Some of the most important leadership lessons aren't learned in a conference room. They're learned on a playground. In a classroom. Through the eyes of our children.

As the school year came to a close, I had the opportunity to spend time with both of my boys. I coached my oldest son's Field Day team and served as a Secret Reader in my youngest son's classroom, where we read "Milo and the Mountain".

The lesson from the book was simple: When the mountain feels too big to climb alone, turn to your village!

Watching the children during Field Day brought that lesson to life. The teams that thrived weren't necessarily the fastest or strongest. They were the ones encouraging each other, helping teammates who stumbled, celebrating wins together and refusing to leave anyone behind.

No one succeeded alone. And neither do we.

As leaders, we often feel pressure to have all the answers. To carry the weight ourselves. To prove we can handle whatever challenge is put in front of us.
But the most effective leaders I've worked with don't climb every mountain alone.

* They build trusted teams.
* They seek mentors.
* They rely on subject matter experts.
* They ask for help when they need it.
* They create environments where people can lean on one another.

Ironically, this lesson feels even more relevant in the age of AI. AI can accelerate our work, automate tasks and help us solve increasingly complex problems. But it cannot replace trust. It cannot replace mentorship. It cannot replace the collective strength that comes from people working toward a common goal.

The future won't belong to the person who knows everything. It will belong to the person who knows how to bring together the right village.

Whether it was a classroom full of preschoolers learning from Milo's journey or a field full of children cheering on their teammates, I was reminded of a truth that applies just as much in leadership as it does in childhood: We are stronger together than we are alone.

So, when the next mountain appears in front of you, don't carry it by yourself. Build your village. Trust your village. Be part of someone else's village. That's how we climb higher!

✨ Some lessons come long before the job title. ✨

I’m going to say something that might sound radical in a world that glorifies the grind:

Work to live, don’t live to work!

We pour so much of ourselves into our careers, chasing impact, growth and success. And that matters! But so do the moments that don’t show up on a résumé.

The time with the people who remind you who you are beyond your title.

For me, that looked like watching my family light up, completely present, laughing and interacting with squirrel monkeys in the Dominican Republic.

No emails. No meetings. Just pure, unfiltered joy.

Sometimes stepping away means coming back with nothing to show for it… except a full heart (and yes, maybe the worst sunburn of your life).

And honestly? That’s the point. Because when we make space for life outside of work, we don’t lose momentum, we return sharper, more present and more grounded in what actually matters.

So here’s your reminder:
Use that PTO.
Take the trip.
Be fully present.

The work will be waiting.
The moments won’t.

Most industry events still feel designed for men, especially in tech, where women remain underrepresented. So being invited to Industry Icons: Women in Tech, hosted by Dell Technologies, Microsoft, Intel, and Halcyon, felt different from the start. No golf metaphors. No sports small talk. Just brilliant women, real conversations and space to show up fully as ourselves.

Over two days in Santa Barbara, yes, including a stop at the iconic Godmothers Books bookstore and an unforgettable evening at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival honoring Ethan Hawke—we gathered without slides, prep work, or expectations. The charge was simple but powerful: own a seat at the table and help shape the future of technology and leadership.

What followed was one of the most energizing and mindset-shifting experiences of my career.

The Power of Perspective

The room spanned generations and leadership levels, offering a rare longitudinal view of progress. We laughed about pantyhose requirements of the past and celebrated the women who made sure those “rules” disappeared. It made me pause and ask: What barriers is my generation dismantling for those coming next?

Mentors, Advocates, Sponsors and Why It Matters

One recurring theme landed hard: career growth rarely happens alone. When I asked how so many women reached their roles, the answer wasn’t a checklist of credentials, it was sponsorship.

We defined the distinction clearly:

• Mentor: I will guide and coach you.
• Advocate: I will speak up for you.
• Sponsor: I will use my power to help you advance.

That clarity was a lightbulb moment and one I now actively apply, both for myself and for others.

Strengths > Fixating on Weaknesses

During Stacey Cameron’s panel, “The Stories That Shape Us,” another idea clicked. Research shows weaknesses grow marginally, while strengths can grow exponentially. Her advice: mitigate weaknesses but invest deeply in strengths.

It sounds obvious. It isn’t. Especially for women.

This brought me back to a formative leadership exercise at Oxford, where I was asked to conduct a professional choir without knowing the music or their roles. The lesson? Leadership isn’t about mastering every part, it’s about trusting experts, setting direction and guiding the group toward a shared outcome. That realization still shapes how I lead teams today.

From Work-Life Balance to Work-Life Optimization

Another reframe that resonated: there is no such thing as perfect work-life balance. We’re human, not machines. Work and life bleed and that’s okay. The goal is work-life optimization.

This aligns deeply with how I lead: trust, flexibility, accountability and grace. Vet appointments. Kids’ games. Midday haircuts. Life happens and strong teams thrive when leaders acknowledge that. (Also, yes, my two energetic boys have absolutely cameoed in work calls.)

Networking with Purpose

A dinner conversation with Christy Nelson challenged me on a personal growth edge: networking. Her framework was simple and powerful, think of your network across four quadrants:

• Professional (internal)
• Professional (external)
• Personal community
• Personal family

Intentional networking, she said, isn’t transactional, it’s human connection with purpose. Careers are rarely linear and your next opportunity may come from a quadrant you’ve neglected.

Walking Through “Paper Doors”

One of the most impactful metaphors came from Jennifer Hewit: obstacles are paper doors. Some are thin as rice paper, others layered cardboard, but all are passable with preparation and confidence.

That metaphor became real when Jen and Christy encouraged me to approach an event sponsor I admired. Despite appearing extroverted, self-doubt had quietly erected a rice-paper door. With their coaching, I walked through it and felt stronger for having done so.

So, where do we start?

• Seek mentors, advocates and sponsors and be one for others.
• Network intentionally. The ROI is real.
• Lean into your strengths. Celebrate wins.
• Remember: effective communication is an art of leadership.
  
  

As Christy said, “We’ve gifted you the keys to a door you didn’t even know you needed.” If this reflection unlocks something for you, even a small shift, then it’s done its job.

💡 Let’s keep opening doors.