We all love following a plan. But sometimes, life and leadership require us to pause, check in, and deeply honor whatever moment we’re in. Today, I sat down prepared with a topic, an outline, and all the excitement to share. But the truth is, I’m feeling sadness and loss, and that feeling led me to reflect on my personal journey and the deeper side of leadership. I’ve decided to take an indefinite break. Maybe it’s for a week, maybe longer, maybe it’s the last episode for a while. I know this is the right time to step back and only continue when it’s a true “ten” for me, when enthusiasm and authenticity return in full force. And in this reflection, I’m inviting you to reconsider what being a rising leader really means for you, at this precise moment.

Over the course of 800 episodes across three podcasts, I’ve had the privilege to interview extraordinary leaders, CEO clients, and thought leaders like Michael Bungay Stanier. My journey is marked by a relentless search for authenticity, not just the list of what leaders “should do,” but who they choose to become. At my core, I’m naturally introverted, a peacemaker at heart, yet I’ve built a reputation for bold truth and unvarnished honesty. Every lesson I’ve shared is drawn from experience, mistakes, and real growth, one rung of the leadership ladder at a time.

“You can speak the truth with kindness. You can hold people accountable with kindness… That’s something that you learn as a leader.” ~Mark

This week on The Rising Leader:

· Why leadership is always a personal adventure, not just a checklist

· The impact of showing up authentically, even when it means pausing or pivoting

· How stepping into leadership always means stepping out of your comfort zone

· The responsibility leaders hold—and why energy and momentum matter

· Questions every leader should ask: Who do you want to become? How do you want to show up?

· Embracing the journey: making mistakes, learning, and consciously creating

· The pendulum swing from over-kindness to bold truth, and settling into authentic accountability

· Building a community and a legacy through the way you lead, one relationship at a time

Grab Your Copy of The Rising Leader Handbook

Do you find yourself rising through your company's ranks so fast that you wish you had a manual to become an effective leader? Then, The Rising Leader Handbook is right for you.

In The Rising Leader Handbook, you’ll learn how to shift your perspective and gain the leadership skills you need, regardless of the breadth of your responsibilities, by leveraging the relationships you’ve built with the CEO, the Leadership Team, and the team you lead, as well as your relationship with yourself.

Visit The Rising Leader Handbook: Turning High Achievers into Effective Leaders to grab your copy and start mastering your skills to become your team leader.

Leader, It’s Time to Rise!

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