What Stayed, What Broke, What Clarified
2025 wasn’t a year I could summarize with wins or losses alone.
It was a year that asked me to slow down, stay present, and be honest about what was working, what wasn’t, and who I was becoming in the process. There were moments of deep support and moments of real grief. Moments of clarity and moments where I didn’t yet know what came next.
This reflection isn’t about tying things up neatly. Again, no “tiny little bows.” It’s about naming what mattered.
Highs
One of the real highs of 2025 was learning how to let myself be supported.
I leaned into my people in ways I hadn’t before. Friends. Family. Professional communities. Former peers who showed up quietly, consistently, and without being asked. There were moments this year where I genuinely didn’t know how to move forward, and they held me until I could. That kind of support changes you.
I also learned how to care for myself without turning it into a project. Long walks down the West Side Highway with an iced matcha latte in hand. Sitting by the Intrepid with no agenda. Just sitting. Those moments gave me space to think and to feel. They allowed emotions I had buried for years to finally surface without being rushed or fixed.
Another meaningful high this year was reclaiming my voice.
I invested deeply in building my personal brand and redefining how I show up as a thought leader. Writing, teaching, and sharing ideas helped me clarify what I believe about leadership, culture, and belonging, and how I want to contribute at this stage of my career. That work reminded me that impact doesn’t disappear when a role does. It simply finds new forms.
Creating in public reignited something in me. It sharpened my thinking, expanded my reach, and affirmed that I can still influence conversations, shape leaders, and add value even while in transition.
And even in uncertainty, I kept saying yes to growth. Teaching. Panels. Workshops. Mentoring two extraordinary underrepresented young professionals who taught me as much as I taught them. That work brought me back to purpose when I needed it most.
Lows
The lows of 2025 were heavy and unavoidable.
I spent much of the year feeling disconnected, misunderstood, and undervalued, while still choosing to show up fully for others. Trust felt fragile. Clarity was inconsistent. And yet, I stayed present. I remained in the mess and continued to lead with care and integrity, because that’s what leadership asks when things are hard. I’m proud that I didn’t walk away.
When the layoffs came, they came quickly. What followed was an emotional descent I wasn’t prepared for. I thought I had reached rock bottom, only to realize grief doesn’t arrive once. It arrives in layers. Each one revealing something different. Each one asking something new of me.
Alongside this, I was navigating family realities as my mother ages. That season has been sobering and scary. It surfaced unresolved grief and generational patterns I’m still learning how to understand. There were moments when it felt like too much was happening at once.
I deeply miss being part of an organization and directly impacting its success. That loss is real. And this period of transition, as disorienting as it has been, has also slowed me down in ways I couldn’t avoid.
Learning
What 2025 ultimately taught me is that leadership starts with self.
This year showed me how resilient I truly am. Not because I powered through, but because I stayed present. I didn’t abandon myself when things got uncomfortable. I remained thoughtful, reflective, and grounded even as the ground kept shifting beneath me.
I also learned that becoming the best version of myself isn’t about holding tighter or controlling more. Some of those instincts were born out of survival, not strength. Reading more, slowing down, and asking harder questions gave me the space to choose differently.
And underneath all of that, one truth finally came into focus.
In 2025, I found myself sitting with a familiar feeling I’ve known for a long time, but hadn’t fully unpacked.
I was often the one holding culture, naming values, and creating safety for others, while quietly carrying a sense of not fully belonging myself. That experience stirred old patterns from my upbringing, where being needed didn’t always mean being seen.
This year, I didn’t bypass that pain. I stayed with it. And in doing so, I learned where I’ve been over-functioning in the name of care, and what I need now to feel rooted and whole.
As I look toward 2026, I’m continuing to pursue my next leadership partnership while expanding my impact through speaking, coaching, and advising alongside leaders who value depth, alignment, and real transformation.
Naming that has changed how I lead, and how I choose where to lead next.