In this debrief episode of Leadership Story Talks, Jerome and I reflect on what we learned from our very first Leadership Story Talks LIVE—a live storytelling event that delivered exactly what it promised, though not in the way anyone expected. What begins as a conversation about a technical glitch quickly becomes a deeper exploration of […]

Parking, traffic, food, and Queens often serve as sources of inspiration for my articles and talks about communication, listening, and human connection. So it should come as no surprise that my Happy New Year’s social media post includes one of these elements. This year, I settled on a picture of the New York Pavilion from […]

A lesson about public behavior. A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I went to a movie at the Jacob Burns Film Center. Our film was showing in one of the smaller theaters, and by the time we arrived, seating options were limited. As I walked toward the front of the theater, several of […]

I was supposed to be preparing to leave the Bonamanzi Game Resort and Conference Center today. I had been invited to present two workshops to members of the Lifeline Zululand community and my fellow authors and attend a book launch and the Beacon of Hope Mission Awards Gala. I had prepared materials, stories, learned a […]

I often talk about the importance of appreciating and using your authentic voice—in the talks I give, the podcast I co-host with Jerome Deroy, and in coaching sessions. We tend to think of “authenticity” as something gentle and natural, like simply aligning with our true selves. But here’s the truth: using your authentic voice requires […]

The scene – I was sitting at my desk Googling “gratitude” poems and prompts to share with clients and LinkedIn contacts. Google search promptly sent back this response. “Themes for humorous gratitude poems could include”: Technology Fails: Being thankful for a slow computer or a bad Wi-Fi connection because it forced you to go outside […]

We’re heading into peak “So, what do you do?” and “How are you doing?” season with family gatherings, holiday parties, end-of-year events, and alumni mixers. Here’s how to handle it with strategy, story, and humor. 1⃣ Lead with Your Story, Not Your Job Instead of opening with “I’ve been laid off” or your title, share […]

I’m honored to be part of Dr. Anja Timmermann’s 2025 Storytelling Symposium: “Learning and Leadership,” an international online conference hosted from Hamburg this November. This four-day event brings together professionals, researchers, and creatives to explore how storytelling can transform leadership, learning, and communication. I’ll be joining as a guest alongside Jerome Deroy, Tamsen Webster, Dr. Franz Hütter, Dr. Katja Brunkhorst, Elma Esrig, […]

I am honored to be one of the workshop presenters and a recipient of the Storytelling Award of Excellence at the 2025 Beacon of Hope Mission Event in South Africa. This global event, organized by Kelly Markey, Founder of Beacon of Hope, in partnership with Michelle Jewlal, CEO of Lifeline Zululand, will be held at […]

I was inspired by Monte A. Melnick, the Ramones tour manager, and his upcoming book tour. His experience got me thinking about what we can learn from the Ramones and how we might apply it to leadership in 2025. Here’s what stood out to me: The band members were an interesting mix of personalities. They […]