I'm officially six weeks back from sabbatical and have already traveled about 20,000 miles. Figuratively, it feels closer to a million, because the gratitude I have for this team is truly inspiring. They carried the torch, kept the fire burning, delivered their absolute best for our clients and leaned into teamwork the entire time.
Sarah Tjoa, our Managing Director, did an incredible job serving as my personal proxy while I was gone. It's been the most operationally seamless stretch I could have hoped for. Our creative team, led by Executive Creative Director Kate Holgate, continues to inspire not only me but our clients. Beyond these two women on our executive team, I've seen incredible strides from our senior leadership team (affectionately known as the SLT) as they lead their teams, deals, contracts, projects, initiatives, passion projects and beautifully complex strategies and people.
What stepping away taught me
While I was away, I read more and listened to more podcasts. I took longer walks. I spent quality time with my children and family, hung out with my mom, saw friends and volunteered at their school. There were no exotic vacations. It was more stay-at-home-momhood and it was beautiful and peaceful. I also spent time on the golf course, which taught me one thing for certain: my game needs so much work. I continue to 3-putt my way through rounds, and let's be real, that needs to change.
In all seriousness, stepping out of the fray brought a few things into focus.
The first is gratitude and reflection. Admittedly, looking backward has never been one of my strengths. Context sits dead last on my StrengthsFinder. I'm usually looking down the road, thinking about how things could get better and how we could win in new places. My search for growth and my optimism never let up. So actually pausing was a luxury. It gave me immense gratitude for the people and processes we've built.
It also let me think clearly about how I spend my time, what I spend it on, and, frankly, how I can get in the way. If there's one thing I'm taking with me and actively working on, it's giving executives, leaders, and people the space to do their jobs. That means asking fewer questions mid-process, being ready to support as needed and continuing to cast vision in a way that adds value and grows people. Every project is incredibly important. Every person is even more so.
The second is how much I genuinely missed recording my podcast, Farm to Fame: Conversations with Ali Cox. I've realized it does two things. It hopefully fills a void in our industry, where there's not much of this kind of conversation out there. It also gives me a regular source of inspiration, because I get to talk with thought leaders who are woven into the fabric of our industry and serve it in so many different ways.
Finally, attending the Worldwide Partners Summit in Copenhagen the week after I returned was fortuitous timing. I saw dear friends and heard how they're doing, took stock of our processes and how we stack up against our friendly competitors, and got inspired by ways of thinking we may not have considered before.
Called to this
After pushing hard, relentlessly even, for the last 20 years, I'm grateful to be in a place where thought leadership comes naturally, our mission is part of who I am and there's no question why I'm doing what I'm doing. Of course there are hard days, setbacks and challenges. But this sabbatical helped me realize I'm doing exactly what I'm meant and called to do. That's truly a luxury.
What's next
My first paid keynote for an outside company. The launch of a new business product and a new business strategy for Noble West. And stay tuned for news on a new service line. A dream is about to become reality, and I couldn't be more excited.
