I have always had a complicated relationship with Valentine’s Day. It can feel forced. Prescriptive. Scheduled. One specific day on the calendar when we are expected to demonstrate love for the people who matter most. Flowers cost more. Reservations are nearly impossible. Fixed menus replace freedom. The gestures can begin to feel inflated. And yet,…
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Like many people, I sat on the edge of my seat watching the college football national championship. I do not usually follow college football closely, but this season, and this story in particular, had my attention in a way that surprised me. Before transferring to Indiana University, Fernando Mendoza played at Cal during the same…
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Three end of year reflections every leader should make The end of the year often hits with a strange combination of urgency and exhaustion. Budgets need to be finalized. Reviews need to be completed. Projects that have been quiet all year suddenly become critical. People are juggling family schedules, travel, and holiday expectations. Leaders feel…
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It’s the kind of message that makes your heart race. “Mom, are you awake?” A 5am text from your child. A wave of panic hit me. I called him immediately. It went straight to voicemail. Like any parent jolted awake before sunrise, my mind jumped straight to worst-case scenarios. I pulled up our shared location,…
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Why AI Will Never Replace A Great Presenter! Many of my clients have started using AI tools to prepare for high-stakes meetings and leadership presentations. And I understand the appeal. AI can be fast and helpful when it comes to organizing ideas and building structure. But in this increasingly automated world, one truth is becoming…
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Most people think great communicators are the best talkers. The truth is, the best communicators are the best listeners. In conversations, we are often more focused on what we will say next rather than truly hearing the other person. We listen to respond instead of listening to understand. And in doing so, we miss opportunities…
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I just wrapped up an onboarding project that reminded me why storytelling matters—one that brought me back to an experience years ago when I first saw its impact in action. Too often, an employee’s first day is packed with paperwork, policies, and systems training. But no one joins a company excited about learning policies…
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