When my husband’s chickens started escaping, he didn’t blame them—he adapted. Fence by fence, he met each challenge with awareness, not control. That’s the heart of evolving leadership: responding with clarity instead of reacting from fear. Leadership is about meeting the moment, adjusting when things shift, and trusting your ability to grow through it.

When my son pivoted from engineering to cannabis cultivation, I felt the sting of unmet expectations. That moment revealed a powerful leadership truth: real growth means releasing control and trusting the unfolding. Leadership isn’t guiding others toward our version of success—it’s creating space for them to discover their own

What two very different health professionals taught me about leadership, ego, and the power of perspective. Real leadership starts when we go beyond first impressions.