Issue 2874— February 9, 2026
Lives there a woman who has not been told many times over, “Smile more.” And/or “Smile less.” Count yourself either lucky or oblivious if you said, “Me.”
This video posted by CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins got me going on the impossible Catch 22 that every woman lives in almost every aspect of life.
Read MoreAs Black History Month celebrates 100 years of saluting the excellence and inspiration of history-making contributions by Black leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs in this country, Take The Lead celebrates the leadership of 10 outstanding Black women making history today.
Some of these leaders you may already know and some may be new to you. All of these women contribute their noteworthy talents across the fields of sports, AI, music, media, philanthropy, communications, culinary excellence, retail and banking.
Read MoreOn this first week of Black History Month, which again coincides with the Super Bowl, I am reposting my Sum from 2025. Though the year has changed (and Bad Bunny, not Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl halftime this year), the key points remain the same.
Read it here and let me know your thoughts.
Read MoreRead MoreThe big game wraps up on February 8th. We're opening doors to something more lasting than any touchdown—your next leadership chapter. 🚪✨
9 Leadership Power Tools course launches February 19th.
This isn't about leaning in or finding your voice. (You already have one.)
It's about shifting from performing leadership to practicing it. From power over to power TO. 💪
At a time when just consuming the news can cause mental health distress, political division in this country is high and leaders are working to make their workplace culture safe and inclusive for all. And offices—remote, in person and hybrid-- can include people others disagree with.
Not everyone must conform to one mindset. But it may be difficult for leaders to ignore as activists proposed a National Shutdown for January 30 urging people across the country to stay home from work and school and not shop. This impacts businesses everywhere.
Read MoreIssue 2873— January 27, 2026
Easily the best speech I’ve heard by a leader recently-- or perhaps ever-- was Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s at the 2026 World Economic Forum at Davos. If you are leading a team or even a team of one (yourself), you can learn a lot from this speech, far beyond the panoply of Davos’ topics.
I admire this speech not because it’s packed with substance, rather than being heavy on bloviation as politicians are wont to do.
And not because the prose is beautiful (though it is), or because it contains a story with a memorable metaphor of a sign in the window, while also quoting Thucydides, though I do love a good classics reference.
Read MoreOnboarding successfully for a new position is far more complicated than activating an ID card and setting up passwords for company Zoom and email accounts.
Whether you are a new graduate in an entry level position, mid-career, or changing C-suites, successfully transitioning into a new organization involves finesse and establishing proven strategies and steps.
Surprise, it is also viewed as a different process by men and women.
Read MoreBy Nadine Hack
Age represents stages of life that change with each decade – not the same for everyone, although there are some commonalities; not the same for women as for men, though there are similarities there too.
For the massive Baby Boomer generation (those born from 1946-1964 and in 2026 now between 62-80 years old), this is the frontline of old age. Even if we live into our 80s, 90s and beyond, we’re now much closer to the end than the beginning, even the middle. So, I feel it’s an appropriate, indeed essential, time to evaluate our past and contemplate our present and whatever future may remain.
Read MoreIssue 2872— January 19, 2026
In recent years, it had become easy—like it has for many Americans—to treat long weekends meant to honor a national hero as a pause button: a little extra sleep, a short family trip, catching up on errands or unfinished work.
Even the ordinary feels out of place this year.
As I write this, my refrigerator is on the blink, and I’ll likely spend part of MLK Day waiting for a repair person, hoping the appliance can be saved. It’s a small, mundane disruption—but it feels oddly symbolic. When the world is at a moral crossroads, even routine things feel unsettled.
Read MoreMany people in the workplace from intern to the C-suite consider AI the enemy. Their reticence is legitimate and shared by millions across industries and career levels.
Still, many others carefully plan incorporating AI into processes and practices to reap beneficial outcomes, learnings and profits.
Read MoreA surefire and well-deserved way to rise as a leader is to consistently speak eloquently in meetings, conferences and public events. That means being competent and prepared, so whether you are standing on stage at the microphone or called on at a board meeting, you will come off polished and well-spoken.
You do not want to be like actress Sarah Snook who accepted her Critics Choice Award recently, with this ramble,” Yeah, I just had forgotten what we were doing, and I didn't write a speech or anything, and I'm just trying to go through some things now."
Read MoreIssue 2871— January 5, 2026
My sister used to send the same holiday message every year. The ditty went like this:
Happy Hanukkah knishes.
Merry Christmas wishes.
Lots of Kwanzaa cheer.
And a Brave New Year.
The new year of 2026 has already started out requiring much bravery. And bravery is best in community.
Times like these call for comfort food. Food that conjures safety, security, family, warmth, culture.
Read More
