Hidden Gems Blog

Corin Lines-Stary has been in enough rooms where strong arguments died to know that the argument is rarely the point.

Ron Stefanski's the kind of person who makes sure everyone in his orbit knows each other. He’ll stop at nothing to make an introduction. We used to be colleagues at Penn Foster. Today, his network knows him as Mr. Detroit, and the name fits. So when I sat down with him for a Full Picture Leadership conversation, I wasn't expecting to be surprised. Ron spent over 35 years at Cengage Learning. During that period, he championed a high school diploma program designed for frontlin

I met Jesse Haines in a line at Kellogg over twenty years ago, and I think we connected before we'd even introduced ourselves. She's the friend who has a little extra dose of magic — the one who thinks about things from more facets than anyone I know, and who once gave me the push I needed to actually start this whole coaching chapter of my life during a walk at our last reunion. She said, "What's the worst that could happen? Just go out and say you're doing this." And I did.

When things feel uncertain, people look for something steady. They want to trust the people around them and the company they work for. Your organization already gives them financial security. But do they trust you with their best ideas? Their honest feedback? Start by checking in with each person on your team genuinely. Ask questions like: How are you, really? What gives you energy? Beyond supporting yourself and your family, why do you work here? Then show them you heard the

I didn’t expect my early October post to go viral . But 500 people around the world engaged with it. Twenty-five reposted it. What started as one client's story turned into a collective exhale from leaders who finally felt seen. A client held her team to deadlines and high standards. Most rose to meet them. A few didn't and called her "aggressive" for using the same approach her male peers applied without comment. Here's what I shared: When someone gave her feedback about her

Have you ever been faced with a decision, where the data in front of you suggested an outcome that felt morally unsound? I’m not saying...

When a client, friend, or former colleague tells me that they want more flexibility in their work life, I typically ask, Why? It’s not...

My family laughs at me when a stranger volunteers intimate details of their personal story within seconds of our meeting. Inevitably,...

Have you ever thought back to the managers who shaped your early career? Picture two contrasting figures: One who showed up every day...

For every mentor or sponsor who champions a high-potential employee's promotion, there's an equally impactful and diametrically opposite...

My 50-ish year-old peers and I are experiencing a revelation: unlike how many of us viewed our parents at this age, we recognize that...

#NoahKahan’s Fenway Park performances... assembling great teams is similar to putting together headliner bands and collaborations.

We are rolling into summer, the season that we live for– when we can shed our layers of clothing, slow our pace, and enjoy a few extra...