but how she opened doors within me that I didn’t know were there. She didn’t just pass through our lives – she designed a better path for each of us to walk.