INSIGHTS

Nobody gets promoted for being busy, because busyness doesn’t always translate to impact. Many of us were taught that hard work should speak for itself. While in reality, opportunities come when people can see the value you've created. Instead of saying, "I've been slammed," try sharing the outcome: This reduced turnaround time. This helped the team make a faster decision. This prevented a risk. That kind of update isn't bragging, you're providing context. This is especially

Leadership begins succession planning early. By the time a role is posted, the decision is often already taking shape. If you want your name in that conversation, make sure leaders understand your career goals and see how you are building the skills to step confidently into the next opportunity. Make it easy for leadership to think of you for the role. The question is not, “How do I sprint when an opportunity appears?” It is, “How do I build the right competencies now so I

The fastest way to stall your career is to assume you already know enough. As B.B. King said, "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." The reality is that the skills that helped you succeed today may not be the ones that help you succeed tomorrow. Many people see learning as something tied to school or the early stages of a career. But continued growth comes from staying curious and committed to learning over the long term. Think of it as

One of the most common challenges I see among high-achieving women is that they're so busy leading, delivering, and caring for others that they rarely create space to think about their own growth. Yet some of the most powerful leadership breakthroughs happen when we pause long enough to reflect, gain clarity, and intentionally choose what's next. As an executive coach and business owner, I'm passionate about helping leaders navigate transitions, strengthen their confidence, e

My mom painted this swan, and it sits on my desk as a reminder to slow down. Swans glide across the water with effortless calm. What we don’t see are their webbed feet paddling—perhaps frantically—beneath the surface. That image comes to mind when I think about executive presence. Executive presence is something you may already have—or something you’re working to build. As a leader, your actions are amplified. If you seem rushed or overwhelmed, people may assume things ar

Last week, I shared a post about an award I received for my Child Advocate role, but I realized I didn’t really explain what that role means. A few people asked about it, and I truly appreciate the interest (and kind words related to my award). In my county, a Child Advocate is a volunteer who helps ensure children in foster care have someone speaking up for their voice and best interests in court. You may also hear this role called a GAL (Guardian ad Litem) or CASA (Court

I avoid virtual backgrounds on video calls because my hands disappear when I gesture to emphasize a point. As it turns out, all that hand waving may actually be helping. When TED Talk speakers use gestures to visually reinforce an idea, people are more engaged and more likely to connect with the message according to Research by Luca Cascio Rizzo, Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Marshall School of Business at USC. Sometimes our hands help tell the story just as much a

I’m deeply honored to have recently received the 2025 Outstanding Adult Award for my volunteer work as a Child Advocate in Pierce County, Washington. Children in foster care are paired with Child Advocates who help keep their best interests top of mind throughout their time in the system. Supporting children and families through some of life’s hardest moments is both a privilege and a responsibility as well as a learning opportunity on navigating a complex system. I’m grate

As leaders in pharma, we spend much of our time navigating a matrixed environment, facing the challenge of moving work forward with people outside of our reporting structure. You may actually spend more time in this setting than with your direct reports. Influence becomes more powerful than authority in this context. Pushing harder may create results in the short term, but it can also trigger resistance. Real leadership invites people to choose commitment, not simply obey d

A coach is available through my Masters swim program, but I rarely take advantage of that support. When I reflected on this, I had to laugh: I am a coach, I encourage coaching, and yet I am not using the opportunity right in front of me. Why not? If I stop for coaching, I cover less distance during the limited time I have access to the pool. But without it, my stroke is probably less efficient, and my progress may be limited. Should I slow down now to invest in long-term

Have you ever noticed how a team's energy changes when certain people enter the room? I once worked with someone whose smile and encouragement brought warmth to every conversation. Their presence eased tension, sparked ideas, and made people feel comfortable contributing. That kind of influence creates a positive current. People feel safe to collaborate, share different perspectives, and stay focused on moving goals forward. I've also worked with someone who had the opposite

Today, the swimmer in the next lane was moving much faster than I was. Every time we pushed off the wall together, I found myself looking at her feet within a few yards. For a moment, I felt competitive, and a little defeated. It made me think about how often we compare our progress to someone else’s journey. Maybe you have watched a colleague get selected for a visible project, receive the promotion you hoped for, or get recognition leaving you feeling overlooked. The gi

I provided foster care for a little boy whose favorite phrase seemed to be, “I can’t.” Whether the obstacle or ask was big or small—his first response was almost always the same: “I can’t.” At first, it sounded like he was just being obstinate. But as I got to know him better, I began to hear something different: uncertainty, fear, and a need for reassurance. “I can’t” was not the end of the conversation; it was his way of asking for support. When someone says “I can’t,”

Being challenged by a KOL may feel uncomfortable but is part of the job as an MSL. The art of being an MSL involves turning uncomfortable moments into meaningful insights valuable to your company and, more so, to the physician’s patients. Kevin E. O'Connor, CSP CEC and I are thrilled to share that our article, Successfully Handling KOL Objections, has been published in the July issue of The MSL - Journal of the Medical Science Liaison Society. In the article, we share ways

I’ve been avoiding a few personal and household tasks for longer than I want to admit. Did they pile up because I was busy? Maybe. But if I’m honest, some of it was simple resistance to the mundane responsibilities that come with adulting. Have you noticed how unfinished tasks can take up more mental space then physical space? Clearing the mental noise became my motivation. It became less about shrinking the pile and more about deciding what to do next. For each paper, I

One small coaching shift I’ve been practicing is changing my mindset from “I have to” into “I get to.” It sounds simple, but language has a way of shaping our energy. When I look at my calendar or to-do list through the lens of “I have to,” everything can start to feel like obligation. When I pause and say, “Look at what I get to do?” I begin to see the opportunity instead. I get to move a goal forward. I get to serve someone. I get to learn something. I get to take one ste

As you move through the second half of 2026, evaluate your team’s progress: Are they on track to meet their goals, or are barriers slowing them down? Review current blockers and identify one recurring bottleneck. Rather than offering a quick fix, work with your team to design a lasting change—such as improving a process, clarifying roles, or adjusting resources. Then define one action the team can own and one barrier you can remove. Build a system that enables your team t

I was river-hiking in Albania’s Osumi Canyon after a rainstorm turned the river cloudy with sediment. I could not see my feet, so every step required trust; I never knew whether I would land on solid ground, loose stones, or a rock that might shift beneath me. That experience mirrors seasons of professional change. Even when visibility is low, we want certainty: the full path, the risks, and the likely outcome. But leadership, career growth, and personal development rarely

I’m excited to share that I’ve earned my Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF). This milestone reflects months of training, mentoring, and coaching experience. I’m grateful to the faculty at the Center for Executive Coaching and to the many coaches who supported me along the way. This credential strengthens my ability to support professionals who are investing in their growth, confidence, and leadership presence. I provi

Just as missed patches of sunscreen become obvious only after a sunburn, our blind spots often become visible only after they cause discomfort or unintended harm. The same is true at work: our words and actions can affect others in ways we do not intend. Feedback helps reveal those gaps so we can address them before they cause lasting damage. A trusted coworker or manager can offer honest, constructive insight, making that conversation a practical first step. An executi