Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Moskowitz.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Entering college, I had no clue. First-generation student. The only little world that I knew cracked open and it was overwhelming. At the time, you needed to declare a major immediately. I didn’t know what the heck most of them meant. A friend was pursuing Speech Pathology –- huh? Switched my major 3 or 4 times, as well as the university itself after a few bouts with serious depression.
Fast forward to different jobs and organizations. Nothing felt close to being ‘right.’ It took a toll on my physical and mental health. In hindsight, I learned so much and liken it to dating. About 14 years ago, I was navigating through another period of depression and managing a health food store. That’s when I quietly fell in love with our customers and coworkers, the dynamic environment and just being surrounded by interesting (and mostly healthy!) food. So much so that I applied to a graduate program in nutrition and was on the verge of a fresh batch of student loans and a total career reboot.
That’s when a job post with Second Harvest Food Bank seemed like an oddly sublime fit. I’ve been here ever since. Initially, to launch a new food rescue program. Then, on a different side of our operation working with the amazing team that leads our community feeding programs. Currently, I’m in a newly created role, Director of Neighbor Insights, that’s focused on ensuring our collective work is inclusive, empowering, and always centered on the needs and experiences of our neighbors. It’s meaningful work, and I feel very fortunate to be doing it alongside a spectacular team and community.
There’s this book I keep in my office. It’s called Gig: Americans Talk About Their Jobs. Still relevant 25 years later. It’s a compilation of quick first-person interviews spanning more than 120 different jobs from the obscure, to traditional and everything in between. At its core though, Gig really humanizes the emotional aspect of our jobs and their place within our lives. It resonated with me and it’s a fascinating read for anyone who’s struggling or just curious.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not a smooth road! Depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, failed relationships, shifting friendships, bosses, and mentors. Becoming a parent. This journey through adulthood and career has been humbling.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I’m not sure I’d use the term success, but I am always learning, especially from missteps, and gravitate towards other lifelong learners. Empathy and acceptance are necessary.
And it’s so important to acknowledge the role that a certain level of privilege and luck has played, along with the stability that comes with finding an incredible partner and having a small but steadfast network of beloved family and friends.
Contact Info:
- Website: feedhopenow.org
- Instagram: @laurenmoskowitzcahen
- Linkedin: @lauren-moskowitz-cahen-b691885
