Dear John,

This month, I joined Rockwood Leadership Institute for their 25th anniversary celebration. 

I had the chance to participate in the Institute’s Leadership From The Inside Out program shortly after the 2016 election—a time when our nation felt deeply fractured, and the path forward uncertain. Much like today, it was a moment that demanded clarity, courage, and connection.

At the time, I was still finding my footing as president & CEO of Ms. Foundation, working to understand what role we would play in that moment and how I could lead us there with intention. Rockwood helped me begin to answer those questions. It challenged me to bring my whole self to the work, to slow down, and to lead from a place of alignment. It also illuminated something I hadn’t fully acknowledged—the loneliness that leadership can bring. Through the program, I found a community of peers navigating similar challenges. Many of them remain trusted thought partners and friends to this day. 

Nearly a decade later, that experience continues to shape how I lead—especially in times like these. When the path forward feels unclear, I return to what I know to be true: that leadership is not something we carry alone, and that resilience is rooted in community.

In solidarity,