Michelle Nicholson

I've been sitting with something that happened at our last gathering. We asked participants: "Which activity was most meaningful?" I expected responses about professional development. The frameworks. Strategic discussions about workplace challenges. Instead what I read were: "Talking about personal issues." "The small group discussions." "The fellowship and sharing healing moments and being transparent." Participants described the experience as "excellent" and "impactful." But what they kept...

I didn't always see myself in corporate spaces. As an HR and organizational development professional rooted in mission-driven work, the language of corporate procurement — capability statements, supplier diversity, contract wins — felt foreign. Like I was trying to speak a dialect I'd never been taught. But something shifted. For six months, I sat inside a procurement readiness program built specifically for small business owners in Prince George's County — leaders who were not just building...

The hardest part of rest isn't starting—it's sustaining. As leaders, we can intellectually understand the need for boundaries while practically ignoring them. This is where accountability becomes essential. True accountability begins internally. External structures matter, but if you're not committed to change, no amount of support will make it happen. This means getting honest about your motivations: are you truly ready to prioritize rest, or are you just saying what sounds good? "Just when...