Blog - Alana M. Hill, PMP, CSP - The Ms. Engineer Way

Leaving Room at the Table: Belonging Begins at Home
Leaving Room at the Table: Belonging Begins at Home

Leaving Room at the Table: Belonging Begins at Home

Families change. We know this, of course. Children grow up. They develop their own interests, make their own choices, and eventually build lives that don't always look like the ones we imagined for them. But knowing that families change and knowing how to change with them are two very different things. As leaders, we talk a lot about creating cultures of belonging. We want people to feel valued for who they are and know that they have a place on [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-08-05T10:38:26-05:00August 5th, 2026|Lifting|0 Comments

Listening Beyond Words: Sometimes the Loudest Conversations Never Use Words
Listening Beyond Words: Sometimes the Loudest Conversations Never Use Words

Listening Beyond Words: Sometimes the Loudest Conversations Never Use Words

As leaders, we're taught to listen. Not just to the words people say, but to the concerns behind them. The hesitation. The excitement. The frustration. We learn that behavior often communicates more than conversation ever will. I've found that's just as true at home. One of my sons developed a habit in college of experimenting with his hair. First it was black. Then blonde. Then pink. Then gray. Every few months there was something new. I have to admit, it [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-07-22T12:56:13-05:00July 22nd, 2026|Family Matters, Lifting|0 Comments

The Family Team: Creating a Culture of Contribution at Home
The Family Team: Creating a Culture of Contribution at Home

The Family Team: Creating a Culture of Contribution at Home

One of the first things we do when building a high-performing team at work is make sure everyone understands how they contribute. We don't expect everyone to do the same job. We don't expect everyone to have the same strengths. But we do expect everyone to bring something of value. Healthy teams aren't built because one person does everything. They're built because everyone contributes something that makes the whole stronger. Somewhere between the office and our front door, though, we [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-07-22T12:44:18-05:00July 9th, 2026|Lifting|0 Comments

One Home, Many Needs: Why Strong Family Leadership Makes Room for Difference
One Home, Many Needs: Why Strong Family Leadership Makes Room for Difference

One Home, Many Needs: Why Strong Family Leadership Makes Room for Difference

One of the biggest challenges we face in leadership, both at work and at home, is remembering that we are not leading ourselves. We are leading someone else—someone who is their own unique individual. In the workplace, this shows up in the teams we lead. We know that not every employee is motivated the same way, processes information the same way, or responds to pressure the same way. We know that one person may need clarity and structure while another [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-08-05T10:39:23-05:00June 24th, 2026|Lifting|0 Comments

From Me to We: Why Interdependence Makes Families Stronger
From Me to We: Why Interdependence Makes Families Stronger

From Me to We: Why Interdependence Makes Families Stronger

We often talk about maturity as something that comes with age, experience, or achievement. Yet some of the most mature people I know are not necessarily the oldest, and some of the least mature are not necessarily the youngest. Maturity is less about the number of years we've lived and more about how we choose to show up in the world. One framework that has shaped my thinking over the years comes from Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-07-09T16:49:29-05:00June 10th, 2026|Family Matters, Leading|0 Comments

Before You Feel Seen, See Yourself: Why Self-Awareness Is the First Step to Belonging
Before You Feel Seen, See Yourself: Why Self-Awareness Is the First Step to Belonging

Before You Feel Seen, See Yourself: Why Self-Awareness Is the First Step to Belonging

“I feel seen.” It’s an expression that many people use when they suddenly feel like others recognize them for who they truly are—see their values, their worth, their strengths, and the unique qualities that make them who they are. And if we are honest, there is something deeply affirming about that feeling. But lately, I have found myself reflecting on what is often missing from that statement: I see me. Because before we can ask to be seen by others, [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-06-02T14:17:40-05:00June 2nd, 2026|Leading|0 Comments

20 Lessons from 20 Years in Business: Leadership, Growth, and Purpose
20 Lessons from 20 Years in Business: Leadership, Growth, and Purpose

20 Lessons from 20 Years in Business: Leadership, Growth, and Purpose

Twenty years. Two decades of building, learning, stretching, leading, and becoming. As I celebrate 20 years of 2Hill Consulting, I’m both grateful and grounded in what it has taken to get here. While statistics still remind us that many businesses don’t make it past their early years, I’ve learned that longevity isn’t just about survival—it’s about evolution. Starting a business, leading teams, navigating change, and staying aligned with purpose requires more than strategy…it requires intention. And if there’s one thing [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-06-02T14:17:45-05:00April 15th, 2026|Leading|0 Comments

Consistency is Credibility: The Leadership Habit That Builds Trust Faster Than Charisma
Consistency is Credibility: The Leadership Habit That Builds Trust Faster Than Charisma

Consistency is Credibility: The Leadership Habit That Builds Trust Faster Than Charisma

If Trust Is the Goal, What Builds It? Trust gets a lot of attention in leadership conversations—and for good reason. A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about what I call the “Trust Tax,” the hidden cost teams pay when trust is low. It shows up in rework, overcommunication, missed expectations, and a general slowing down of progress. But here’s what I want to build on: If low trust is expensive, then the question becomes—what actually builds it? Because it’s [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-04-02T12:16:28-05:00April 2nd, 2026|Leading|Comments Off

The Leadership Energy Crisis: Why Great Leaders Are Burning Out (and What to Do About It)
The Leadership Energy Crisis: Why Great Leaders Are Burning Out (and What to Do About It)

The Leadership Energy Crisis: Why Great Leaders Are Burning Out (and What to Do About It)

Excellence doesn’t just require strategy. It requires energy. And right now, many leaders are operating in a deficit. Not because they lack capability. Not because they lack commitment. But because they are leading through constant change, rising expectations, and emotional demands—without enough recovery, support, or space to think. We don’t talk about this enough. But we should. Because leadership isn’t just about what you know. It’s about how you show up. And how you show up is driven by your [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-03-18T14:36:13-05:00March 18th, 2026|Leading|0 Comments

The Trust Tax: The Hidden Cost of Low-Trust Teams (and How Leaders Reduce It)
The Trust Tax: The Hidden Cost of Low-Trust Teams (and How Leaders Reduce It)

The Trust Tax: The Hidden Cost of Low-Trust Teams (and How Leaders Reduce It)

Excellence doesn’t happen by accident. In healthcare—and in any high-stakes environment—leaders don’t get the luxury of “good enough.” Outcomes matter. People matter. And the way teams work together determines whether excellence is sustainable… or just a temporary sprint held together by sheer willpower. That’s why trust isn’t a “nice-to-have.” Trust is the invisible infrastructure of performance. When it’s strong, teams move faster, collaborate better, speak up sooner, and recover quicker. When it’s weak, organizations pay a price—even if it doesn’t [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-03-04T14:01:25-06:00March 4th, 2026|Leading|Comments Off