Navigating Transitions: Embracing the Power of the Pause
Why the Pause is Essential for Authentic Leadership
“All great changes are preceded by chaos." – Deepak Chopra
In case you haven’t already noticed (ha!), 2025 is the year of fast and frequent change.
One of the biggest changes on my radar?
The executive order that eliminates all governmental Diversity Equity & Inclusion initiatives.
The following trend to dismantle DEI, led by companies like Amazon and Meta, can be viewed with fear and concern for the wellbeing and safety of employees.
And, it can be viewed as an opportunity for you to lead authentically. At a time when external values are shape-shifting fast, we must define and fiercely commit to our own values – both for ourselves, and for the teams we lead.
At the core of DEI is the belief that we all deserve respect and opportunity. While formal programs may be falling out of favor, your freedom to lead with these values remains.
So today, I challenge you to develop your perspective on DEI initiatives.
Do you find them “antiquated” like Amazon, or “appropriate and necessary” like Costco?
Regardless of whether your company will continue to formally invest in this area, this is your moment for authentic leadership – to lead in alignment with your values.
Farewell to #365DaysofMatria
Speaking of change… After completing 184 days of this challenge – halfway there! – I’ve decided to press pause.
Here’s why:
I started the challenge of posting one video a day back in June 2024 because I needed more consistency and discipline in order to grow Matria.
Well, this daily video did the trick. ✨
But, in the last two months, it also became a huge energy drain.
So I’m making a choice to pause. This way I can reallocate my energy to my clients and this newsletter where I will continue to share the most impactful content to help high-performing women create success that actually feels good.
I’ll always share my most thoughtful and practical tips here in this newsletter, and you can follow me on LinkedIn for more inspiration. Still craving more? Hire me in 2025.
Our January Cohort
Our January Matria Life Chart Cohort is underway. In this two-week coaching program, members are building their values-aligned plan for 2025.
Here’s what they’ve said so far:
“My cup feels like it’s just overflowing with love and gratitude.” – Jessica
“I’m so grateful you created the space for us to connect in this way.” – Cindy
“I am just so grateful to get to call you a coach and a guide. I am so inspired.” – Meg
Each woman in our Matria Life Chart cohort is ending our session with improved clarity & confidence, a comprehensive set of personal values, big juicy life goals – and an aligned plan to bring it all to life in 2025.
Coaching Corner
No DEI budget? No problem. You’re an authentic leader.
You know who you are and have the courage to act in alignment with those values you hold dear.
Why does this matter? Well, we’re humans who deserve to be treated with respect.
More of a data person? Diversity drives better business results — stats to prove it below!
And given the rate at which women are leaving the workplace — 1 in 3 are considering downshifting or leaving the workplace — engaging and retaining female leaders is critical to gender diversity and business results in 2025.
Here’s how diversity drives results:
Better Decision Making: Diverse and inclusive teams make better decisions 87% of the time.
More Innovative: Diverse teams are 59% more likely to have greater creativity, innovation and openness
Stronger Revenue Growth: Companies who named “advancement of women” as a top formal business priority had 19% higher revenue than those that did not in 2024.
Here are three ways you can foster a culture of respect & inclusion:
Lead by Example: Be mindful of how you are showing up in showing up in conversations, meetings, and in writing (Slack/emails count!). As a leader, ensure the meeting facilitator is conscious of who gets the mic. Conversational turn taking can both help your junior staff grow, while leading to more innovative outcomes.
Invest in Education: Scarcity drives creativity. Get creative with your team’s budget to curate experiences that foster respect and inclusion. Consider pooling your wellness or education stipend for a speaker, or curate an inspirational book club (might I suggest When Women Lead?)
Have the Conversation: If you’re overwhelmed by the speed of change, so is your team. In your next 1:1, ask a simple question:
What are your thoughts on the recent [facts] around DEI at our company?
What is one way I can support you in feeling respected & included at our company?
Ready to drive more revenue at your company? Book a call to see how I can help.
