AWL Alumni Spotlight

Describe the six months you spent in the Bloombase experience for Advanced Women Leaders.
In a word, transformative. After the first session, I was happily exhausted from the work we did together as a team and I was looking forward to the next month’s session. During my six months, I encountered huge professional and personal changes. The monthly connections with my cohort, my coach, and my learning partner provided me with space and tools to work through those changes in real time with the support of other leaders I had come to trust and learn from.

Describe the benefits of the AWL Experience.
I firmly believe that the work I did within the AWL Experience helped me to achieve some ambitious goals I had set for myself in a way that felt authentic and grounded.  The work within the AWL Experience gave me the opportunity to understand and articulate my leadership value and vision, which ultimately made me a more authentic and connected leader.

Describe the benefits of being a part of the post AWL community.
The continued opportunity to connect with other leaders who have a shared language of leadership and commitment to growth has been a lifeline and source of joy.  A space, whether in person or virtual, where we can celebrate each other’s successes, ponder nuanced issues, reframe challenges, and enjoy the leadership journey we are all on has been vital to my professional development.

What would you say to someone else considering this experience?
You deserve the leadership self-actualization that the AWL Experience enables.  It’s not something you can get from a book, podcast, networking, or workshop.  It’s a journey that takes time, focus, and personalization.  It takes courage, deep introspection, and some hard work. 

I feel like I am fulfilling my purpose when I am… creating space for connections and curiosity. Whether it is with my team or with my family and friends, that space is where the fun, creativity, and impact happen.

To me, leadership is… understanding and leveraging my own energy and skills so others can leverage their energy and skills.

One of my favorite role models is… Tina Fey because she exudes a balance of confidence, vulnerability, humor, groundedness, and success in a way that still seems to maintain her spirit.  I re-read Bossypants whenever I start to get too cerebral about myself or my work.

What gets you out of bed in the morning? A workout before anyone else is awake.  I love doing something really challenging and rewarding first thing; it really puts me in an optimistic and grounded mindset each day.

The values/behaviors that are most important to me are… community, connection, curiosity, and impact. Whenever I am struggling with a decision or gaining focus, I go back to these values and move from them.