Resilience S.O.S.: How to Prepare Before the Pressure Hits

Editor’s Note (Updated May 2025): This piece was originally written in June 2021, during the whirlwind of my son’s high school graduation and the uncertainty of a global pandemic. Now, as I revisit it in the midst of his college graduation—and an equally full season of life and business—I’m reminded that resilience isn’t a one-time lesson, but a lifelong practice. The insights remain just as relevant, if not more so, as I continue to lead, grow, and navigate change. Because [...]

By |2025-05-22T14:30:04-05:00May 22nd, 2025|Leading|0 Comments

Alana Appears on S.O. What Podcast

Resilient and Unstoppable: Alana Hill’s Story of Overcoming In this episode, Summer sat down with her friend and fellow speaker, Alana Hill, to share her powerful journey of resilience. From overcoming personal tragedy to conquering the challenges of pursuing an engineering degree, Alana’s story is a true testament to the strength of the human spirit. Her path has been filled with hardships, but her determination and faith have helped her transform pain into purpose. Alana’s message aligns perfectly with [...]

By |2025-01-30T13:29:37-06:00January 29th, 2025|Podcast|0 Comments

Alana in the Media

WEN Podcast Episode 30: The Ms. Engineer Way Creator: Women's Energy Network In this episode, we learn more about Alana, including how she was the second black female Petroleum Engineer to graduate from Texas A&M. #BadAss We cover a lot of ground with Alana, but one of the many standout acronyms is what she calls SOS, which stands for self-care, optimism, and support. These are three key ingredients for our resilience, and for us to succeed against [...]

By |2025-02-05T13:57:55-06:00January 23rd, 2025|Podcast|0 Comments

Setting Powerful Intentions for 2025

As we approach 2025, many professionals are already thinking about their New Year’s resolutions. But what if we shifted our mindset from making resolutions to setting intentions? This subtle yet powerful change in approach can transform how we navigate our professional growth and lead with greater purpose and emotional intelligence. […]

By |2024-12-19T12:54:59-06:00December 19th, 2024|Leading|0 Comments

Listen…Then Lead: A Modern Approach to Inclusive Change Leadership

One of the challenges seasoned change leaders face in today’s rapidly evolving workplace is entering a new environment and establishing credible, inclusive leadership. Whether through reorganization, job changes, or consulting work, being “the new person” requires a carefully calibrated approach. While listening remains the foundational first step, the modern workplace demands a more nuanced understanding of what we’re listening for and how we process that information. […]

By |2024-11-06T03:35:33-06:00November 6th, 2024|Leading|0 Comments

Change Reflection: Lessons from the Past to Prepare for the Future

Change is not just inevitable—it's accelerating. As someone who is immersed in change, I often hear executives and project managers express concern about keeping pace with this ever-increasing velocity of transformation. However, by examining historical patterns and leveraging past experiences, organizations can better prepare for future challenges and opportunities. I feel like we are forgetting to learn from our own histories when doing so can be a shortcut to success.  The Accelerating Pace of Change Recent studies indicate that the [...]

By |2024-07-17T03:19:18-05:00July 17th, 2024|Leading|0 Comments

“Or is there?” – The Power of Individual Change

“Or is there?” A powerful question around change and our ability to affect change.  This simple question - from my Uncle Lurie was to be a catalyst for change.  This is an excerpt from my book What’s Your Catalyst: The Power of Managed Change where I recount my life-changing work trip to Africa and the impact of those three words.  As I sat writing in a Cameroonian hotel room late one night, my tone was different. I wrote with a [...]

By |2024-05-28T20:16:44-05:00May 28th, 2024|Leading|0 Comments

How Delegation Helps Your Team… and You

The shift from doing to leading is notoriously hard for all executives. Distributing tasks, relinquishing control and putting your trust in your team are all skills you can learn and practice. When I was a project and program manager, I found delegation to be one of the most valuable tools in my toolbox, but it is one that I often see being misused and usually for the same reason. […]

By |2023-08-01T09:18:22-05:00July 20th, 2022|Leading|0 Comments

Have you got a culture people want to be part of?

Life is a contradiction. We are awash with good intentions, performative actions, anger, and apathy. We’ve never had it so good; or so bad. Everything is changing faster than ever yet progress is also extremely slow. Technology is going to make us work smarter not harder; things have never been so complicated.  Which is true? All of it and also none of it! For this week’s blog I’m taking a look at some of the recent research that points to [...]

By |2023-08-01T09:18:24-05:00June 23rd, 2022|Leading|0 Comments
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