The Climb: Insights on People, Process, and Growth

What do you want to be when you grow up? We were bombarded with that question as kids. Then again, in high school. And finally, expected to lock in the answer in college. The irony? What did we really know? Most of us chose paths based on what we saw around us. What our parents did. What felt familiar. What class were we best at (hello, English majors 🙋‍♀️)? Or what we believed would make the most money. Fast forward a few decades. Today, I spend my time working with l

Sometimes You Lead. Sometimes You Follow. Both Matter. We live in a world that misrepresents leadership. We've decided that everyone should be “in the lead,” and if they're not, they're somehow failing. In doing so, we've dramatically undervalued the contributions of people who don't shine with a title or a role. You can be a leader and a difference-maker without leading people. I was an individual contributor for many years, by choice. Family obligations, an inability to rel

Encouraged by those closest to me, I'm expanding my speaking engagements in 2026, and I'm energized to have already been selected for several sessions across the U.S. This expansion isn't ego-driven; it's fueled by genuine excitement about sharing a message that matters. A message centered on leveraging modern tools and smarter strategies to align people and processes for real, sustainable growth. Organizations of every size are wrestling with the same question: how do we com

What we can learn from dogs. My best and favorite work companions have always been my dogs. Sampson. Bo. Lexi. Tank. Benjamin. Brooklyn. From my 20s on, they’ve been my constant work-from-home partners, my built-in accountability coaches, my moral support, my stress relief, and my excuse to step away from the screen and move my body. They’ve taught me things no leadership book ever could. They've made me accountable — because they need care, consistency, and presence, w

How we believe we present ourselves and how others actually experience us often live worlds apart. That gap, quiet, invisible, and usually unintentional, can shape careers, relationships, and leadership trajectories far more than we realize. Most of us would say we're self-aware. We've reflected, we've done the work, and we've asked for feedback. And yet, awareness is not static. It's contextual. It shifts under pressure, stress, ambition, fear, and unresolved history.

My old home is currently a frozen tundra. I'm watching from the desert via social sites. And the irony? None of this is unusual. Snow and ice roll in, conditions deteriorate, and suddenly, working, driving, and even basic living become optional. Offices and schools close. Accidents and slide-offs pile up. People who thrive outdoors are forced inside, sedentary and restless. So here's the question I always find myself wondering in moments like this: When the world hits pause,

I haven't been in a formal gym since October 2019. Before that, I was an avid gym girlie—Lifetime, Pilates studios, personal training, Orange Theory, kickboxing, yoga. All of it. I might have been obsessed. Movement was community, variety, intensity, and identity. Then a 5K injury + a walking boot changed everything. I bought a Peloton to rehab, fell in love, and shortly after, COVID shut the gym world down entirely. I invested heavily in a beautiful basement gym—heavy bag,

“Leadership isn't about effort. It's about precision.” Every CEO hears some version of this advice: “Coach your team more.” But here's the uncomfortable truth: Most coaching fails not because leaders aren't trying. It fails because they're coaching blind. We assume motivation works the same way for everyone. We assume feedback lands the same way for everyone. We assume what worked for us will work for them. It doesn't. Some people need pressure. Some shut down under it. S

Continuing on my sports theme for the week, I’m excited to see Mike Tomlin depart on his own terms and take control of the next phase of his journey. In an era where loyalty in sports feels increasingly rare, players chasing bigger paychecks, NIL money driving constant roster turnover in college athletics, and coaches cycling through jobs at lightning speed, Tomlin stands apart. Nearly 20 years. One organization. And not a single losing season. Did he deliver the exact result

“There’s no I in team, but there is an I in win. And it’s the individuals that make a team great.” That line from Nick Saban during the Peach Bowl stuck with me. As a lifelong sports girl, it reinforced something I've always believed: Saban isn't just a great coach, he's a great leader. You can have the best product or solution in the world, but without the right team in place, you will fail. You need the "I" to win. Years ago, while working at one of the tech giants, our CEO

I was coaching a client recently who's on the job search for the first time in decades. He's had an incredible career. Strong results. Highly respected. And yet, he said something I hear more often than you'd think: “I feel disconnected from this process.” Not unqualified. Not unsure of what he’s done. Disconnected. And as we talked, it became clear why. The job search doesn't break people because they aren't trying hard enough. It breaks them because they're carrying too

Let's talk about fear, especially as we step into a new year. Does fear paralyze you… Or does it invite you to begin again? So many people stay in roles, companies, or even relationships not because they're right, but because they're familiar. The unknown can feel heavy, especially when change keeps showing up uninvited. Recently, a friend since childhood reached out to me and admitted they were exhausted by it all: a job loss, a shift in a relationship, tension with family