August has been a month of stepping forward.
From Businesswoman of year award interviews to speaking at the Passion Driven Ladies event organised by fellow Network Ireland Wexford member Letwin Mashamba to launching my first livestream series supported by the amazing Joe Sheppard , I found myself moving into new spaces, sharing more of my story and becoming clearer about the work I want to bring into the world.
It also reminded me that progress does not mean leaving our humanity behind.
Growth is not only measured by what we achieve. It is reflected in how we treat people, how well we understand ourselves and whether we remain connected to our values and to the people who matter as we move forward.
Level Up, Boss Up
One of the highlights of August was speaking at the Passion Driven Ladies event, centred on the wonderfully energising theme
Level Up, Boss Up.
I had the privilege of sharing my journey from a corporate career to becoming an Emotional Intelligence coach, trainer and business owner. What an honour to speak alongside three other amazing ladies Samantha Makiwa , Patience Thebehali MBA and Olayinka Aremu during the transformational event filled with love, warmth, inspiration and joy.
For me, levelling up does not mean pretending to have everything figured out.
It means recognising our strengths while remaining open to learning. It means becoming more confident without losing our compassion, developing healthier boundaries and taking greater ownership of our lives.
While preparing for the event, I remembered attending an International Women’s Day celebration approximately ten years ago. I watched the women speaking on stage and thought:
“I could never do that.” Over time, that became:
“I would love to do that.”
Eventually, it changed again:
“I will do that.”
And this August, as I stood on the Passion Driven Ladies stage, I thought:
“And this afternoon… here I am.”
The person who once thought, “I could never,” did not suddenly become fearless. She simply began replacing “never” with “maybe”, then “I would love to”, and eventually, “I will”.
Recognising Our Progress
How often do we reach one milestone and immediately begin focusing on the next?
Many of us wait for someone else to recognise our contribution, validate our progress or tell us we are ready. We minimise our achievements, focus on what remains unfinished and compare our journey with people who appear to be further ahead.
Recognising our achievements is not about ego. It is about self-awareness. Sometimes, we need to give ourselves permission to say:
“I worked hard for this, and I am proud of how far I have come.”
Growth is not always about adding more. Sometimes, to gain something, we must be prepared to release perfectionism, people-pleasing, rumination or the belief that we must feel completely ready before taking action.
Perhaps “bossing up” is not about becoming harder or louder.
Perhaps it is about becoming clearer, clearer about who we are, what we value and what we are no longer willing to carry.
Stepping Into Livestreaming
August also marked the beginning of another new chapter for me: livestreaming.
On 27th August, I launched my three-part series, From Insight to Impact: The Human Side of Leadership, beginning with The Journey Into Emotional Intelligence. The series is an evolving exploration of Emotional Intelligence, leadership and the human future of work.
It begins with an important question:
Where do our beliefs about leadership come from?
During the first conversation with Joe Sheppard , I reflected on some of the experiences that shaped me from growing up in rural County Mayo and being trusted with responsibility at a young age in the classroom in Ballycushion and, later, a corporate leader responsible for hundreds of people as Co-Site Lead in BNY Mellon, Wexford.
My understanding of Emotional Intelligence developed through these lived experiences: leading people, navigating difficult moments and seeing what happens when technically capable individuals struggle with communication, relationships, self-awareness or trust. I also challenged the misconception that Emotional Intelligence means avoiding disagreement or always being agreeable and you can be Empathetic and be tough. Emotional Intelligence is not “soft”.
Sometimes, Emotional Intelligence gives us the self-awareness and courage to have a difficult conversation, challenge poor behaviour, establish a necessary boundary or make a decision that will not please everyone.
If you missed the first conversation, you can watch The Journey Into Emotional Intelligence replay here. You can also visit my From Insight to Impact: The Human Side of Leadership Knowledge Hub, where I will continue adding insights, reflections and replays as the series develops. Keep an eye out for some short clips i will be sharing over coming month. Lots of content and more stepping forward.
Making Space for What Matters
Stepping forward also means recognising when we need to slow down and be present.
With the children off school, I protected the first week of August for time together attending the Fleadh Cheoil in Belfast- what a fantastic event. Family life can be busy, particularly when balancing children, work and community commitments, so having that time felt important.
August also gave me the opportunity to reconnect with four of my closest friend Ita, Helena, Marie and Olivia from secondary school as we celebrated some significant upcoming birthdays at the beautiful The Johnstown Estate in Enfield. There is something special about spending time with friends who have known us across so many different stages of life. Those friendships remind us of where we came from, how much has changed and what has remained constant despite the distances between Wexford, Dublin, Mayo, Belfast and Sydney.
In a month that included speaking, livestreaming and business growth, these personal moments mattered just as much. They reminded me that success is not only about what we build professionally. It is also about the relationships we nurture and the memories we create along the way.
Stepping Forward, Staying Human
Leadership has never simply been about technical knowledge, holding a senior title or having all the answers. At its heart, leadership is human. As AI and technology continue to transform the workplace, our human capabilities are not becoming less important. They are becoming more valuable. Technology can provide information, but it cannot carry human responsibility. It can support a decision, but it cannot create trust on a leader’s behalf.
As Mimi Nicklin – Empathy Advocate reminds us through her work on the empathy deficit, genuine human connection matters deeply in a world where loneliness and disconnection are increasing. One thought that stayed with me throughout August was:
“Get curious before you get certain.”
Certainty can close a conversation. Curiosity can open one.
Before reacting, we can pause and ask:
- What might I be missing?
- What assumptions am I making?
- Have I genuinely listened?
- What else could be happening here?
Curiosity creates space for empathy, better judgement and stronger relationships. It allows us to step forward without leaving others behind.
What’s Ahead?
September brings another change of rhythm. With the girls returning to school, we begin settling back into earlier mornings, school activities and fuller calendars. For me, it also creates more focused time for the next phase of my work.
I will be completing several leadership and Emotional Intelligence programmes and RocheMartin Emotional Capital Reports (ECR) with existing clients while beginning new programmes with leaders and organisations in Wexford. Closing a programme allows us to recognise progress, capture the learning and consider how new behaviours will be sustained. Beginning a new programme brings fresh energy, relationships and perspectives. Thank you to all my clients who continue to work with me and value what i do to support them and their teams.
On 17th and 18th September, I will travel to Galway for the Network Ireland Businesswoman of the Year Awards with my fellow nominees. It will be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate women in business from across Ireland and reconnect with the Network Ireland community. Bets of luck to everyone involved.
On 26th September, I will attend the Rotary Ireland District Conference in Cork. Rotary Club of Wexford remains an important part of my life and reflects values closely connected to my work: service, leadership, relationships and positive community impact.
I will also continue the second episode From Insight to Impactlivestream series, moving into a wider conversation about Emotional Intelligence, trust, courage, communication and the realities of leadership today on September 24th.
September will be busy, but it will also be filled with purpose, connection and opportunity. My intention is not simply to fill every available space. It is to protect time for reflection, develop new ideas and remain present for the people and opportunities in front of me. To level up does not mean becoming someone else.
Sometimes, it means recognising who we already are, trusting what we have learned and finding the courage to take the next step. We can move forward, embrace new opportunities and become more ambitious—while remaining empathetic, grounded and deeply human.
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