"I work at the intersection of..." is the simplest way to express your hybridity

Ready to make the invisible, visible?

People are talking about their hybrid professional identity right before our very eyes, yet we're oblivious to it.

Here's what I want you to try:

Do an online search of the phrase "work at the intersections of" (or any variation of it) and see what you see.

I think the results will surprise you.

After running my own searches, I'm going to share with you some of what I found. There are a few things that caught my attention.

NOTICINGS FROM SEARCH RESULTS ON: "I WORK AT THE INTERSECTION OF"​

#1 It sounds different when the word intersection is used compared to when it isn't used

The example below is from an online thread. In the brief bios, Shrey "works at the intersections of" while Ani "focuses on." The use of those two phrases gives a distinct difference in the tone of their work.

The word intersection implies that Shrey is combining fields while Ani is exploring a multitude of spaces.

How does each version sound to you? Which one would you prefer to use in your own bio and why?

For me, Shrey's statement makes me curious to know what that new intersection looks like.

#2 The categories that form intersections vary from fields of study and industries to disciplines, mindsets, and skillsets

What you choose for your intersectional categories is something to consider. In the following examples, people use disciplines like the history of women and gender and other times they use skills like cultural healing and embodiment.

It's quite interesting to play with these categories and test which ones are the right fit for you and your work.

EXAMPLE: Eric Solomon

EXAMPLE: Meghan K. Roberts

EXAMPLE: Portia Richardson

EXAMPLE: Dominique Drakeford

#3 Intersections give rise to a pioneering spirit and being on the cutting edge of something

Neri Oxman is a top example of a hybrid professional. Her website opens with a giant header "Material Ecology," which is her term for the field she created (also a hybrid title).

In the two paragraphs below the header, I included a screenshot of the actual text.

The first paragraph reads, "Operating at the intersection of technology and biology, architect and designer Neri..." and in the second paragraph it states that she is pioneering a new field.

What Neri models here so unassumingly and honestly is how leading with hybridity shapes what she stands for and who she is. Using the term Material Ecology sets the basis for her website and right away she explains what that means and why it matters as the expression of her occupational identity.

This is the pioneering energy that can come through when your hybridity is clearly conveyed.

#4 Job postings are using intersections to find the right person

Finally, I had to include an example beyond personal bios. Job postings are using the language of working at the intersections too.

This posting is for a position at YouTube, and they are seeking someone who can work at the intersection of data and art, physical and digital, entertainment and culture. They also state it's an interdisciplinary team.

More and more, jobs are starting to play with language that seeks intersectionality as an attribute of a future employee.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN

What did you think of these examples?

Did you do an online search of your own? What results did you find? I'd love to hear about the ideas and resources you discovered.

Feel free to share them with me!