change leadership Archives - Alana M. Hill, PMP, CSP

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

Black History Month: From the Birth of the Internet to the Age of AI
Black History Month: From the Birth of the Internet to the Age of AI

Black History Month: From the Birth of the Internet to the Age of AI

Unbeknownst to me at the time, I lived through a moment of Black history that would quietly—but profoundly—shape my future. Picture this. It’s my senior year at Texas A&M, and while making Black history myself as only the second Black female petroleum engineering graduate, I became fascinated with computers and the early internet. I wasn’t interested in changing my major, but I was deeply curious about possibility. I started asking questions—especially about how oil and data might mix. I watched [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-02-06T20:02:52-06:00February 6th, 2026|Culture & Inclusion|Comments Off

Reclaiming Merit: Why Culture Change Demands We Mend—Not End—Meritocracy
Reclaiming Merit: Why Culture Change Demands We Mend—Not End—Meritocracy

Reclaiming Merit: Why Culture Change Demands We Mend—Not End—Meritocracy

An effective weapon doesn’t have to be new—it just has to be familiar, emotionally charged, and poorly understood. Right now, that weapon is merit. In a recent Los Angeles Times essay, David Glasgow explains how the language of meritocracy is being deliberately used to undermine culture-change efforts. Calls to “restore merit-based opportunity” suggest that fairness has somehow been lost—when in reality, fairness has often been selectively applied. The implication is subtle but powerful: if inclusion exists, merit must be absent. [...]

By Alana Hill|2026-02-18T17:04:29-06:00January 21st, 2026|Culture & Inclusion|Comments Off

Don’t Let the Weeds Take Over the Garden: How Positive Self-Talk Fuels Personal and Professional Growth
Don’t Let the Weeds Take Over the Garden: How Positive Self-Talk Fuels Personal and Professional Growth

Don’t Let the Weeds Take Over the Garden: How Positive Self-Talk Fuels Personal and Professional Growth

Don’t Let the Weeds Take Over the Garden As leaders, professionals, and purpose-driven people, it’s all too easy to focus on our flaws. “I’m too disorganized.” “I don’t speak up enough.” “I’m not creative like them.” These thoughts are more than passing comments—they’re weeds. And just like a garden, your mind needs regular tending. When you water those negative thoughts with repetition and inaction, they take root. Before you know it, your confidence is choked out by self-doubt. That’s why [...]

By Alana Hill|2025-10-23T16:50:20-05:00August 28th, 2025|Leading|0 Comments

Leading Through Uncertainty: The Power of Sitting in “I Don’t Know”
Leading Through Uncertainty: The Power of Sitting in “I Don’t Know”

Leading Through Uncertainty: The Power of Sitting in “I Don’t Know”

One of the most difficult things to do—as individuals and as leaders—is to sit in uncertainty. We’re conditioned to move quickly from one goal to the next, constantly navigating the next career move, business decision, or personal milestone. In leadership, we’re taught to plan, pivot, and persuade. We find comfort in knowing what’s next and rallying others toward it. In fact, a key principle of change leadership is to ease the stress of transition by clarifying what’s next. Whether it’s [...]

By Alana Hill|2025-05-22T14:47:56-05:00May 8th, 2025|Leading|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 Alana Hill|2025-10-23T16:50:37-05:00January 23rd, 2025|Podcast|0 Comments

Setting Powerful Intentions for 2025
Setting Powerful Intentions for 2025

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

Change We CAN Control – It’s YOUR Attitude
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Change We CAN Control – It’s YOUR Attitude

Change We CAN Control – It’s YOUR Attitude

In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, with hybrid work models, economic uncertainty, and ongoing digital transformation, the ability to adapt our attitude is more crucial than ever. […]

By Alana Hill|2024-11-21T02:40:35-06:00November 20th, 2024|Leading|0 Comments

Drift Happens – 3 Lessons About Sticking to Your Goals
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Drift Happens – 3 Lessons About Sticking to Your Goals

Drift Happens – 3 Lessons About Sticking to Your Goals

Even the most disciplined people find times in their lives where they drift away from their goals. Life is consistently inconsistent, and it’s those people who catch themselves before they drift too far off course that excel and achieve their goals. I especially notice this when it comes to health and wellness. […]

By Alana Hill|2024-10-10T05:07:53-05:00October 10th, 2024|Leading, Lifting|0 Comments

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

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