Issue 2875— February 17, 2026
I don’t believe a calendar flip magically changes human behavior.
But I do believe there are moments—collective and personal—when energy shifts and we get to decide whether we’ll meet it with resistance or take its energy to propel ourselves forward.
Happy Lunar New Year, the Year of the Fire Horse galloping in on February 17.
Read MoreIssue 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 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 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 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 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 MoreIssue 2870— December 22, 2025
I’m struggling to write this week.
During the season of jingling joy, when people are celebrating holidays—Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and recently Diwali—that feature light as a metaphor for the positive, violence and bad news are coming at us rapid fire. It feels close. Personal. Heavy.
If you’re feeling like me, I’m not here to tell you everything will be okay. I don’t know that it will.
What I do know is this: darkness doesn’t end itself. Someone has to disrupt it.
Read MoreIssue 2869— December 16, 2025
Steam is coming out of my ears as I read the latest “Women in the Workplace” 2025 report from McKinsey and LeanIn.org.
The study mostly affirms the pervasive and systemic biases that are designed, whether intentional or not, to keep women in their place.
Yet it concludes the problem causing stagnation of women’s trajectory into leadership positions in companies is that while there are still systemic barriers, the main reason is that women have an “ambition gap.”
Do you believe that?
Read MoreIssue 2867— November 25, 2025
When does a risk stop being bold and start being reckless?
That question has followed me through every chapter of my own leadership.
A friend once talked me into rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. So I read about the rapids we’d be navigating; but believe me, reading and doing are two different things.
Read MoreIssue 2867— November 25, 2025
When does a risk stop being bold and start being reckless?
That question has followed me through every chapter of my own leadership.
A friend once talked me into rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. So I read about the rapids we’d be navigating; but believe me, reading and doing are two different things.
Read MoreIssue 2865— November 4, 2025
Whenever a tired columnist runs out of ideas, you can almost set your watch by it: a click-bait essay will soon appear blaming feminists or “uppity women” for whatever’s bothering them that week.
Voila! Out pops the non-topic of feminism’s death—or feminism as the ruination of civilization—to give them some quick clicks.
Read MoreIssue 2865— November 4, 2025
I’m super excited to share the Highlight reel of Take The Lead’s 2025 Power Up Concert and Conference.
If you were there, enjoy reliving moments that were most special, insightful, or inspirational to you. If you weren’t there, you’ll get an idea of what you missed. If you feel FOMO—well, there’s a remedy for that. Make a plan now to be in Washington DC on August 25 and 26, 2026.
The 2025 theme “Courage to Lead” was chosen with the belief that when the world around us is disrupted and we are dealing with political, social and economic chaos, the leadership quality most needed is courage.
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