I've never considered myself the outdoorsy type, but spending time in the sun always seems to cure my seasonal depression, so when I was given the chance to participate in the Merrell x Power Play hike, I raised my hand. I could set aside my feelings about the great outdoors for a morning hike around Inspiration Loop in the Pacific Palisades with women who inspire me on the daily.
I expected some heavy panting, but I didn't expect to experience a major development in the bond I have with my co-workers. Because I had the Merrell hiking shoes on, I knew it was the right choice in my journey uphill. I was also lucky enough to be accompanied by my work BFF and the leader of our team, Caitie Schlisserman, with whom I have worked side by side since 2015. Unplugging from our laptops and Slack messages opened up time for us to connect and talk about our journey together, one that's deeply rooted in mutual respect for one another and filled with a myriad of inside jokes. (Caitie, if you're reading this, all I'm going to say is, "Wall Street.") We met in our mid-20s and over the last decade have supported each other in developing our careers, getting married, buying homes, and starting families—we have a lot to be proud of in our relationship.
