The story that led to the creation of Leading Deeply™ began several years ago. We met at a women’s leadership conference, and after a brief conversation, recognized that we had very similar worldviews and in particular, shared philosophies about the importance of conscious leadership. Since that time, we have developed both a friendship and a collegial connection that have fueled our shared desire to help cultivate more inspired, centered, and values-based leadership in the organizations we work with. Our exploration led us to a number of deep learning experiences, focused research, and lengthy drawing board conversations, and from this rich discussion, the foundation for Leading Deeply™ was born. What we bring to the table are two extensive and diverse professional backgrounds, as well as a collective commitment to do our part to transform leadership in a way that honors the hearts, minds, bodies and spirits of the people and organizations we serve.
Barbara's Story
My professional career began with a graduate education in Clinical Psychology, and the intention to become a therapist. However, it didn’t take long following grad school for me to realize that I was more intrigued by the complexities of organizational life than the challenges of working with clinical populations.
years I have held various leadership positions across several industries and functions. The journey provided a blend of courage and fear, authentic vision and manufactured goals, inspiring souls and powerful egos. It was a time of rich learning on many levels. Ultimately, it was the relationships I experienced along the way that became my ultimate teacher.
The Power of Stories
To be a person is to have a story to tell. —Isak Dinesen
From the beginning of time, people have made sense of the world through storytelling. Stories are a form of connection, a bridge between my experience of life and yours. We tell stories to get beyond information. While there’s value to be gained through facts and figures, what inspires trust and credibility and faith is the common bond established through a compelling story. It’s what enables us to believe that our leaders “get it” and enables us to believe that they have our best interest at heart. Stories are powerful to the extent that they inform the present, and offer learning, a sense of shared values, or simply a new way of looking at the world. If you want to connect with others more deeply, try telling them a story. Once upon a time….
