Why Leadership Matters: My 23-Year Journey of Leading and Learning

The Day Everything Changed

I still remember the moment clearly. Twenty-three years ago, I stood in front of my first classroom, having no idea what I was doing or how this would work out in my favor, as all of these little eyes would stare back at me, waiting for me to connect with them. In that moment, I realized something important that would shape my entire career: leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating the space where people feel empowered to find them.

That first day, my original plan fell apart within minutes. A preschool child asked a question that threw me off guard. Then, instead of pretending to know, I did something that felt natural at the time—I turned the question back to them and asked, “What do you think”?

What followed was the most involved conversation I could have imagined. Preschoolers who had been silent moments before were questioning and building on each other’s ideas. They weren’t just passive recipients of information; they were active participants in creating knowledge. Even the smallest of the bunch needs to be heard, and their thoughts and feelings should be expressed.

That day taught me my first and most important leadership lesson: authentic leadership begins with vulnerability and trust.

The Journey Since Then

Over the past 23 years in education, with 18 of those years in formal leadership positions, I’ve had the privilege of guiding countless educators, developing curriculums, managing departments, and, eventually, helping shape institutional policies. Each role brought new challenges that tested and refined my leadership approach.

Both great successes and humbling failures have shaped my leadership journey. I’ve learned that effective leadership rarely follows a straight line—it’s a winding path of constant growth, reflection, and adaptation.

When I became a department head in my third year of teaching, I initially tried to micromanage every aspect of our team’s work. The results were predictable: burnout (mine) and resentment (everyone else’s). This failure forced me to recognize that true leadership isn’t about controlling outcomes but about cultivating an environment where others can succeed.

Finding My Leadership Voice

Through years of trial, error, and intentional study, I’ve developed a leadership approach centered on three core principles:

1. Connection before direction: Building authentic relationships must precede any attempt to influence or guide others. Without trust, even the most brilliant strategies fall flat.
2. Growth through reflection: The most powerful development happens when we create structured opportunities to pause and process our experiences, both individually and collectively.
3. Leadership as service: My most effective moments as a leader have always come when I’ve focused less on my vision and more on removing barriers for those I serve.

These principles have guided me through educational leadership, community-building initiatives, and family life. Whether I’m working with adult professionals, community volunteers, or my own family, these fundamentals have proven remarkably consistent.

Why I Created Step Into The Lead

After two decades in leadership roles, I’ve noticed a troubling pattern: too often, leadership development focuses on techniques and tactics while neglecting the foundational elements that truly drive impact. We teach people how to drive before ensuring they know where they’re going—or why.

Through this blog, I hope to share not just what has worked for me but what I believe works universally: leadership practices grounded in human connection, continuous growth, and genuine service to others.

Whether you’re leading a classroom of 30, a team of 5, or an organization of 500, the core principles remain the same. My goal is to help you discover and develop your authentic leadership voice—one that leverages your unique strengths while addressing the universal challenges all leaders face.

I invite you to join me on this journey. Share your leadership challenges in the comments below, sign up for our newsletter, and let’s grow together as we step into the lead.

What leadership challenge are you currently facing? I’d love to hear from you and address it in an upcoming post.