The best leaders know their biggest tools are being calm and listening
Leadership has never been about titles or authority to me; it is about creating environments where people feel recognized, supported, and connected to something meaningful. The greatest leaders in my life shaped me not through strategy but through how they showed up for others, teaching me that leadership is ultimately an act of service.
That belief in service is what draws me so deeply to the literacy work we do at Reading Horizons. Literacy is the ultimate equalizer of opportunity and illiteracy must be eradicated. The stakes are profound: Children who cannot read proficiently by fourth grade are far more likely to face long-term academic and life challenges, including the school-to-prison pipeline. The impact of equipping educators with effective resources and supporting how children learn to read is beyond improving test scores; it changes the trajectory of lives, families, and communities.
While my passion for education anchors my purpose, the true test of my leadership philosophy came during an intensely challenging season of my life, when I unexpectedly lost my father. I navigated that devastating personal grief while simultaneously managing significant organizational change at work, family health challenges, and the daily responsibilities of raising two children, all while my husband was in another state caring for his own father. During that heavy time, I learned that leadership is not about carrying everything alone. I could not have navigated it without the mentors and colleagues who listened, encouraged me, and reminded me that I didn’t need all the answers.
This experience profoundly shaped the leader I strive to be. During seasons of uncertainty, teams do not need perfection from their leaders; they need presence, clarity, empathy, and honesty. I learned that some of the most meaningful leadership moments happen quietly: listening deeply, staying calm during chaos, and creating stability for others.
Early in my career, I experienced a significant professional failure. I expected a reprimand and severe consequences. Instead, my boss looked at me and said, “I won’t beat you up more than you will beat yourself up.” That grace and respect completely reoriented my perspective. Rather than leaving me paralyzed by a mistake, that leader extended the psychological safety I needed to dust myself off and move forward.
That interaction underscores the best leadership advice I have ever encountered, which echoes the famous words of author Maya Angelou: People will forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. Because leadership is deeply relational, people remember whether they felt empowered and supported long after projects are completed.
Today, I measure leadership less by outcomes alone and more by the impact we leave on people along the way. I am most proud of the moments where I helped others feel capable, trusted, and supported. Leadership is not about standing above people; it is about walking alongside them, especially during difficult moments or painful missteps, and reminding them they are not.
