The Leadership Trap: When “Good Enough” Isn’t Good Enough
I once had a colleague who led a team through a brutal year—budget cuts, layoffs, and back-to-back crises. He kept morale up.He hit his numbers.He delivered results that most leaders would call a win. And yet, in his performance review, his CEO said: “You’re doing good work. But I just expected…more.” More? That vague, impossible […]
Leadership Legacy Over Titles: How to Lead With Lasting Impact
I once met a man who had three degrees, five promotions, and a corner office. But when he left the organization, no one talked about his leadership. They talked about how relieved they were. It hit me like a brick: Titles don’t equal legacy.Impact does. You can climb the ladder and still leave nothing behind. Or […]
The Real Reason Leaders Rise or Stall: How Strategic Sponsorship Will Change Your Career
I’ve seen two people walk into an organization at the same time with the same talent, the same work ethic, and the same hunger to lead. Five years later? One is on the executive track. The other is frustrated, underpaid, and invisible. What made the difference? It wasn’t just hard work. It wasn’t more degrees, longer […]
Executive Presence Without Compromise: How to Lead Authentically and Powerfully
I remember the first time I was told I needed to “check” my executive presence. I was the only Black man in the room. I was leading well, driving outcomes, and getting results. But after a high-stakes meeting, a senior executive pulled me aside and said, “You’re doing great, but… you could work on your […]
What Would You Do If You Had the Respect You Deserve at Work?
I once worked with a brilliant team leader—sharp, strategic, and deeply committed to her staff. She carried her department through a leadership vacuum, led key projects, and earned glowing reviews from her team. But when she spoke up in executive meetings? She was cut off.Dismissed.Told she was “too passionate.” Meanwhile, less experienced colleagues—mostly men—got handshakes […]
Three Leadership Types Who Need to Hear Me Speak: The Fixer, The Savior & The Commander:
Over the years, I’ve spoken to thousands of leaders—from Fortune 500 execs to frontline supervisors. And no matter the industry, I always seem to run into the same three types of leaders. They’re not evil. They’re not malicious. In fact, most of them mean well. But here’s the truth: Good intentions don’t equal great leadership. […]
Why Leading Through Uncertainty Begins with Your Story
The Ground Is Shifting—Are You Leading or Reacting? The past 12 months have rewritten the rules of business leadership. More than 260,000 federal employees have exited due to early retirement incentives, leaving critical gaps in agencies like the VA, CMS, and CDC. At the same time, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has triggered […]
How to Build Events That Actually Change Culture
The Leadership Event Mistake That’s Keeping Your Culture Stuck How to build events that actually change culture, not just schedules Every leader wants to use their event to inspire change. You bring your teams together, invest in programming, and design an experience that feels energizing and engaging. But here’s the truth most organizations never admit: […]
The ROI of a Great Keynote: Why It’s More Than Applause
A powerful keynote doesn’t just inspire. It transforms your entire organization. Every executive wants their event to be memorable. You invest in the venue, the agenda, the entertainment, and the networking. But here’s the truth most leaders overlook: The biggest driver of event ROI isn’t your panelists.It’s not your swag bags.It’s not even your breakout […]
Boring Speakers Are Bad for Your Culture
The Risky Move No One on Your Planning Team Wants to Admit Boring keynote speakers are costing you more than you think After being a professional speaker for 20 years, here is what I know for a fact. Every meeting planner wants to create an unforgettable experience. You focus on the perfect venue, top-tier catering, […]