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And what it’s costing them in trust, clarity, and connection

We’ve all heard that storytelling is a “powerful leadership tool.” But at our October #PeopleBeforeStrategy Roundtable, one thing became clear:

Most leaders don’t know when, where, or how to actually use story.

They overthink it.

They try to sound like someone else.

They avoid vulnerability because they fear it will weaken their authority.

And in doing so, they miss the opportunity to build trust, clarify the why, and create real connection.…

Helping a Growing Leadership Team Strengthen Collaboration, Accountability, and the Operating Habits Needed to Translate Strategy into Consistent Execution.

Client

Complete Farmer

Complete Farmer is an agribusiness company focused on building a more efficient and transparent agricultural value chain in Africa.

The Challenge

As Complete Farmer continued to scale, the leadership team was navigating increasing complexity and evolving expectations.

Individual leaders were deeply committed …

Leadership loneliness isn’t about being physically alone.

It’s about being emotionally isolated, even when surrounded by people.

You’re the one making the decisions.

Carrying the weight.

Holding the vision.

And sometimes…

There’s no one asking how you are.

Many founders and senior leaders feel pressure to appear strong, competent, and always “on.”

But behind closed doors? They’re depleted, doubting themselves, and unsure who to trust.

Loneliness doesn’t just hurt emotionally; it quietly erodes resilience…

Leaders love to say, “Remote work isn’t working.”

But after hosting this month’s #PeopleBeforeStrategy Roundtable, I’m asking something different:

Have we ever actually given it a real chance to work?

The conversation exposed deeper truths behind hybrid burnout, AI adoption, executive mistrust, and the silent emotional weight many teams carry not because they’re lazy, but because they’re unsupported.

Here’s what we uncovered and why it matters now more than ever.

The future of work isn’t about tech.

I…

Rethinking stress, resilience, and the systems that shape leadership

If your team is burned out, it might not be them - it might be you.

And that’s not a judgment. It’s an invitation to lead differently.

We talk a lot about managing stress, building resilience, and balancing it all. But during this month’s Roundtable on burnout, one truth kept resurfacing: stress doesn’t start and stop with individuals. It flows through systems.

And for leaders, that means burnout isn’t just about your habits, it’s …

How understanding your unique path and owning your strengths can enhance your leadership effectiveness.

I am constantly reminding myself and my clients that we are not robots. We tend to have this irrational belief that we will show up the same way each day and throughout the year. During the recent June #PeopleBeforeStrategy Roundtable, we explored the profound impact of recognizing our strengths and understanding the seasons of our lives. This reflection not only enhances our leadership effecti…

Being a leader is never easy. Being a leader–and even coming into leadership–during these times is even more difficult. While uncertainty has always been part of life, the emerging leaders of today are facing heightened uncertainty around global crises, macroeconomic forces, and the future of the workplace. Nevertheless, with the right resources and support leaders at all levels, can build awareness while securing the external resources they need to succeed.

In my experience supporting leaders, t…

Retreats are becoming more and more common in a post-Covid world. I’m not talking about leadership retreats–I’m talking about when everyone is invited. Increasingly, all-staff retreats are seen as a perk alongside free espressos, in-house lunches, and gym memberships. As someone who often presents at and facilitates retreats, I’ve seen far too many instances of retreats going horribly wrong. When leaders care more about prioritizing forced “fun” and the optics of the retreat, rather than goin…

Every quarter, I try to record a short Ask Me Anything (AMA). Hosting these sessions serves several purposes. One, it gives me an opportunity to reflect and document my progress and what I've been working on. The second reason I host these sessions is that I am able to repurpose what I share for my LinkedIn posts. I have found it much easier to share my perspective by answering questions than trying to generate thought-provoking LinkedIn posts on the fly. Finally, the AMA also gets me to use new…

What if becoming a better leader wasn’t about adding more to your plate, but shifting the way you think and listen?

This post is based on a conversation I had with Marie Deveaux, founder of High Tides Consulting.  We had a quick and rich dialogue on how everyday leaders can bring coaching skills—not titles—into their leadership practice. Watch and listen to the entire conversation here.

Whether you lead a team or are just trying to lead yourself through a difficult season, this conversation wi…