Being a stepmom has taught me more lessons in leadership than any book or classroom ever could.
✨ It has taught me that sometimes leading means letting go.
✨ That presence often matters more than position.
✨ That even without a title, your influence is important.
I’ve learned how to support without steering, when to speak up and when to stand down, and to trust that sometimes just being there is the work.
This past weekend, my stepson, Ty, married his beautiful bride, Sarah, and it was magical.
My marriage to his father ended over a decade ago. I had no official role in the wedding - nothing technically tying me to this couple, and maybe even a few reasons to sit it out.
But that’s been the biggest leadership lesson of all:Your personal agenda doesn’t belong in someone else’s becoming.
Whether it's in parenting or leadership, real connection doesn’t vanish when the paperwork changes.
Some of the most influential leaders in my life no longer have a formal title or position in my world. And yet I still turn to them, for advice, for inspiration, for grounding.
We all have a role to play - Ty has an AMAZING mom...I’m more like the West Coast fairy godmother - occasional advice, frequent hugs, and annual adventures. I didn’t have to be responsible for the heavy lifting, but I’ve tried to play to my strengths, stay in my lane, and lead with love.
It has been the honor of a lifetime to play even a small part in his journey.
To Sarah and Ty, congratulations – may you continue to learn and grow with and for each other.
And to my friends and colleagues here on LinkedIn:Don’t underestimate how much your personal life can shape the kind of leader you are.
To me, real leadership is knowing when to step in, when to step back, and when to let someone else take the stage.
It’s playing your part with clarity, humility, and heart...even when that part is quiet.
Maybe especially when that part is quiet.
