Honoring our female ancestors is more than an act of remembrance; it is an acknowledgment that the world was built and sustained through their hands and voices. They are the living roots of our shared history—biologically, culturally, and emotionally. To know their stories is to know yourself more fully. Here are three women from my lineage whose lives modeled the qualities that continue to inspire me today.

While a new year can be a time to set goals, resolutions, and intentions, let’s be wise and tender with ourselves and others. We are living in challenging times professionally and personally. That’s why my “word of the year” is tenderness for myself and others. Keep reading to see my 3 musings on tenderness.

I begin every leadership engagement by asking leaders to identify their values—not company values, but their actual values that drive who they are professionally and personally. Once we truly know our values, we can begin to trust ourselves more and reduce our constant fears. Knowing our values and self allows us to show up with authentic presence.