Many employees aspire to retire. Sometimes those transitions are planned, sometimes not, but in every case life changes significantly for both those who left and those who are left behind. Long time employees have been deeply invested in the people and institutions where they have spent so much of their lives, and those who continue working must deal with change that has both personal and professional repercussions. For those who leave, the "afterlife" involves more than changes in daily routines or long awaited vacations. There are profound impacts on identity, on relationships, on health, on life decisions. We rarely hear about what happens after we reach the goal. Breaching the shroud can help active employees prepare for the next phase. Presenters are 3 IT leaders who spent their professional lives in the university system: one who left this year (Debbie Carraway, Director of IT, College of Sciences, NC State), one who left in 2020 (Susan West, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Technology Support Services, NC State), and one who left in 2016 (Chuck Curry, University Information Security Officer, UNCG). They each have different perspectives and experiences, some that have changed over time. All have lessons learned to share and a deep, continued interest in the success of all members of the IT community in the UNC System. This session will include introductory comments from each presenter and will follow a Q&A format with audience participation.
