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The difference between a negligent leader and a conscientious leader is the Autopsy. In my career, I have had to make the hard decision to end things - sometimes it’s client contracts, or contracts with people I’ve had the privilege to work with.  I can see the temptation for leaders to say, "Well, it is what it is. I made the best business decision. Their reaction is their problem." I call that the Lazy Leader response. It absolves you of growth and personal responsibility.

Being coachable does not mean listening to everyone. One of my (and C-Suite Coach’s)  core values is Be Coachable. I have always prided myself on being open to feedback and looking for ways to improve. But at times, I’ve struggled. I found myself receiving feedback from people who were discounting how hard I had to work to “do the thing”. They were critiquing the one thing I missed, while seemingly blind to the achievements I had made that they had never attempted. It felt li

When Raquel Oden gives you a strategy, you listen. I was recently connecting with Raquel Oden, a woman I admire deeply for her leadership and vision. We were discussing the shifting landscape of business in 2025, and she gave me a clear piece of advice: "You need to be at Kim Blackwell’s ExcelerareHer conference." She described it as a nexus for women business owners to find new strategies amidst the noise. So, I went. And she was right. Kim has curated a unique ecosystem. It

The difference between a Socialite and a Strategic CEO. Because I’m so passionate about leadership development and the impact of investing in leaders, I see that as the only thing people should know about my brand. But, I’m also a multifaceted person and even if I reject it, an undeniable core part of my brand is what Pauline Brown coined Aesthetic Intelligence. I am a curator of experiences. Whether it is a business dinner or a company workshop, I believe in themes, beauty,

You cannot think your way into a new result. I work with incredibly smart leaders. And because they are meticulous, thorough, and conscientious, their default setting is "Analysis Mode." This rigor is usually their greatest strength. When they face a complex problem, they retreat to the whiteboard. They dissect the variables. They run the projections. They build the framework. That deep work is necessary. It is how you mitigate risk. But there is a specific, dangerous tipping

Building and leading a national coaching team for Google over the last eight years has been the most defining chapter of my career. We delivered nearly 5,000 workshops . We navigated a pandemic. We saw the rise of AI. But beyond the stats, I learned what it actually takes to lead people through constant change. Here are five truths I’m taking with me: 1. You can’t lead from a spreadsheet. To know if a program is actually working, you have to be in the room. I personally facil

"The ultimate luxury is actually to be yourself." On Thursday night, New York was frigid. But inside Zero Bond, the room was warm and packed for our C-Suite Coach Leadership Series.  We were honored to host Stephanie Oueda Cruz , the Global VP of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Tiffany & Co. Stephanie delivered a masterclass on what it means to lead a legacy brand in a modern world. She argued that in the age of AI, the true differentiator of Luxury is Human Co

The most underrated skill in 2026? The ability to figure it out. Technology hasn’t just given us access to information; it’s given us agency. In the early days of the tech boom, companies made a strategic pivot. Instead of providing a human customer support agent for every query, they built robust, self-serve help centers and blogs. While this was a business efficiency move, it had an unintended consequence: It gave the world a head start on learning how to be autonomous. It’

Leadership is an art, and I think the best leaders are those who are students of the arts. It’s an honor to serve on the Steering Committee for the Alvin Ailey Young Patron Circle for so many years. For me, the magic of Ailey has always been about more than dance, but also about legacy and the power of an institutional mission. Each year I look forward to Young Patrons Night, where we celebrate together the growth of our group and engage and recruit new prospective members. I

The same principles that guide my business decisions are the ones I use to anchor my home.  Celebrating Kwanzaa this winter feels particularly resonant. As I reflect on Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) , I’m reminded that as leaders, our greatest power isn’t just in the seats we occupy, but in the cultures we build and the legacies we protect. For me, hosting is an act of stewardship. It’s about creating a space where excellence and tradition sit at the same table. Taking th

There’s a massive difference between being busy and being intentional. One is a distraction; the other is a leadership discipline. I loved hosting this latest cohort of executive women at Zero Bond. We spent the morning auditing our 2026 goals, not just the "what,” but the how and the why. When you lead at this level, intention is the only thing that protects your peace and your P&L. This series has officially become a monthly staple, and I’m so grateful that these rooms cont

Maintaining a beginner's mindset starts with the admission that your current expertise has an expiration date. Entrepreneurs often treat learning as a byproduct of survival. We navigate daily fires and call it growth. Yet there is a profound difference between reactively moving on your feet and intentionally carving out time to study the shifting landscape. Mastery requires us to distinguish between the skills that got us here and the ones required for the next season. We oft

When you're a leader, the role isn't confined to the office. Recently, I was asked to step up in a completely new capacity: officiating the wedding of a beautiful couple who I introduced. Standing before 150 of their family and friends, I valued the trust they placed in me to capture their story, manage the energy, and deliver a memorable experience. It was a completely different kind of pressure than any work presentation. Every time I lean into a moment that demands presenc

Early in our consultancy's journey, building a personal brand was a top L&D request. Years later, it remains one of the most in-demand, and often intimidating, topics for professionals who want career growth but feel overwhelmed by the work  of branding. We see this as an opportunity. We recently ran a session for a client, using the framework we are now expanding for wider access. The experience was strengthened through the pre-survey we used to target their unique needs and

We often treat the act of getting dressed up or attending an event as a logistical burden. It is easy to view the preparation as a series of tasks that stand between us and our rest. However, last night at a dinner with the team at Bergdorf Goodman, Linda Fargo shared a perspective that shifted how I view this effort. She spoke about the deep appreciation she holds for people who take the time to dress up because that specific exertion elevates the experience for everyone in

There are so many conflicting views on authentic leadership. At C-Suite Coach, we have a strong philosophy: Authenticity is the foundation for transformative leadership. What is always left to unpack and explore is what does authenticity mean and how does it show up? I recently had the privilege of leading a discussion around this topic at my 3rd sold-out, members-only event for women leaders at Zero Bond. My role as the facilitator is always prime the space for vulnerability

In celebration of our decade in business,   C-Suite Coach  curated a truly special night with   Zero Bond  featuring a provocative conversation on the future of leadership with   PepsiCo 's Chief People Officer   Becky Schmitt  and an unforgettable performance that left us all with chills by Grammy award winning artist Melanie Fiona. Becky, whose leadership inspired us all, offered a sharp vision for the future of leadership. The key takeaways: the accelerated pace of change

For the last three years, C-Suite Coach has partnered with SiriusXM's DIRO group (Thank you Donna Burke for bringing us back), providing specialized training for their sales teams. In the past, we've explored topics like authentic leadership and navigating conflict. This time, we focused on Thriving Through Change . This topic is particularly exciting because I’ve come to understand that change isn't a single event in a career. It really is a constant. Whether it's the ripple

I’m incredibly amazed and inspired by Imani Ellis and her team! On that note, I’m thrilled to join CultureCon this Saturday for a...

Brooke Ellis and I joined forces to host our first First Movers Club  event, an intimate experience for a dynamic group of C-Suite...