We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Barbara Lamblin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Barbara below.

Barbara, appreciate you joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

My parents came from humble beginnings in Philadelphia, but they possessed the intense desire for their children to be well educated and do better than they did. The most critical characteristics they impressed upon siblings and me were hard work, honesty, and integrity. And have fun at the same time. We worked hard and played hard, learning at school and out on the streets playing ball with our neighborhood friends, staying out until the street lights went off, and practicing our faith daily. There was always an honesty about our actions. They knew where we were and that what we said was happening was what was happening. When I graduated high school, my father looked at my report card and was shocked that I had finished at the very top of my class of 433 girls. He said, “How did you do this?I never saw you study; you were always out with your friends playing sports.” I said, “Dad, I did what was required and knew if I did not, I could not go out, so I was always pushing to do my best at both.” He laughed and hugged me.”

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I have a BA in Communications/English from LaSalle University and her M.Ed. in Special Education from University of Virginia. As noted before, my parents came from humble beginnings in Philadelphia, neither having gone to college. After high school, I considered joining the military directly, so I could afford college, but my dad encouraged me to go to college first. I knew I wanted to serve my country so I investigated my options. The ROTC scholarship would allow me to do both, so I applied. Immediately upon graduation, I was commissioned a second lietutenant in the US Army and was on my way. There is no greater work than serving others, and I learned this in the military. Leadership requires one to put others first. When I left the US Army, I worked in corporate America as a recruiter for large software companies, specializing in placing candidates in the top secret fields supporting national intelligence. This work was intense, invigorating, and beautiful as much of my time was work-from-home, and was at the time my husband and I were building our little family. When my second child was diagnosed with a rare genetic seizure disorder, my free time was spent attending therapies and learning how to best support him educationally. As a classroom volunteer, I began to love working with children and found my way back to school to study Special Education with the goal of working in the classroom and spending more time with my children. Making a career change in mid-life was a detour I felt God asked me to make, and was blessed to work in classroom education in the school setting for 15 years. A teacher’s impact on the future leaders of our communities and world is not something I took lightly. When I was approached to lead Life Care Pregnancy Center, many people asked if I was okay to leave education. However, what we do at Life Care IS education. Every day, I collaborate with the staff and volunteers to educate and galvanize the community regarding the dignity of the human person and the right to life, and by doing so, forge community. Along with this staff of beautifully committed people, I help women understand their options when faced with an unplanned or unsupported pregnancy. Our world moves at warp speed and the cultural messaging is that “to have it all, a woman must put her feminity last, children are too expensive, and the career ladder must be climbed.” We help women understand that children are a gift, feminity is the reason women are childbearers, and work can happen successfully with a child. We share connections and resources, and we are blessed by seriously generous donors who allow this work to happen day after day. I believe life is a gift, and we are called to live our faith out loud, vibrantly supporting life and each other, as we journey to do God’s will each and every day.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I hold tightly to the belief that life is too short to allow negativity and inertia to steal life’s joys. Honesty can almost always resolve a concern or difficult situation. There have been times in my career where the forces of desire for power and intense human unkindness, and after much mental and spiritual angst, presented to me the insight that I would resign my position rather than continue to “play in that sandbox.” In one instance, early in my career, I shared with my team that if they felt my resignation would help end the situation and allow the organizations to move on without me, I would do so. During the meeting when I formally did offer to resign, the director said, “Barbara, I would not jump out the window if I were you.” With those words, I left the meeting seriously confused. I believed his message told me to remain steadfast, so I did. Ironically, the individual who almost singlehandedly ruined the organization was then miraculously removed within the month. Robert Frost’s quote rang loudly in my mind: “The best way out is always through.”

Contact Info:

• Website: friendsoflcpc.org

Image Credits
Brandi Swarms Jessica Stephens