Sometimes growth doesn’t look like doing more. Sometimes it looks like pulling back—and trusting that you’re still enough. I recently had a conversation with a client, we’ll call her Maggie. Maggie is a high performer and consistently goes above and beyond in her workplace. She sees problems that others don’t, Read more
We’ve all been taught to be nice. Especially women, in mission-driven spaces, in roles where harmony is rewarded more than honesty. Nice smiles and nods. Nice avoids conflict. Nice says “you’re doing great” even when the work is off track—because saying otherwise might feel too uncomfortable. But kindness? Kindness is Read more
Somewhere along the way, many of us got the message that leadership is sacrifice. Not the kind of sacrifice that makes you feel proud. The kind that leaves you drained. Overextended. Quietly resentful.The kind that says: If I just give a little more… maybe it’ll finally be enough. And if Read more
A few weeks ago, someone in a Slack community I’m part of asked a simple question: “What are you reading?” It was posted in a subgroup of nonprofit consultants—people who, like me, spend their days thinking about systems, strategy, and human-centered leadership. The question was casual, maybe even intended as Read more
When someone names a toxic work experience, why is our first instinct so often to question their judgment? What if—just for a moment—we started from a place of belief? A former client once told me that the hardest part wasn’t surviving the dysfunction—it was the moment she finally worked up Read more
This month has felt like the winterest of all winters. I don’t know about you, but the pull to hibernation has been strong for me this year. A friend sent me this Instagram post at the beginning of the month and it has really stuck with me. Here’s the punchline: Read more
It’s that time again – time for my annual reading recap! I just took a moment to go back and read last year’s recap. And it was yet another marker to signify my journey this year. Last year I wrote about why I read. And yes, all of those things Read more
Here we are – in that “in between” time. Thanksgiving has passed and the year-end holidays are on the horizon. If you don’t pay attention, it will go by in a blink. And yet, it’s a whole month of the year! For many years, Thanksgiving has felt like the weekend Read more
It’s been seven months since Promises Broken was released into the world. (Isn’t that wild?) The most common feedback I’ve received from readers is: “I saw myself in these women.” That’s the power of story. It mirrors us back to ourselves—and reminds us we’re not alone. When I first started Read more
Have you ever walked through an open office space and not been greeted by a single person? How about being in a meeting when it’s clear that people are “side-chatting” over text? Maybe you’ve even side-chatted yourself? What about hearing the same generic critical feedback tossed out in group settings Read more