Leaders and Beavers and Goats, oh my!
⚡ "Trust, Teamwork, & Tapping Carabiners – That’s How We Roll!"
It’s hard to believe that five years have passed since I began my journey as a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator. Literally flown. These years have been filled with incredible opportunities to walk alongside leaders, teams, and organizations as they leaned into courage, vulnerability, and the powerful skills of Brené Brown’s research. It’s been a journey of growth - not just for the people I’ve had the privilege to serve, but for me as well.
As I stop offering public (open enrollment) sessions for Dare to Lead™, I find myself reflecting on the many lessons, stories, and partnerships that have shaped this work. While this isn’t the end of my journey with DTL, it’s a moment to honor everything this chapter has meant to me.
One of the most rewarding experiences was my time with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) which is southern US utility provider. Supporting leaders who power our communities taught me a lot about resilience, collaboration, and the power of humor and creativity in the midst of serious, demanding work. Together, we created something truly unique - literally and figuratively. I can’t help but smile thinking about the shirts we made featuring goats and beavers, a playful yet meaningful reflection of the teamwork and spirit that defined that experience. It was a perfect reminder that leadership doesn’t have to be heavy all the time; it can be fun, collaborative, and even quirky. Carabiners and all!
This work has always been about more than leadership training; it’s about creating spaces where people can see and believe in their potential, where teams can find their shared humanity, and where cultures can shift in ways that allow for real courage and connection. It’s been some of the most meaningful work of my life, not just my career.
To everyone who has trusted me to help guide your teams through Dare to Lead™, to everyone who has shown up willing to embrace vulnerability, and to those who have let me be part of their leadership stories: thank you. You’ve inspired me, challenged me, and reminded me why this work matters so deeply.
While public DTL sessions are over for now, this is not a goodbye to that work. In fact, the journey continues in other forms, and I’m excited about what’s next (and no, I am not done with DTL, click here to read more about what’s changed and how I am supporting clients). Leadership is a path we all walk together, and I’m so grateful to be on it with all of you.
Here’s to the beavers, the goats, the connection, the courage, and all the brave steps still ahead! Here we go! 🦫🐐
Oh and no FOMO, if want your own t-shirt, you can buy one of them here! These are the coziest shirts and the graphic was designed by yours truly. (For context, Beavers represent the dams that TVA manages and Goats represent the leaders inside the organization that are working hard at becoming the best they can for their customers, the people of the valley. Enjoyed being a part of your lives in this capacity for so long.) 😊 Click here to snag one!
