Table of Contents

• Hello!

• For New-er Leaders and Leaders Stepping Into New R …

• What the Lisbon Food Scene Teaches Us About Innova …

  • 1. Multiculturalism as Fuel

  • 2. Space to Breathe = Space to Create

  • 3. Quality Ingredients Matter

  • Why This Matters for Leaders

  • The Leadership Challenge

• 1% Solutions

• What I’m Reading

Hello!

But I can see us lost in the memory. August slipped away into a moment in time.

I’m not sure about you, but August flew by in a whirl in the best possible way. Work began to pick up. The weather in NYC was wonderful. And besides the normal barbecues and beach days, I was able to get away for ten days. I traveled to Dublin to see Oasis and then to Lisbon. More on Lisbon later (in a word- incredible).

I can honestly say seeing Oasis and being part of that crowd was a top ten experience. The music, the energy, the community— all combined to really make a magical evening. Also? There is nothing like singing Don’t Look Back In Anger with thousands of Irish people, joined together by nostalgia.

It was a good reminder of the power of a break and the restoring quality of travel. And I may or may not be looking at Oasis tour dates in 2026 (Rome, anyone?)

Time also creates the space for deeper thinking and I am contemplating changing up the cadence of this newsletter and my LinkedIn one. So my question to this group- what would you like to see more of? What kind of support or resources would be helpful? Feel free to just reply to this email with your thoughts. 

For New-er Leaders and Leaders Stepping Into New Roles: Two Types of Support

September brings transitions- which comes with opportunity and challenge. And this is especially true for those stepping into new leadership roles or new leadership challenges. I remember my own bumpy road into leadership and how much my coach Eileen created a container for me to think, process, brainstorm and clarify. Without that, I am not sure I would have had the trajectory I did. And so, I’m offering two ways for leaders stepping into new roles or challenges can get the support to become the best version of themselves.

• On September 17th, I launch “Leading with Clarity: Effective Communication for Team Leads and People Managers.” After years of coaching leaders, the biggest reason I see. leaders struggle is not because they don’t care or they don’t know their content—it’s because they don’t know how to communicate with their teams, bosses and peers in their new role. Whether you are a midlevel leader stepping into a new role or a first time leader, these four sessions are focused on giving you the tools and scripts you need to communicate effectively with your team. Plus, we’ll have four open Q&As and the ability to share and submit questions and drafts for review. If you or someone you know (or someone who reports to you) needs a space that equips and empowers? And as a thank you for being a reader, use EMAIL to get $200 off the course (priced at $875)- for you or a friend or direct report.

• If you are looking for more 1:1 intensive work (for you or your direct reports), I’ve created the 90 Day Exec Onboarding Intensive. The first 90 days are crucial to success in a new role- so why do it alone? In 90 days, we’ll identify your strengths, clarify your visions, develop a plan to build relationships with key stakeholders, develop a listening plan, and identify quick wins that empower the team.

Interested in one or both but not sure? You can respond to this email or find us some time to talk.

ALSO:

I’m hosting a free 30 minute workshop on Making Feedback Stick: From Conversation to Action on Tuesday September 9th at 12pm EST. I’d love to see you there and feel free to pass it along! I’ll be sharing the recording after so even if you can’t attend, sign up to make sure you get the recording.

What the Lisbon Food Scene Teaches Us About Innovation

As a New Yorker and an Italian, I don’t say this lightly: Lisbon has one of the best food scenes I’ve ever experienced.

Yes, everything tasted amazing (grilled sardines deserve their own museum exhibit). But what really struck me wasn’t just what was on the plate — it was the conditions that make this kind of innovation possible.

Because the truth is, creativity doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. It thrives when the right foundations are in place.

1. Multiculturalism as Fuel

Lisbon is a city layered with history — African, Brazilian, European, and more. That mix of cultures isn’t just present in neighborhoods; it shows up on the plate. Spices from one tradition meet cooking methods from another. The result? A food scene that’s richer, more dynamic, and more innovative than if it came from one influence alone.

Leadership lesson: Innovation thrives in organizations that welcome diverse perspectives. The more voices at the table, the more unexpected (and brilliant) the outcomes.

2. Space to Breathe = Space to Create

Lisbon is also more affordable than many global capitals. Chefs can take risks — experiment with pop-ups, test new menus — without the crushing pressure of sky-high rents or impossible margins. Meeting basic needs gives people room to stretch creatively.

Leadership lesson: When people feel safe — financially, emotionally, culturally — they’re freer to try, fail, and try again. Innovation requires room to breathe.

3. Quality Ingredients Matter

At the end of the day, innovation isn’t about smoke and mirrors. It’s about starting with something excellent. Lisbon has access to incredible local ingredients — seafood pulled fresh from the Atlantic, produce bursting with flavor. Chefs aren’t forced to disguise mediocrity; they get to build on excellence.

Leadership lesson: Teams innovate best when they’re working with solid foundations — clear values, strong talent, and reliable systems. You can’t create brilliance out of broken infrastructure.

Why This Matters for Leaders

Lisbon’s food scene reminded me that innovation doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not about one “visionary” chef (or CEO). It’s about the conditions that make creativity sustainable:

• A diversity of perspectives.

• Room for people to take risks.

• Strong foundations to build on.

When leaders intentionally create those conditions, innovation stops being a buzzword and becomes part of the culture.

The Leadership Challenge

So here’s the question I’m sitting with — and one I’ll pose to you:

What conditions are you creating in your team or organization that make innovation possible?

Because just like in Lisbon, the magic isn’t only in the final product. It’s in what you build underneath it

1% Solutions

• Make sure you are correctly diagnosing the problem- Strategically using your time starts with correctly identifying the problem on the front end. This HBR article is one of my favorites- particularly for under-resourced start up and nonprofit leaders- because it gives you the tools to rigorously assess the situation, so that you can be relentlessly efficient in aligning and deploying resources. My suggestion: share it with your team or any task force prior to you first meeting to share understandings and frame how you will approach the work ahead.

• Share an evaluation audit with managers and add this to your next check-in- It is September— meaning that you are a few months away from giving a performance review. How are folks doing? How do you know? Have you shared that with them? Take the time to do a feedback audit and then follow up with folks accordingly. If folks are making great progress or are consistently doing well- tell them! And if the needle isn’t moving, get curious as a first step. And also, please talk to your HR Business Partner for ideas on how to engage in this conversation with the person you are supporting (If you don’t have one and need one, feel free to email me)

What I’m Reading

• Why You Need Systems Thinking Now- If you know me, you know I love thinking in systems. Innovation has driven major progress but often creates harmful unintended consequences when approached through breakthrough or design thinking alone. This HBR article point out that systems thinking offers a more sustainable path by addressing interconnections, anticipating ripple effects, and fostering solutions that strengthen entire ecosystems— and gives a few actionable ways to implement it in your own work.

• The Four Secrets to Managing an Executive Transition- Too often a promising teammate is promoted with little support or guidance, leading to unnecessary struggles (why I am offering me new course and do 1:1 Exec Onboarding coaching). This Fast Company article outlines four ways to ensure a successful transition.

And a bit of a plug…

While most leaders I know care about developing their teams, not everyone has the time or money to pay for courses or coaches. I was featured in this article Fostering Leadership Growth in CEO magazine. This article shares actionable ways to embed development.