On the road to leadership there are likely to be a few bumps. Mine came in the summer of 2024 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer exactly one week after accepting my dream job in a leadership role. The experience has taught me ten lessons on life, leadership, and communication I hope to share with you in this interactive session. Examples include:  

1)    I’m not special, I’m one in eight: None of us are alone; by choosing to share our experience and vulnerabilities, internally and externally, we create genuine connections and stronger teams.  

2)    Relax, nothing is under control: As communicators we create a plan for everything, community meetings, special events, crisis communications, but having a plan to pivot is just as important.  

3)    Embrace the suck: Sometimes it feels like everything is falling apart, but often that’s when we grow the most.

4)    Laughter is medicine, but not always the best: Using humor in hard times is helpful but knowing when it’s appropriate is critical.  

5)    Find your why: Whether it’s moving into management or getting through the daily grind, take the time to define why you are here and why you do what you do.