1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

Balance. Balance between being prescriptive and empowerment. Vision, aspiration, inspiration and practical/ tactical.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

I have always been a leader. I was my senior class president, the first junior team captain of my high school track team and the only captain voted by my teammates to lead two position on our football team. But it wasn't until I led a region of a non-profit as a volunteer with responsibility for hundreds volunteer leaders and thousands of members that I found my leadership labritory.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

Wake up, check email, help get kids out the door, work out, get to work. I fill my calendar weeks in advance and move what I need to. My focus is to delegate and fill as much time as possible connecting with people with the intention of moving the needle on something for both them and myself. At 4p I set up my to do list for the next day and start to wind down. I then focus on family until bed time. I put my phone down an hour before I plan to get in bed, and I read a book until I fall asleep. I sneak in music, podcasts, etc. while Im working out or running errands.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

That my tone and how I visually respond matters a LOT. So I always work to clarify that my tone, face and questions is not frustration or disagreement. It is me working to understand.

5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?

I will share two - 7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders.
It taught me the basic framework of how to be a leader.
Leadership Gold (John Maxwell) because it reinforced that framework and also really got me to think about my legacy as a leader. Focusing on that legacy has made me more patient and have a longer term view on my leadership practices.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Proximity creates empathy, accountability and action.
Connecting with people matters more than anything else.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

After 20 years of leading thousands of members of a non-profit as a volunteer, it is all of the stories that surface years later when the people I worked with share the impact I had on them and their outcomes.