There’s a phrase I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: A rising tide lifts all boats. It’s simple. But it says everything about the kind of leader I aspire to be. This Is Not About Competition I’ve never been wired to believe that in order for me to grow, someone else has to shrink. That mindset doesn’t sit right with me. It never has. I don’t want to climb over people. I don’t want to outshine others by dimming their light. And I don’t want success that comes at the expense

Inspired by: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie The Timeless Truths That Still Shape My Leadership I think I’ve read How to Win Friends and Influence People at least five times. The first time was in paperback — pages dog-eared, coffee-stained, and underlined within an inch of their life. It felt like a warm hug from a mentor I’d never met. Since then, I’ve listened to it on Audible four more times, and every single time I hear something new. That’s the

Before I ever knew what resilience meant, I lived it. In first grade, I could read — just not well, and certainly not confidently. Letters made sense one day and vanished the next. Sentences felt heavy. And nothing exposes your insecurities like silently praying the teacher won’t call your name… and she always does. Eventually, I was pulled out for extra help. At seven years old, walking out of class felt like a spotlight on everything I believed was “wrong” with me. I didn’t

Some insults sting for a minute. Others rearrange your DNA. Years ago, I was passed over for a promotion I wanted badly. I had done everything “right”—worked hard, showed up early, stayed late. I truly believed it was my moment. When the verdict came back “not this time,” I played it cool on the outside. Inside, I was rattled. Questioning my value, my instincts, everything. And then came the comment I’ll never forget: “Christina, you focus too much on people… and not enough o

ARE YOU IN LOVE WITH YOUR JOB — OR JUST COMMITTED OUT OF HABIT? A revelation from someone who finally knows the difference. Recently, I had a moment — the kind you don’t plan for, but it hits you mid-email like a lightning bolt: I don’t just like my job. I love my job. And for years, I didn’t realize there was a difference. Liking your job feels safe. Predictable. Fine. Loving your job feels alive. Energized. Aligned. Liking your job is: • “I don’t mind this.” • “The people

Inspired by Guideposts Magazine and The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale The Day I Found Hope in My Grandma’s Magazine Years ago, in a season where everything felt heavy and unfixable, I found myself sitting in my Grandma Yolanda’s living room. You know those moments when life feels too loud, too uncertain, too much? That was me. I was exhausted from pretending I had it all together and quietly unraveling inside. And then—almost by accident—I noticed a Guide