The Kindness Dividend
- Jenna Keesee
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
There has been something weighing on my mind lately.
As I continue building Sweet Lemon People Solutions, I've had a few people tell me I should be careful about giving away too much. Some have encouraged me to focus on monetizing my network, while others might question why I'd publicly share professionals who are looking for work instead of saving those connections for future business opportunities.
I understand that perspective.
Building a business requires revenue, and I'm certainly working toward that.
But I also believe something else.
Kindness doesn't have to wait until you're profitable.
Right now, our industry is filled with incredibly talented people who are stuck in what feels like an AI doom loop of job hunting. They submit applications into systems that never respond. They tailor resumes, optimize keywords, and still wonder if another human being ever sees their name.
It's exhausting.
And it's happening to some of the smartest, hardest-working people I know.
Today, I don't have dozens of consulting clients or retained searches to fill.
What I do have is a network of more than 17,000 professionals.
So today, I'm choosing to use it.
Not because someone paid me.
Not because it benefits my business.
Simply because I can, and it is on my heart to do.
I've always believed that when you do good, good has a way of finding its way back to you.
If sharing someone else's story helps them land an interview, reconnect with an old colleague, or simply gives them a little more visibility, then it's worth every minute it took to write this article.
When I'm gone, I don't want my legacy to be the revenue I generated.
I want it to be the kindness I showed other people.
With that in mind, I'd like to introduce you to a few exceptional professionals who are actively seeking their next opportunity.
Richard Peacock
Although Richard and I have never worked together directly, we've known each other through the cybersecurity community for several years, and I've always respected his professionalism and reputation.
Richard is seeking senior leadership opportunities in digital forensics, incident response, eDiscovery, data privacy, cybersecurity insurance, or operational leadership. His experience spans operational excellence, business development, strategic partnerships, and investigations.
If your organization could benefit from a proven operational leader, I'd encourage you to connect with him.
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/richpeacock
Jeff Peterson
I had the pleasure of recruiting Jeff into his most recent role, and one thing stood out immediately.
Jeff genuinely invests in people.
He's the kind of engineering leader who develops teams just as intentionally as he builds technology.
With more than twenty years of engineering leadership experience, Jeff is currently exploring opportunities as a CTO, VP of Engineering, Head of Engineering, or Director of Engineering following a recent organizational restructuring.
If you're looking for someone who builds both platforms and people, Jeff deserves a conversation.
Richard Heruska
Richard recently reached out yesterday, what started as a simple LinkedIn conversation quickly reminded me how powerful genuine connections can be.
Richard brings an impressive background in cybersecurity strategy, cloud modernization, governance, risk management, digital transformation, and enterprise technology leadership. He has a unique ability to bridge technical strategy with business outcomes while building consensus across organizations.
If you're looking for a technology executive who combines strategic vision with practical execution, I'd encourage you to reach out.
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/rheruska
Benjamin Martin
Benjamin isn't searching for a new opportunity.
He's creating them for others.
Earlier today, Benjamin generously spent thirty minutes sharing advice with me about entrepreneurship. He didn't have to. We had never met before, although we have a lot of mutual connections and former colleagues. Yet he freely gave his time, encouragement, and perspective.
That conversation reminded me that kindness exists everywhere if we're willing to look for it.
Benjamin is currently recruiting for several Account Executive and Sales opportunities within the cybersecurity industry. If that sounds like your background, I'd encourage you to connect with him directly.
A Few Resources Worth Exploring
If you're currently searching for your next opportunity, here are two resources that caught my attention this week.
AI Job Search Framework
Created by Mads Lorentzen after his own job search, this open-source project helps organize nearly every aspect of the application process, including job matching, customized resumes, interview preparation, application tracking, and identifying skill gaps.
ApplicantPrime
If you're looking for something that's a little less technical, ApplicantPrime is another AI-powered resource designed to help streamline the job search process.
Maybe this article doesn't generate a single dollar for Sweet Lemon People Solutions.
And that's okay.
Because today wasn't about revenue.
It was about people.
If you know someone who could benefit from connecting with Richard, Jeff, Ryan, or Benjamin, please reach out to them.
One introduction can change a career.
One conversation can change a life.
That's the kind of dividend I'm interested in investing in.
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