Thematic Analysis:

Airman, Leader,
Mother
Jacqueline Cunningham

April 8, 2023

OGL 482

Dr. Kenneth J Willmott

 Introduction
This presentation is a data driven; research-based summary of self. It is meant
to compliment the electronic portfolio which is a summary of my academic and
professional career.
Research Process and Methods

The research for this presentation was

conducted via self-Assessments over two
decades. The assessments have been conducted
throughout my academic and professional life.
While some of the results were indicative of the
time period of my life, many reflected
consistent themes. The methods used to
compile, code and theme data were
methodologies from referenced text books.
My Data
Sources
I completed numerous self-assessments in effort to
provide data-based metrics for research. The next few
slides will describe the sources I used to mark, code
and compile data for this presentation.
 Three Questions (3Qs)- Leo Tolstoy’s three questions that require narrative response
and reflection to help for vocational discernment

Identities Exercise – The user categorizes self-assigned identities

Values and Dreams – The user completes a worksheet listing and prioritizing wants

Data Sources Life Story Personal Narrative (LSPN)-This reflective exercise required that I create a
substantial narrative of my life story from birth to the present day. Additionally, throughout the
retelling of my story, I was required to identify major themes which have persisted throughout
my life.

Kuder Career Interest, Skills Confidence Assessment, Super Work Values Inventory: A
computer-based assessment that determines potential vocational and professional career
paths

Holland Personality Test: An Assessment that is part of the Kuder Assessments that
categorizes the user into six descriptors.
 Myers Briggs: This assessment is computer based and requires users to answer a series of questions that
groups people into 16 personality tests and 4 dichotomies (Myers Briggs, 2023).

Four Lenses: This assessment is an offshoot of the Myers Briggs Assessment. The assessment is interactive,
facilitator lead and groups individuals into one of four personality types (Four Lenses n.d.)

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) – This assessment has 9 academic and trade
subtests (USAF n.d.). The purpose of this test is to determine where your strengths for placement within the
enlisted tier.

Standout: This is a computer-based assessment using situational based questions to determine

strengths and assigns two top roles. (StandOut n.d.)

Data Sources HumanAcumen: This assessment is computer-based and is behavioral and value and motivation focused.
Sisler Solutions (n.d.).

Leadership Trait Questionnaire: This Assessment looks at the users personal leadership characteristics
(Northouse, P.G. 2019)

Leadership Matrix Questionnaire (LMX): This assessment looks at relationship of the User as a
Leader and Follower (Northouse, P. G. 2019)

Love Languages: This assessment determines how the user is fulfilled in relationships
 Assessment Label

Data Sources Legend

3Qs S1
Identities Exercise S2
Values and Dreams S3
LSPN S4
Kuder/Holland Assessments S5
Myers Briggs S6
Four Lenses S7
ASVAB S8
StandOut S9
Human Acuman S10
LTQ S11

LMX S12
Love Languages S13
Themes

This section identifies 10 themes from the 15 Self-

Assessments referenced under data sources. The process
of coding was tedious and challenging for me to process
and complete. I used an alpha-numeric coding system to
label themes. I began by reviewing each the assessments
and highlighting concepts that resonated with me. From
those, I chose 10 of the most frequent and consistent
themes for the period of observation.
Theme: Perseverance
Theme Statement: I have faced many challenges, and I yet I persevere.

• Supporting Evidence:
• Familial support was lacking due to generational trauma. I supported my twin boys and led a successful career (S4).
• I have completed two associates degree and am on target for completion of a bachelor’s degree despite numerous
professional and personal challenges (S4)
• I am adaptive and responsive to high-stress environments (S4, S10)
• I have confidence in my ability to learn a skill; this is a necessary trait for perseverance (S5, S10)
• I enjoy working on puzzles and complex problems/projects. This attribute contributes to this theme. (S7, S6, S9)
• I am logical and analytical. This attribute contributes to this theme. (S5, S6 S7, S9, S10)

• Contradictory Evidence:
• I do not believe there is contradictory evidence. I fail forward toward goal completion.

• Reflection: I am doing alright. I struggle with PTSD, which often yields high anxiety and, bouts of depression. I do not
give myself enough credit for my accomplishments and where I am today.
Theme: Relationships
Theme Statement: The relationships that I have developed in my life are extremely important to me.

• Supporting Evidence:
• I require respect and acceptance in professional relationships (S7, S9).
• I perform best when there is a person I can model or have a mentor (S7, S9, S6, S10).
• I center my professional and personal life choices around my children (S4, S2, S1).
• The relationships I have with my followers are center to my leadership style (S11, S12).
• The relationship I have with my children is paramount. (S1, S2, S3, S4)
• I prefer quality, intimate relationships with my friends over many associates in frequent outings. (S13, S6, S11)

• Contradictory Evidence:
• I am a high introvert; I need to recharge before engaging with the people I am closest with. This can send mixed
signals at the beginning of a relationship. (S6, S7, S10)

• Reflection:. The relationships that I have curated are what help me to succeed professionally and personally. While
reviewing the assessments, I was able to identify people who contributed to my endeavors
Theme: Service
Theme Statement: Service is important to me in all aspects of my life.

• Supporting Evidence:).
• I enlisted in the United States Air Force (S4).
• I am happiest when I am of service (S1, S2, S3, S7, S10, S11, S12)
• I center my life on the service of my children (S4, S2, S1).
• Servant Leadership is one of my preferred leadership theories (S11. S12).
• I am a person who builds, motivates, and develops others (S9, S7, S11, S12)
• I am an engaged and consciences citizen (S1, S2, S3, S9, S5)

• Contradictory Evidence:
• There wasn’t any contradictory evidence documented in the source data.

• Reflection: Analyzing and compiling data for this theme redirected the trajectory of the pursuit of my
second career. It also helped me to decide which job offer I would accept. It reinforced my desire to
serve and have a daily sense of purpose.
Theme: Community
Theme Statement: Community is a high value theme for me.

• Supporting Evidence:).
• I served in the USAF for 24 years. The community was among the top 3 reasons I served past retirement
eligibility (S4).
• I believe that community stewardship is important in part and parcel of citizenship. (S1, S2, S3)
• Community is crucial to success (S4).
• I believe engagement and support in your local community are paramount to my self-identity (S1, S2, S3)
• Community and belonging make me feel confident (S11, S12).
• I make life choices based on community (S1, S4).

• Contradictory Evidence:
• There wasn’t any contradictory evidence documented in the source data.

• Reflection: Analyzing and compiling data for this theme helped me to discern ways to stay engaged with
my community post-service. This has been cited as one of the most crucial factors in the success of
veterans. While I am at low risk for homelessness, I am at risk for mental health issues.
Theme: Education
Theme Statement: Education is a high value theme for me.

• Supporting Evidence:).
• I love to learn (S1, S5, S6, S7, S9, S10)
• I respect intelligence and education (S4, S7. S10).
• I associate education with freedom (S4)
• I am analytical, pragmatic, and prefer logical activities (S6, S7, S10).
• I attribute education to intelligence, critical thinking, and higher-processing function; education is crucial
to success and community stewardship. (S4. S7, S2, S10)
• I feel an obligation to my ancestors and my posterity to be educated (S4).

• Contradictory Evidence:
• There wasn’t any contradictory evidence documented in the source data.

• Reflection: Education has been a high-value theme for me since childhood. So much so that I can
pinpoint where it began, this would be a key theme to back and expound upon the origin story in
my LSPN.
Theme: Stability

Theme Statement: Stability is a high value theme for me.

• Supporting Evidence:.
• I served in the USAF for 24 years. Stability in benefits and entitlements was among the reasons I served.
(S4).
• I believe a household should be stable and that is an integral part of proper child-rearing (S3)
• I value stability in employment (S5)
• Stability builds trust in relationships. I believe it is necessary for a health professional or personal
relationship. (S12, S13)
• Stability equals safety, the lack of stability in my childhood drives a strong desire to have and provide
stability. (S4, S10)
• I do not like high-risk actions or environments. (S10, S6)

• Contradictory Evidence:
• I served in the USAF for 24 years. Numerous moves within the U.S and overseas did not provide
stability for my kids (S4).
• Reflection: Analyzing this theme reinforced work to be done with my therapist.
Theme: Structure
Theme Statement: I seek structure, even though I detest monotony and like change.

• Supporting Evidence:
• I enlisted in the USAF. (S4)
• I employ structure in my leadership style by the use of strategic alignment (S9, S10, S11, S12).
• I see structure a tool for success and program/project management. (S10, S12, S5, S9)
• The absence of structure equates to a lack of organization and direction. I do not excel in this environment. (S7, S6, S9)
• Structure enhances productivity, I am more productive and focused with structure. (S7)
• I thrive in structure, it yields innovation, results and creativity. (S4, S10, S7)

• Contradictory Evidence:
• There wasn’t any contradictory evidence documented in the source data.

• Reflection: Analyzing this theme, required a great deal of self-reflection. Stability and structure are similar concepts
and I can account for how I employ structure in both my personal and professional life. I am not a fan of people who
are cavalier, indifferent or who lack structure. I had to really think about why it is so important to me and why, I have
such an aversion to absence of it.
Theme: Creativity
Theme Statement: Without creativity, there is absence of humanity.

• Supporting Evidence:).
• I love the arts. (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S10)
• I prefer self-managed, empowered work environments that allow creativity in problem solving (S5, S7, S9)
• I find joy and fulfillment in the act and creation of the arts. (S1, S2, S3, S10)
• I attribute creativity with art, intelligence, higher functioning, and community, all of which are vital to
humanity. (S1, S2, S3, S10)
• Creativity is employed in all aspects of my personal and professional life. It brings both joy and fulfillment in
the pursuit of peace and happiness. (S1, S2, S3, S6, S7, S11, S12)
• Creativity is the source of all learned things. I encourage creativity, always. (S11, S12)

• Contradictory Evidence:
• I scored higher in areas of logic on a battery test (S8)

• Reflection: Analysis, and data compilation of this theme affirmed what I know to be a true reflection of
my value set. I believe creativity will be what saves humanity.
Theme: Leadership
Theme Statement: Leadership is apart of my identity.

• Supporting Evidence:
• I lean into leadership formally and informally. (S4, S9, S10, S11)
• I enlisted and promoted to the top 2% of my specialty (S4).
• I believe that leadership fosters structure and stability and the presence of leadership drives success (S11,
S12)
• I believe leadership is a privilege and followership is earned.(S11, S12, S7)
• I do not respect or engage with leaders I deem to be incompetent or incapable. (S7)
• I believe inclusion, and diversity are key components of leadership (S7)

• Contradictory Evidence:
• There wasn’t any contradictory evidence documented in the source data.

• Reflection: While compiling support evidence for this theme I was left reflecting on how to incorporate
this theme into my life post-service. I thoroughly enjoyed leading while in service. I did it well. I do not
think that I will find that level of leadership within my second career, which means I must evaluate what
level it will exist post-service.
Theme: Purpose
Theme Statement: Without purpose, we wander aimlessly.
• Supporting Evidence:
• A sense of purpose is integral to my happiness. (S4, S9, S10)
• I require the why to do. Without the why, I can’t process ad will not do the project or assignment (S7, S9)
• A sense of purpose is what made me a 24 year Airman. Purpose is paramount in my professional career. (S4,
S7, S10).
• I believe knowing one's purpose in life is the path to enlightenment. I think pursuit of this should be
everyone’s goal (S4, S7)
• I seek purpose in all endeavors, as a means to structure and stability. (S7)
• I attribute purpose to respect for time and means to time management. (S10)

• Contradictory Evidence:
• There wasn’t any contradictory evidence documented in the source data.

• Reflection: Reviewing the data for this theme, allowed me to reflect on how I value having a sense of
purpose in my professional life. It also reminded me that I seek my purpose in life and have not yet
identified that.
 My Personal Vision Statement

I want to align my passion and purpose to contribute to my community. I want each day to have purpose.

Reflection: As a senior leader in the United States Air Force, I have developed a personal
leadership philosophy. It is a requirement of Professional Military Education. It contains your
vision and mission. Developing that philosophy was much easier, because I am clear on my
identity within the service, and I am convicted in my beliefs surrounding leadership. As I begin my
second career, I am redefining my identity. This made it more difficult to commit to a vision
statement. I have completed many self-assessments, I have been given feedback from mentors and
leadership coaches. I know, that I want wake up each day and do something that serves myself,
those I love and my community. I want joy…everyday. This is something I feel in my soul. The
research completed and feedback received helped to corroborate my instincts. I do think that with
time my personal vision statement will include my second career.
 My Personal Mission Statement

I will devote my gifts, talents and abilities to amplify those around me, build community and promote kindness.

Reflection: Developing a personal mission statement was much more challenging for me than I
anticipated. I found myself resistant to taking in any material that I read that would help the
process. After taking a step back, and reflecting on the values and dreams assessment, I was able to
craft my vision statement. I am happiest when in service. I am fulfilled in kindness. I have been
provided feedback that I am in my element and a clear force when I am in service. I want to work
and know that my efforts contribute to community, I want to be a giving and loving human. I want
to amply others.
 This project was challenging, it is
deeply personal and requires
honesty of self. I began this
analysis feeling as if I didn’t have
a sense of self or individuality.
Furthermore, analysis, coding and
compilation of research was very

Conclusion
tedious and laborious. After
completion of the Thematic
Analysis, I feel more confident in
my identity going into my second
career. I feel better prepared to
move forward towards aligning
my purpose and passion. I am
excited to see what I am able to
contribute to my community at the
micro and macro level.
References
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/standout-assessment/
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navigate contemporary careers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc
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8, 2023, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/personal-vision-statement
Herrity , J. (2022, September 30). How to Write a Personal Mission Statement (40 Examples). Indeed. Retrieved April
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