What do you do when your gut and your role are at odds? When your title asks you to say yes, but your values whisper no? These moments define courageous leadership. There are times in our professional lives when the path forward divides, and the road that aligns with our values is clearly not the easiest one to travel. Throughout my career, I've witnessed and experienced situations where leaders must make difficult choices when organizational priorities shift in ways that create tension with personal values.

Interpreting those early experiences through a neurodivergent lens was crucial in helping me move closer to my most authentic self. That singular shift enabled me to deprogram the shame and perfectionism I once internalized and reprogram my narrative to center courage over conformity. I now see my traits—once misunderstood as instability or weakness—as expressions of my unique neurodivergent mind. They aren't flaws. They are my unicorn.

In today’s hypercompetitive and rapidly evolving business landscape, leaders can no longer afford to view Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as merely a social justice initiative. While the moral and ethical imperative of inclusivity is undeniable, what often gets overlooked is the overwhelming financial and strategic advantage it brings to organizations that fully embrace it.

“Organizations and leaders can make a profound difference for team members at the systems level by improving the conditions that lead to burnout in the first place.”

Our responsibility as Leader-First Leaders is to practice genuine Curiosity when investigating why a system isn’t supporting its designed plan. You cannot address the root cause unless you ask the right questions of the right people in a spirit of mutual trust and a shared goal to improve the system together.

“The staff fell victim to ethical fading, a cognitive phenomenon in which people fail to recognize or consider all the moral ramifications of their decisions. They become so focused on other aspects, such as financial gains, personal interests, or behavioral pressures, that they unintentionally overlook or downplay the moral implications of their actions.”

It was evident that the intention behind the contents of this "box of sunshine" was rooted in sincere care. The humans who created it took real time to understand and share our experiences over the past few months. That's why the box was so meaningful. That's why I felt a tangible release after receiving it.

"Sitting in a tiny boat with a stranger for an hour provides a unique platform to connect or to completely sink a relationship before it starts. Last week, I might have done the latter."

“Saying thank-you” does not go far enough. You must recognize the source of the gratitude and understand its value to you. By more meaningfully evaluating and expressing gratitude the benefits extend to both the giver and the receiver.

“By championing Inclusivity, organizations gain a competitive edge because they can attract top talent, loyal customers, and long-term partnerships—all of which grow the bottom line.”

Embracing crescendos requires you to walk through fear and the unknown. Crescendos require Courage. Crescendos require you to give up control in exchange for faith. Pay attention to these moments and the decisions that follow them. When you summon the Courage to embrace a crescendo, you purposefully choose to move into discomfort and find your way back onto the path you were meant to travel.

I am introducing the Courage Touchstone by sharing this story, not because jumping out of a plane takes Courage. But because accessing Courage requires you to walk through things that scare you.

Leaders do what is right, not what is expedient. ~Principal #5—Crescent Leadership Manifesto

“Pull a thread here, and you’ll find it’s attached to the rest of the world.” ~Nadeem Aslam

In the past few years, the business landscape has changed at a rate more rapidly than at any other time in history. Unfortunately, with the Fourth Industrial Revolution upon us, organizations' internal workings, including how we lead people, haven’t broadly changed in response.

There is always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it. ~Amanda Gorman

We are a reflection of our life experiences. But it doesn’t matter if those experiences are good or bad. What matters is how we interpret and use those experiences to shape our future actions.

“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.” ~Jim Watkins

I often hear the phrase, “Have an attitude of Gratitude.” However, a grateful attitude does not go far enough to evoke Gratitude’s positive neurological and physiological effects. Gratitude is an action, not a mindset.