Leadership

I was recently chatting with a friend about a situation that had occurred in her organization. From the outside, it involved a well-regarded leader, smart, strategic, and credible. Someone known for making solid business decisions and delivering results. In this case, the business decision itself wasn’t the issue. It was how the people side of the decision was handled. As we talked it through, I said, “Why is it so hard to be a good people leader?” We paused, and then we both said, “Because it’s hard to be a good people leader.” People tend to get promoted because they [...]

I’m excited to kick off 2026 with a new type of article. In 2026, I (and the rest of the team) will be bringing forward thoughts connected to articles or pieces of work from other organizations. First up is my thoughts on the World Economic Forum’s Chief People Officers (CPOs) Outlook. The outlook draws on insights from more than 130 global CPOs and offers a clear view of how organizations are navigating workforce transformation in the months ahead. What struck me was how important it is for HR functions to lead their organizations through transformation by rethinking structures, talent strategies, [...]

Have you ever been given a second chance? A do-over, a “let’s try that again” moment? Earlier this year, I needed to request a transcript from the University of Manitoba. When it arrived, I had to laugh (or shake my head), not because of how it ended, but because of how it started. Straight out of high school, I enrolled in a joint Business Teacher Education program between Red River College and the U of M. That first year? I was more focused on beer bashes than textbooks. 😉 By year-end, I’d barely passed and didn’t meet the requirements to [...]