The effect a leader can have on the people they lead can be life-changing. Journee Cotton, former Betenbough Companies technical writer, experienced this firsthand. When Journee came to Betenbough Companies in early 2021, she'd be the first to say she was in a rough spot, emotionally and spiritually. In fact, she said it was the most hurt she'd ever been.
Much of that hurt stemmed from the misuse of authority from past male leaders in her life. Yet, in God's all-knowing ways, He placed her at Betenbough under the authority of all-male leaders and surrounded her with all-male teammates.
Her leaders, James Woodley, software development manager, and Michael Horton, software manager, made intentional efforts to care for Journee. "I was very guarded, and I didn't want to get too personal," Journee said. "I was suspicious and even frightened by their intentionality at times, but they sincerely just wanted to build a healthy, normal relationship."
"I was suspicious and even frightened by their intentionality at times"
During her time on the software team, Journee attended a trip to Arise Homes in Kansas City with Michael Horton and Dock Carriker, Betenbough Companies software implementation specialist. Through conversation on that trip, Michael and Dock noticed a reoccurring theme in what Journee shared. There was distrust in authority stemming from harmful male leaders in her past. Despite a weariness about being vulnerable, Journee decided to open up with Michael and Dock about her past. They challenged Journee to find her identity in God and reclaim her trust in others. They prayed over her, asking the Lord to help her trust others and let people in again. That's when the hurt started to disappear.
The foundation of care Journee's teammates and leaders created led her to a place where she was willing to open up and experience healing.
After nine months on the software team, Journee was presented with the opportunity to move back to the UK to get her Ph.D. in English Literature. As she informed her team that she would be leaving, Journee was curious to see if the culture she experienced during her time at Betenbough would hold up. "Most companies don't handle their people leaving very well," Journee said. But that wasn't the case with Betenbough. Instead, she said the company sent her off with love and full support.
Journee is now attending the University of Exeter in England, immensely impacted by her recent time in Lubbock. "God used the people at Betenbough to have a global impact," Journee said. The impact her time with the company had on her and the seeds sowed by her leaders have ignited change in her both personally and professionally. "There is a different level of willingness I have to love on others and be open to their reciprocation of that love," Journee said. She also credits her department for helping her professionally by their willingness to answer her questions. "I am so much better in my field because of Betenbough, because of the people I worked with and reported to. They taught me to give myself grace."
Through a community of people at Betenbough, God took what was once a source of hurt in Journee's life and transformed it into a source of redemption, renewal, and growth.
Journee Cotton and Amy Knowlton