On My JOURNEY to Lead: Part 1

Welcome to my new series, where I'll share my experiences and growth throughout the 2024-2025 JOURNEY to Lead Fellowship. It’s a year-long program that offers virtual and in-person leadership training and development for women in leadership roles in startup, venture, government, corporate and beyond.?

In early April, I had the honor of attending the Journey To Lead Kickoff Retreat in Franklin, TN. My JOURNEY began with nominations from two incredible leaders: Corie Barry , CEO at 百思买 , a JOURNEY champion and Ling Shao , Founder and CEO of SpectrumAi , who is also an alumna of the JOURNEY fellowship. Their belief in me guided me towards this opportunity, and I am deeply grateful.?

Shaping Our Future Together

When I arrived in Tennessee on April 7, I landed in Nashville and arranged for an Uber to take me to Franklin. During the drive, I imagined what the next four days would bring, uncertain of what to expect. What unfolded was nothing short of transformative.?

I found myself in spaces and in communion with 26 remarkable women, each dedicated to shaping the future of the respective fields. Even now, weeks later, I am still buzzing with the profound impact of this experience. Surrounded by some of the most extraordinary women I have ever met, I felt privileged to witness history in the making.

The First Day

As we settled in and met each other, the 26 fellows were immediately immersed in a space crafted by the JOURNEY team to foster safety and connection. This environment guided us to chart our personal histories as we envision our future trajectories. Every fellow shared their roadblocks, motivations, inspiration, and aspirations for success, and we all opened up about the mutual support we need to reach the futures we imagine. Throughout our first day, we engaged in invaluable conversations with other women leaders (they are our Champions), who shared their own life experiences and offered their candid advice in an open and authentic way.?I remember the JOURNEY team saying right out of the gate, "You belong here. You were each selected with thought and care". That helped me fight that gnarly imposter syndrome that can creep in.

The Days That Followed

• We experienced the magic of the eclipse together in Franklin, followed by a bee tour where we observed honey bees crafting collaborative systems to accomplish a shared outcome, reflecting the ways we were learning to lean on each other for support in shaping our own future paths - just like a hive.
• Our evenings were filled with unforgettable musical performances, featuring top Nashville artists. They took a moment during their performance to share a poignant story of balancing career and family, emphasizing the dedication and sacrifices often required for artistic and entrepreneurial pursuits.
• A highlight was meeting Donna de Varona, an Olympic champion swimmer celebrated for her activism and sports broadcasting, and serves on the executive board of Special Olympics International and is a member of the International Olympic Committee's Women and Sports Commission. She shared stories with me about working with Eunice Shriver on the start of the Special Olympics - a program my brother and our family have benefited from.
• We had the honor to hear from Megan J Smith , the distinguished former U.S. Chief Technology Officer. Megan’s passionate advocacy for recognizing women's contributions to technology resonated deeply with our group. She shared incredible stories that you don’t often get to hear about women at the forefront of technology. Her stories are still with me, replaying in my mind. Be sure to check out General Magic the Movie featuring Megan’s work in technology. You’ll hear Megan quoted as saying she thinks the future is like a “Dick Tracy wrist watch” that has your phone, photos, etc. all in one place - what a genius!
• All the champions really went out of their way to be there for each fellow. A special thank you to each of them; Jenny Abramson, Peggy Alford, Rosalind Brewer, Donna DeVarona, Kirsten Green, Angela Hwang, Jenny Just, Stephanie Linnartz, Susan Lyne, Anja Manuel, Megan J Smith, Chrissy Taylor, and Kathi Vidal— you each brought magic to our time together. Thoughtful, kind and so approachable. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

To put this lightly, I found myself out of body at the incredible people I was in a single room with. There was a vibration trail blazers, innovators, thought leaders and renegades. These forces together were palpable, but very real because vulnerability, authenticity and genuine support was at work.

Building a Support Network

During our four days together in Franklin, we shared many laughs and tears, celebrating and supporting one another through a built sense of community and presence in every moment. Each woman in the JOURNEY to Lead program radiated kindness and honesty. Everyone was grateful to be there. Our connections have since transcended the retreat, evolving into a generous network of mutual support, encouragement, and care.

I feel blessed and filled with warmth as I look forward to continuing this JOURNEY with our group of 26 astonishing women and the JOURNEY team. I’m excited to bring you all along on this journey with me and hope this experience will inspire you, too. Bring women together - we are a force multiplier and together are the fuel towards the future. None of this would not be possible with out the JOURNEY team who have created this ecosystem of women. Forever grateful for; Julie Schlosser , Mary Morgan Pattie Sellers , Nina Easton , Nicole Didda and wonderful photographer Heather Crowder ??

Until next time, thank you for following along this journey....more to come!