You've Always Had It

I can’t believe anyone hired me right out of college. I was wild and green. But I landed a role as an admissions counselor at my alma mater, and it really changed who I was at my core. I met amazing colleagues, many of whom I’m still friends with today, had really great supervisors (even if I didn’t quite realize that at the time), and it was a crash course in hard and soft skills I have used throughout my career. I also had a few realizations my first year of working that has made life a little easier to this day:

Niche, but people in the NY metro area aren’t yelling at you. That’s just the standard decibel level. They can be blunt, and what may come off as rude is actually care. “You look terrible.” Translation: are you eating enough, sleeping enough, what’s going on, tell me and I’ll help how I can.

Kindness is so rarely shown in this world, and lots of doors open when you offer it.

Community builds the culture, and culture is paramount. Whether in the workplace or in our personal lives, the people we surround ourselves with shape the norms, values, and energy of the environment. The intentionality of belonging, trust, and shared purpose can create magic. I’ve felt it and lived it and have tried to create it (with varying success).  When we nurture community, we don’t just create culture, we create momentum and can achieve great things at scale.

And maybe the biggest surprise: the people who have really impressive titles…aren’t always the most impressive people. I’ve sat in enough boardrooms and strategy sessions to tell you: a C-suite title doesn’t automatically come with genius-level talent or visionary thinking. Sometimes it comes with good timing, better networking, or being really good at saying things like “let’s circle back”, “deep dive”, “low hanging fruit”, or my favorite “we’re building the plane while we’re flying it.”  

People are people. At first, this was equal parts surprising and disappointing. But the more I lived it, in a strange way, it became freeing. Cue Shania Twain.

Because if they can do it, you can too. 

My recent guest, Lissa Appiah, is a Certified Career & Résumé Strategist who helps high achievers recognize their worth, clarify their value, and take bold steps toward roles they actually want. We talked about quiet leadership and why it matters, how to build your professional brand with clarity and confidence, and how you’re probably more qualified than you think; you just need to identify what you bring to the table and then lean into it.

This week, I talk with Sam Mitchell, the host of the hit podcast Autism Rocks and Rolls. Sam is a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and award-winning podcast host who is also proudly on the autism spectrum. His mission? To show the world the good in an autism diagnosis and why embracing his neurodiversity has been his greatest superpower.

And here’s the thing: our superpower isn’t just personal, it’s collective.

Leadership isn’t about titles or positions; it’s about how we show up when it matters. You don’t need a microphone, a TED Talk, or a boardroom to lead. You need a solid understanding of your values and the strength and willingness to act on them.

Whether you’re advocating for yourself in a performance review or standing in solidarity with those whose voices are being silenced, you are leading. 

Evolution is powerful. Persistence is brave. And when we use our power to lift others, to stand up for what’s right, that’s more important than any title you could achieve.

xoxo,

Meghan

A note: If you or someone you know is in a season of change, pivoting careers, rediscovering your worth, or just trying to figure out what’s next, this is exactly the work I do through my coaching practice. I help thoughtful, ambitious humans reconnect with their strengths, clarify what they really want, and take bold, aligned steps toward their next chapter.

Want to explore what that could look like? Shoot me a note and let’s figure it out together. No pressure, just a conversation.