Evolving as a leader often requires embracing experiences that challenge you. When I applied for The University of Pennsylvania's Center for Social Impact Strategy Global Social Impact House in Costa Rica, I was nervous. I knew that if accepted, I would be navigating a lot of unknowns and uncertainty. 

 

🌱 How will I be able to show up as my full self while being so far away from my home base?

🌱 Will the lived experience and unique perspective I bring be valuable in a global setting?

🌱 How would the cohort react to the vision I've developed for my venture? 

I was quickly reminded once I arrived in Turrubares that being a generous thought partner can manifest in many nontraditional ways. Role modeling transformational leadership can be as simple as having a transparent conversation about the impact of burnout for entrepreneurs. Or finding ways to access the outdoors in a way that reminds us of the importance of nurturing ourselves outside of the work in the midst of future planning. 

 

 

Meeting this amazing group of 19 other social impact peers helped to affirm that although I'm an independent consultant, I am not alone in the journey. The conversations we had have influenced me to "think bigger" and to trust our intuition as we seek to find solutions to complex problems. And being in nature was also immensely restorative, a reminder that there are many lessons that can be found outside of the classroom.

These learning moments will continue to be a guiding light as I seek to evolve WordSpark's offerings in alignment with the systems change I am committed to influencing.

Thank you to all the Fellows and the Teaching Team who provided such generosity through their active listening, compassion, and words of encouragement.