Leadership isn’t just about strategy, vision, and results. It’s about the experience people have when working with you. It’s about the micro moments that either build trust or chip away at it. And sometimes, the things leaders say without thinking are the very things that undermine their culture.

If you are a leader, here are four things to stop doing immediately and what to do instead.

If you’ve ever found yourself drowning in commitments you never actually wanted, you’re not alone. On Women In…, my conversation with Sarah Bolor cracked open a truth many high-achieving women quietly carry: we don’t just overcommit because we’re busy — we overcommit because we’re conditioned to.

And then, in a separate conversation, Brigitta Dau introduced me to the deeper layer beneath that habit: the shadows we don’t want to look at, the parts of ourselves we’ve tucked away, and the belief systems running the show behind our “yes.”

When you put these two conversations together, something real happens. You start to see that overcommitment isn’t simply a scheduling problem. It’s a self-worth problem. A visibility problem. A shadow problem.

And the solution isn’t just time management. It’s truth management.

Let’s break this down.

Burnout doesn’t happen overnight. It sneaks in quietly under the disguise of “just one more project,” “just one more late night,” or “I’ll rest after this busy stretch.” It’s the fatigue you ignore, the spark that fades so slowly you forget what feeling energized even feels like.

In leadership, sports, and especially in high-visibility industries like professional hockey, burnout often gets mistaken for dedication. We’re told to push through, grind harder, and wear exhaustion like a badge of honor. But the truth? You can’t lead, create, or perform at your best when you’re running on empty.

Every year, I set one simple but powerful personal goal:
Read my age.

That means this year, at 47, I’ll read 47 books.

It’s a challenge, a ritual, and a reflection of who I am — a learner, a leader, and a coach who believes growth never stops.

Whether I’m speaking at conferences, coaching women one-on-one, or recording an episode of Women In…, one question always comes up: “How do I build confidence in myself?”

Here’s the short answer — and maybe the best-kept secret: Confidence isn’t built by thinking differently. It’s built by doing differently.

Confidence isn’t something you wait to feel before you act. It’s the result of taking small, consistent actions that build evidence that you can trust yourself.

If you want to feel more confident, stop trying to think your way there — and start doing your way there.

Every once in a while, we get hit with a spark — that really good idea that you just know could make a difference. Maybe it would streamline a process, create a better experience for customers or fans, or just fix something that’s been bugging everyone for ages.

But here’s the thing: having the idea is the easy part. The real magic happens when you bring it forward, get leadership buy-in, and see it through to the finish line.

This topic came alive during a recent Women In… podcast conversation with Kaleigh O’Brien, who shared some excellent insights about stepping up inside your organization. I walked away from that conversation thinking, we need to talk more about how to actually do this.

Here are five practical steps to take your idea from “I’ve been thinking…” to “Wow, look what we accomplished.”

Boundaries aren’t about keeping people out—they’re about keeping yourself whole. In a recent episode of the Women In… podcast, communication coach and boundary expert Amy Green Smith broke down what she calls “the anatomy of a boundary” into three clear stages: Decide, Deliver, and Enforce.

When you meet Sterling Riethman today, what stands out isn’t just her courage in telling her story—it’s the way she has harnessed that courage to build a purposeful career and an unmistakably bold voice. As a guest on the Women In… podcast, Sterling shared how stepping into advocacy has shaped who she is professionally: how she makes decisions, how she leads, and how she chooses opportunities that align with her values.

In the latest Women In... bonus episode, Libby DeLucien offered two standout leadership tools that hit hard—and practical. First, she introduced DITLO (“Day In The Life Of”) as a creative window into maximizing employee engagement. By mapping a typical day for team members—every task, touchpoint, and challenge—leaders can better align roles to individual strengths, identify hidden gaps, and ensure each person thrives in their optimal environment.

Breaking into the world of sports is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. Episode 74 of the Women In… podcast is packed with wisdom for anyone who dreams of turning their passion for sports into a profession. The stories shared are a great reminder that while there’s no single “right” path, there are proven steps that can help you open doors in this competitive industry.

We’ve all heard it before: “You just need better work-life balance.” The phrase shows up in leadership books, wellness seminars, and casual conversations with friends who mean well. But here’s the truth: work-life balance is not only elusive—it’s a myth.

The very concept suggests there’s some magic formula where work, family, health, and personal passions all receive equal weight. Yet anyone who’s ever tried knows it doesn’t work that way. Life doesn’t move in straight lines. Demands ebb and flow, priorities shift, and our energy is finite. Trying to balance it all perfectly often leaves us feeling more defeated than empowered.

In a male-dominated arena like sports and event management, Amber Musgrave has carved out a space defined not by tradition, but by authenticity. Her recent appearance on our podcast illuminated a story filled with both heartbreak and hope—a story of four miscarriages, the seismic disruption of a global pandemic, and a renewed quest to harmonize professional passion with personal healing.

In a revealing and heartfelt conversation featured prominently on the Women In… podcast, host Toni Will connected with traveler, entrepreneur, and sober-lifestyle advocate Darci Murray—the visionary founder of Hooked Alcohol-Free Travel. In a 47-minute episode (Episode 70), Darci shares that she was "literally born into the travel biz," shaping a destiny that eventually led her to merge personal transformation with purposeful journeys (Apple Podcasts).

Heather Lowe recently marked an inspiring milestone — seven years living alcohol‑free. As a coach dedicated exclusively to women who are further along in their sobriety path, she knows firsthand that mindset, resilience, and strategic growth are key to sustaining long‑term change.

When I first sat down to talk with Brandi Babb on the latest episode of Women In…, I thought I had a decent grasp on the senses. You know — the classic five we all learned in school: sight, smell, touch, hearing, and taste.

But Brandi gently blew my mind when she said, “There are actually seven senses.”
Wait, what? That was my exact reaction — and probably yours too.

As an occupational therapist, educator, and speaker, Brandi’s expertise lies in how our sensory systems shape the way we function, communicate, and even lead. In this episode and this post, we’re diving deeper into what those two “hidden” senses are, and why understanding all seven is a game-changer for wellness, leadership, and self-regulation.

On the latest episode of Women In..., I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Mocktail Mo — a fierce advocate, entrepreneur, and voice for the alcohol-free community. What sets Mo apart isn’t just her creativity with mocktails or her vibrant personality. It’s her deeply personal and often misunderstood reason for going alcohol-free: she has an actual allergy to alcohol.

In a world where social drinking is often the norm, Mo’s story is both empowering and enlightening for anyone who must — or chooses to — live alcohol-free. Whether you're allergic to alcohol, curious about changing your relationship with it, or simply looking to advocate for better options in your community, this blog post is for you.

What if you could stop obsessing over your weaknesses and instead build a life around your natural strengths?

That’s the idea behind CliftonStrengths (formerly known as Gallup StrengthsFinder)—a tool that’s transforming how people lead, work, and live with purpose. On a recent episode of the Women In… podcast, we featured Sally Magee, a Gallup-certified coach who has helped hundreds of individuals and teams apply strengths-based leadership to fuel real, lasting growth.

CliftonStrengths isn’t just another personality test—it’s a framework designed to help you better understand yourself, communicate more effectively, and build teams that actually work well together.

One of the most illuminating parts of our conversation was breaking down the difference between fear and anxiety.

Fear is an immediate, present-moment response to a real threat. It’s your body’s protective alarm system saying “Danger now!”

Anxiety is a future-focused, anticipatory state. It’s often your mind projecting possible threats that may or may not happen.

Why does this matter?
Because knowing which you’re experiencing changes how you respond.

On the latest episode of Women In..., I sat down with Greg Kettner—a keynote speaker, comedian, and founder of the WorkHappy movement. Greg’s mission is both simple and profound: help people laugh more at work, connect more authentically, and boost well-being by putting happy back in work.

It’s a topic that couldn’t be more timely. Burnout is rampant. Mental health concerns are top of mind for employees and leaders alike. And too often, workplaces become places of stress rather than spaces for creativity, connection, and yes—joy.

Greg brings comedy chops, a sales background, and real-world experience coaching teams to show how laughter isn’t a distraction from work—it’s a performance multiplier.

What does it take to walk away from a dream job at one of the biggest companies in the world and bet entirely on yourself?

In Episode 63 of Women In..., I sat down with Hannah Sorkin, a bright, driven Princeton graduate who did just that. She had it all on paper — a high-performing role at Anheuser-Busch, the classic corporate ladder ahead of her, and the kind of resume most twenty-somethings would kill for. But inside? She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was building someone else’s dream.

So she gave herself one year. One year to go all-in on becoming a founder. No backup plan. No safety net.

And that’s where her journey gets powerful.