One of the unexpected gifts of this season has been the opportunity to pause long enough to ask a question I haven’t had much time to consider over the past decade: What are the parts of my work that bring me the most joy? (IYKYK, it’s never servers and switches! gulp!)
Like many educators, I’ve spent most of my career moving from one challenge to the next, one school year to another, one initiative to whatever needed my attention most at the moment. There wasn’t much time to stop and look for patterns because there was always work to be done.
As I’ve reflected over the past few weeks, I’ve realized something interesting.
When I think about the moments that have been most meaningful, they rarely revolve around a piece of technology, a program, or a specific position. Instead, they almost always come back to people. Dads who cry when they see me because their son is graduating and he wasn’t sure he’d make it out of elementary school. The teacher who found confidence they didn’t know they had. The leader who discovered a new way to support their team. The campus that decided that how we did things mattered more than the scores we received. The team that battled through a cyber security attack, even though it took weeks of stress. The relationships that were built through shared challenges, celebrations, and growth.
Technology has certainly been a significant part of my journey, and innovation continues to be something I’m passionate about. The commonality though in the work I’ve loved the most has always centered on leadership, culture, communication, appreciation, and helping people become the best version of themselves.
That realization led me to spend some time refreshing my speaking and consulting page. I wanted it to better reflect the work that has consistently energized me throughout my career.
The updated focus includes keynote presentations, workshops, consulting, and leadership development experiences centered around topics like intentional leadership, organizational culture, appreciation, navigating change, innovation, and the opportunities and challenges that come with artificial intelligence.
What excites me most is that these conversations aren’t limited to one role or one title. Whether I’m working with teachers, principals, district leaders, support staff, church leaders, or conference attendees, the underlying message remains remarkably similar to how I’ve tried to lead. The most successful organizations are often the ones where people feel a genuine sense of purpose, belonging, and appreciation.
I’ve seen firsthand that sustainable improvement rarely begins with a new initiative. More often, it starts when people believe they matter, understand their purpose, and feel equipped to make a difference.
As I look ahead, I’m grateful for the experiences that have shaped my journey and excited for the opportunities still to come. There are new conversations to have, new partnerships to build, and new ways to support the incredible people who dedicate themselves to serving others every day.
The page, my position, or even purpose may have received a refresh, but I’ll always be
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