Growing Your EQ

→  Future Ready Leadership
→  Emotional Intelligence Education & Development

Public Speaking • Training • Mentoring  • Workshops  • Seminars

Founder | Leadership Strategist 

hubble

Advising on everything about:

Emotional Intelligence: A Leadership Superpower
Shaping Inclusive Team Culture
Purpose-Driven Leadership Growth
People-First Learning & Development
Careers in UX Research or L&D

*Sesiones también ofrecidas en español

Advisor

Beyond IQ

Sharing actionable insights, resources, and strategies on agile leadership, emotional intelligence and growth.
Bonus: 40+ Downloadable Cheat Sheets & Infographics Upon Sign Up.

Writer

TEDxWilmington

• Delivered an inspiring TEDx talk all in Spanish, at VOCES on emotional intelligence, focusing on self-awareness and emotional regulation as keys to personal transformation.
• Shared my journey from surviving childhood adversity to becoming an entrepreneur, showing how challenges can fuel purpose-driven success.
• Empowered audiences to move beyond external validation, discover their authentic identity, and use their voice intentionally to create meaningful impact and inspire others.

TEDx Speaker

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Proactively identifying areas for improvement through UXR initiatives to inform strategic decision-making that enhances Field's in-flow workflows, making sure it remains at the at the forefront of industry standards.

Led research to automate training team’s processes using Generative AI software tools, reducing manual activities by 65%. 

Analyzed user feedback through UX qualitative research to refine AWS seller enablement, leading solutions to enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

Planning, conducting, and analyzing qualitative data to inform findings through artifacts such as specific user segments, persona frameworks, jobs to be done, user journeys, and task analyses.

User Experience Researcher, Sales Enablement + Generative AI Solutions

Design and develop sales enablement gamified training modules, enhancing the sales cycle process to achieve faster sales delivery for 40K+ Global Sales executives.

Expedited AWS content updates, achieving 100% on-time delivery for critical training materials.

Simplified complex technical content into user-focused information, scripting training material by following specific guidelines via newly launched AWS Trails in Salesforce.

Learning Experience Designer, Sales Enablement

The Council for Professional Recognition

Bilingual Professional Development Specialist

Instructional Design by Ali

Founder

Forney Independent School District

Leadworthy Curriculum Developer

Mesquite Independent School District

Bilingual Educator

Cityscape Schools

Lead Bilingual Educator

Bilingual Educator • TEDx Speaker • Designed Global Training for 35K+ • Organizational Leadership Strategy Where UX Research Meets Soft Skills • Leadership Development Rooted in Emotional Intelligence • Ex-Amazon

I help organizations strengthen the ‘people layer’ - so leadership, collaboration, and culture scale together.

👇🏼

Future-ready leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about having the right mindset.

Early in my career, I thought leadership meant knowing everything and never showing uncertainty.

What I’ve learned instead is this: the leaders who create real, lasting change are the ones who pause to truly listen, adapt quickly, and lead with emotional intelligence.

Especially now, as AI reshapes how we work and live.

Started in public education, then moved into private sector learning, and eventually higher education - designing leadership programs and learning systems that connected purpose, process, and people.

Then I stepped into global tech, leading research and leadership development at one of the world’s most influential companies to founding Growing Your EQ.

Today, I help leaders and organizations strengthen the human side of leadership:

1. Future-Ready Leadership Training: equipping leaders to thrive in fast-changing, AI-driven workplaces

2. Emotional Intelligence Education & Development: building resilient, adaptive, people-centered leaders & teams

3. Speaking & Mentoring: inspiring practical change and amplifying influence

My focus is simple: turn “soft skills” into competitive advantage so leaders don’t just manage tasks, they unlock potential.

Want to connect?
For podcast interviews, features, speaking, or collaborations:
📬 acasiano@growingyoureq.com

**Please send professional requests by email only. No DM pitches will be reviewed.

📩 Get insights + tools to grow agile, emotionally intelligent leadership – Join the Beyond IQ newsletter: https://www.beyondiqnewsletter.com/

99% of people wait.
For confidence.
For clarity.
For perfect timing.

The 1% move anyway.

They act when it’s uncertain.
Speak when it’s uncomfortable.
Keep going when no one’s clapping.

Because being in the 1% isn’t about talent.
It’s about tolerance.
For discomfort, risk, and visibility.

The 99% ask, “What if it doesn’t work?”
The 1% ask, “What if it does?”

I’ve been on both sides.
Waiting felt safe.
But movement built proof.

You don’t earn the 1% by dreaming about it.
You earn it by doing what the 99% won’t.

💭 What’s one move you’ve been avoiding, that the 1% version of you would make today?

Credit: I do not own the copyright claim to this video

Alinnette Casiano

Leadership Development Strategist • TEDx Speaker • Designed Global Training for 35K+ • Connecting systems, soft skills, and emotionally intelligent leadership • Bilingual Educator • Bestselling Author

You get what you fight for.
Not what you wish for.

I spent years wishing for the promotion.
Wishing for the opportunity.
Wishing someone would notice my work.

Wishes got me nowhere.

Until I learned the difference between wishing and fighting.

Wishing is passive.
It waits for permission.
For the right time.
For someone else to make it happen.

Fighting is different.

Fighting means sending the email you've rewritten ten times.
Fighting means raising your hand when your voice shakes.
Fighting means staying late to master the skill no one will teach you.

I remember the project that changed everything.
Everyone said it was impossible.
Too complex. Too risky. Too much.

I could've wished for an easier assignment.

Instead, I fought.

Documented every roadblock.
Built allies one conversation at a time.
Presented solutions, not problems.

Failed. Adjusted. Tried again.

Five months later?
The "impossible" project launched.
And with it, the recognition I'd been chasing for years.

But here's what I really learned:

The fight changes you before it changes your circumstances.

Every battle you choose builds something:
→ Resilience when you face rejection
→ Clarity when you define what matters
→ Confidence when you survive the struggle
→ Wisdom when you learn from failure

Wishes keep you the same person in different circumstances.
Fights make you a different person regardless of circumstances.

The truth nobody tells you:

What you're fighting for isn't as important as who you become in the fight.

Because the person who emerges from the battle?
They don't need to wish anymore.
They know how to create.

The life you want won't come find you.
You have to fight your way to it.

One uncomfortable conversation.
One bold decision.
One small battle at a time.

Stop wishing for your moment.
Start fighting for your momentum.

💭 What's one thing you've been wishing for that needs you to fight for it instead?

📌 Save this for when you need to stop wishing and start moving
🔁 Share to remind someone that action beats hope
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more on turning determination into results

Image Credit: jimrohnpage on IG

Leadership Development Strategist • TEDx Speaker • Designed Global Training for 35K+ • Connecting systems, soft skills, and emotionally intelligent leadership • Bilingual Educator • Bestselling Author • Ex-Amazon

You don’t find authenticity by following someone else’s script.
You don’t build self-awareness from strategies alone.
And you don’t think your way into identity.

Because originality isn’t learned.
It’s found in the unbecoming.

By living
Noticing what stirs you
Releasing what was only ever borrowed

I spent years cosplaying as someone else’s version of “professional.”

The exhausting part wasn’t the performance.
It was forgetting who I was underneath it all.

We collect versions of ourselves like masks:
→ The achiever who never admits struggle
→ The expert who can’t say “I don’t know”
→ The leader with all the answers
→ The professional who fits the mold

Until one day, you realize you’re performing for an audience that isn’t even watching.

That’s when the real work begins.

Self-awareness doesn’t come from another book or another blueprint.
It comes from noticing…

• What brings tears you didn’t expect.
• What remains when the pretending stops.
• What lights you up when no one’s looking.
• What you do differently without trying.
• What feels effortless for you.

Authenticity isn’t about becoming more.
It’s about releasing everything that isn’t you.

And the paradox?
When you stop performing for the world, the world finally sees you.

Not the version that fits the mold.
The version that can’t be copied.

That’s your starting point.
That’s your power.

Everything else is noise.

💭 What part of yourself did you stop apologizing for once you owned it?

📌 Save this for when you catch yourself performing instead of being
🔁 Share to remind someone their original self is enough
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more

✨ Exciting news! My TEDx talk is now live on YouTube 🎥
(In Spanish 🇵🇷 with subtitles available)

In it, I share:
→ The mistake we make when searching for purpose and identity
→ How to build the courage to act on our dreams
→ A practice to avoid conflict & nurture harmonious relationships

📌 Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gZhGAPjf

⸻

✨ ¡Mi charla TEDx ya está disponible en YouTube! 🎥

En ella comparto:
→ El error que cometemos al buscar propósito e identidad
→ Cómo desarrollar la valentía para actuar en nuestros sueños
→ Una práctica que ayuda a evitar conflictos y cultivar relaciones armoniosas

📌 Accesa aquí: https://lnkd.in/gZhGAPjf

💡 85% of career success comes from soft skills.
(Harvard University)

Yet most professionals focus only on the technical stuff.
Frameworks. Tools. Hard skills.
And then wonder why they’re stuck.

Ever seen someone less talented move up faster?
They probably mastered the skills you’re ignoring.

My friend Natan Mohart has broken it down into a clean visual guide.
(make sure to give him a follow)

9 soft skills that actually accelerate your career:

1. Clear Communication
→ Say exactly what you mean.
→ Build trust, avoid confusion, and speed up execution.

2. Emotional Intelligence
→ Understand your own emotions.
→ Stay calm, read others, and lead with empathy.

3. Adaptability
→ Stay calm in change.
→ Embrace uncertainty, shift quickly, and keep delivering results.

4. Critical Thinking
→ Ask the right questions.
→ Analyze clearly, challenge bias, and think before acting.

5. Time Management
→ Work with intention.
→ Prioritize tasks, avoid distractions, and protect your time.

6. Teamwork & Collaboration
→ Win together.
→ Value diverse input, align goals, and support those around you.

7. Curiosity & Learning
→ Keep asking why.
→ Stay open, seek answers, and grow through daily learning.

8. Feedback Mastery
→ Make feedback normal.
→ Give it clearly, receive it calmly, and act on it fast.

9. Decision-Making
→ Decide with purpose.
→ Use logic under pressure and move forward with clarity.

Hard skills get you the job.
Soft skills get you promoted.

💬 Which one do you want to improve next?
Drop it in the comments 👇

📌 Save this, and pick one to work on this month.
It compounds faster than you think.
🔁 Repost to help others grow 
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more leadership insights

“Be yourself at work.”
“But not like that.”

Every leader hears this contradiction.
Few know how to navigate it.

At a recent leadership forum, a senior product manager shared something that stopped the room:

“My team praises my authenticity when things are calm,
but criticizes my directness under pressure.”

Silence.
Because we all knew that tension.

We’re told authenticity builds trust. ✅
We’re told professionalism requires restraint. ✅

Both are true.
But what happens when they collide?

This isn’t about personality.
It’s about the invisible rules that shape how we show up.

Here’s what emotional intelligence reveals about this paradox 👇

🔶 Authenticity isn’t raw expression
Your unfiltered reaction isn’t your truest self.
Pausing before you speak isn’t being fake, it’s integrity in motion.

🔶 Structure isn’t suppression, it’s signal
Frameworks, tone guides, presentation norms. 
They exist for clarity, not control.
They help diverse voices connect.

🔶 Self-awareness creates freedom
Most “authenticity conflicts” happen below awareness.
When you notice your patterns: defensiveness, dominance, avoidance...you gain choice.
Authenticity becomes a decision, not a default.

🔶 Adaptability multiplies influence
One leader I mentored spoke in deep technical detail.
Engineers loved it. Marketing tuned out.
When he adapted his language, his credibility tripled, without losing himself.

🔶 Transparency resolves tension
The simplest move? Name it.

“I’m torn between being direct and worrying how it might land. Can we align on what works best?”
That’s not weakness. 
👉 That’s EQ in action.

The workplace isn’t built for perfect authenticity.
It’s a shared space where many “real selves” intersect daily.

Emotional intelligence doesn’t erase that friction.
It helps you move through it with awareness and grace.

Leading with EQ isn’t about changing who you are.
It’s about showing up with clarity and intention,
especially when everything around you is shifting.

That’s the heart of what I’m building next:
A course for leaders, founders, and managers who want to lead through AI-driven change with calm, clarity, and humanity.

If this resonates, you can share your input here:
 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gfDepJhU

Where do you feel the strongest pull between being yourself and meeting expectations?

🔁  Repost or share, probably many leader's in your network are navigating the same tension
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette, for more insights on emotionally intelligent leadership, authenticity, and growth

20 Leadership Truths in 60 Seconds

Lessons that will reshape how you lead.
(And how people experience your leadership).

1. Your team mirrors your emotional state, regulate yourself first.
2. Empathy isn't soft, it's the hardest skill that yields the highest returns.
3. Trust takes years to build and seconds to shatter.
4. The best leaders create more leaders, not more followers.
5. Your calendar reveals your real priorities, audit it ruthlessly.
6. Vulnerability is your strength disguised as weakness.
7. "I don't know" builds more credibility than fake expertise.
8. Culture isn't what you preach, it's what you tolerate.
9. Feedback is a gift wrapped in uncomfortable paper.
10. Your ego is the ceiling on your team's potential.
11. Listen twice as much as you speak, your ratio matters.
12. Micromanagement is fear dressed up as diligence.
13. The meeting after the meeting is where trust dies.
14. Your energy is more contagious than your strategy.
15. Conflict avoided today becomes crisis tomorrow.
16. Great leaders ask better questions, not give better answers.
17. Your team needs your presence more than your perfection.
18. Boundaries aren't walls, they're the foundation of respect.
19. Growth happens at the edge of your comfort zone, lead from there.
20. Leadership isn't a title. It's the courage to go first.

The truth about leadership?

It’s less about what you know and more about how you show up.

Your presence shapes more than your plans.
Your steadiness builds more trust than your words.
Your self-awareness creates more change than any strategy deck ever will.

Most of what makes leadership work can’t be measured, but it’s always felt.

Every one of these truths I learned the hard way.
Through mistakes, feedback, and growth.

Because leadership isn’t something you achieve.
It’s something you practice.

Every. Single. Day.

💭 Which truth hits hardest for you right now?

📌 Save this for your next leadership challenge
🔁 Share to spark a conversation about real leadership
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette, for more insights on EQ-driven leadership

I used to chase goals that looked impressive.

The promotion that sounded prestigious.
The title that played well on LinkedIn.
The achievement that said, “See? I belong.”

But somewhere along the way I realized,
I was becoming someone I didn’t recognize.

Not because I was growing.
Because I was shrinking to fit someone else’s definition of success.

The truth about transformation?
It doesn’t happen when you set bigger goals.
It happens when you stop running from who you’re becoming.

After years of mentoring, teaching and observing real transformation up close, one pattern is undeniable:
The people who truly evolve don’t just change their habits.
They change their relationship with themselves.

They stop asking “What should I achieve?”
And start asking “Who am I willing to become?”

If you’re ready to begin that shift, start here:

✅ Redefine success weekly
Ask, “What would success look like for me this week, not for others?”

✅ Audit your goals
Highlight which ones come from genuine desire versus external validation.

✅ Revisit your habits
Keep only what aligns with the future version of you.

✅ Practice micro-courage
One brave act a day: saying no, asking for help, or choosing rest.

✅ Check in with your values
When choices feel heavy, let values (not ego) make the call.

Because here’s what no one tells you about growth:
Every new level demands a new version of you.

And that version already exists, 
just waiting for permission to emerge.

You can see it in:
→ The moment you speak up instead of staying silent.
→ The boundary you set even when it disappoints someone.
→ The opportunity you decline because it no longer fits.
→ The help you ask for when you’ve always been the helper.
→ The rest you take when hustle says, “push harder.”

These aren’t just decisions.
They’re identity upgrades.

Small acts of becoming.
Tiny rebellions against the version of you that kept you safe.

The gap between where you are and where you want to be?
It’s not about doing more.
It’s about releasing who you no longer need to be.

Because sometimes the bravest thing you can do
is admit that the old version of you
has taken you as far as she can.

And that’s not failure.
That’s evolution.

Your next level isn’t asking for your résumé.
It’s asking for your readiness to evolve.

What version of yourself are you outgrowing right now?

📌 Save this for when growth feels scary
🔁 Share to remind someone that transformation is an inside job
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more on leadership and growth

Photo by: GoStudio.ai
Try it here: https://lnkd.in/g_J2STN6

I got Leslie Knope as my fictional character match.

Yes, after specifically asking ChatGPT.

I got curious about it, after watching a TikTok video of someone sharing theirs.

I laughed at first.
Then I leaned in.

I started asking about her personality traits and all. 

But got mostly interested about leadership style and lessons.

And honestly?
There's gold there 👀.

So, here are 16 Leadership Lessons from Leslie Knope that actually work:

1. Unwavering Optimism
↳ Sees opportunities where others see roadblocks
↳ Turns "That's impossible" into "Watch me"

2. Fierce Loyalty
↳ Builds ride-or-die teams
↳ Creates psychological safety

3. Work Ethic That Inspires
↳ Sets the pace
↳ Shows up first, leaves last

4. Vision Beyond Logic
↳ Dreams bigger than budgets
↳ Makes impossible projects possible

5. Celebrates Small Wins
↳ Creates Galentine's Day
↳ Recognizes team efforts, always

6. Authentic Leadership
↳ Weird? Own it
↳ Vulnerability builds trust

7. Persistence Over Perfection
↳ Falls down 7, gets up 8
↳ Never lets rejection win

8. Champions Others' Success
↳ Mentors actively
↳ Shares the spotlight

9. Details Matter
↳ Remembers birthdays
↳ Personalizes recognition

10. Problem-Solving Creativity
↳ Finds unconventional solutions
↳ Makes resources stretch

11. Values-Driven Decisions
↳ Ethics over convenience
↳ Stands firm on principles

12. Builds Community
↳ Networks with purpose
↳ Creates lasting connections

13. Growth Mindset
↳ Learns from failures
↳ Adapts strategies

14. Passionate Purpose
↳ Mission over position
↳ Impact over income

15. Strategic Thinking
↳ Plans multiple steps ahead
↳ Prepares for obstacles

16. Self-Awareness
↳ Knows strengths
↳ Owns weaknesses

My main takeaways?
Forget perfect.
Chase progress.

Commitment to growth!?
That’s real leadership.

Which of these traits is your favorite?

P.S. Check out the prompt I used in the comments, please try it and share about yours. 

🔄 Repost to inspire other leaders
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more leadership insights

Two people face the same challenge.
One rises.
One retreats.

After years of mentoring and training thousands of people, I’ve seen the invisible line that separates those who soar from those who stall.

It’s not talent.
It’s not timing.
It’s not even luck.

It’s the story they tell themselves when things get hard.

And there are only two versions:

Version 1: “This is happening to me.”
Version 2: “This is happening for me.”

That single word changes everything.

I used to live in Version 1.
Every setback felt like proof the universe was against me.
Every rejection confirmed I wasn’t enough.
Every obstacle meant I should quit.

Then I noticed something about the leaders who kept rising:
They spoke a different language.

When deals fell through:
“What’s this teaching me about my approach?”

When teams underperformed:
“How is this showing me where I need to grow?”

When markets shifted:
“What opportunity is hiding in this chaos?”

Not toxic positivity.
Not denial.
Just refusal to be a victim of their own story.

What Ownership Sounds Like 👇

When you miss the target:
❌ “The goal was unrealistic.”
✅ “My strategy needs adjusting.”

When opportunities feel scarce:
❌ “I don’t have the right connections.”
✅ “I haven’t created the right value yet.”

When growth plateaus:
❌ “The market is saturated.”
✅ “My edge has gotten dull.”

When resources run thin:
❌ “I need more to succeed.”
✅ “I need to be more creative with what I have.”

When fear whispers ‘stop’:
❌ “Maybe this isn’t for me.”
✅ “Maybe I’m about to level up.”

The shift isn’t about denying reality.
It’s about choosing your response to it.

Because here’s the truth no one tells you:
Every excuse is a choice.
Every reason “why not” is a decision to stay small.
Every “I can’t” is really “I won’t.”

And that’s good news.

Because if you’re the one holding yourself back,
you’re also the one who can set yourself free.

The question isn’t whether life will test you.
It’s whether you’ll let the test define you, or refine you.

💭 What story have you been telling yourself that needs rewriting?

📌 Save this for when excuses feel easier than ownership
🔁 Share to remind someone they're more powerful than their circumstances
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette, for more on leadership

Here's what I've never told anyone about adult learning...

Most of it fails before anyone opens the course.

Not because the content is bad.
Not because people don't want to learn.
But because we design for the wrong human.

We design for the motivated morning version.
The one with a fresh coffee and blocked calendar.
The one who chose to be there.

But that's not always who shows up.

Who really does?
- The overwhelmed manager squeezing training between fires
- The skeptic who's seen five "transformational" programs fail
- The parent who's been up since 4am with a sick kid
- The introvert dreading another breakout room
- The expert who thinks they already know everything

I learned this during a massive leadership program rollout.

Beautiful content.
Expert facilitators.
Leadership buy-in.
And... crickets.

Until I started designing for reality, not ideal.

Here's what actually works:

✅ Design for the 3pm slump, not the 9am energy

If it requires peak performance to understand, it's already failed.
Make it work when their brain is at 40% capacity.

✅ Honor their skepticism

"I know you've heard this before" beats "This will change your life."
Meet them where they are, not where you wish they were.

✅ Make the first win happen in 5 minutes

Not 5 modules. Not 5 hours - 5 minutes.
One tiny insight they can use immediately.
Momentum builds from micro-wins.

✅ Stop pretending they have time

They're not dedicating 2 hours of deep focus.
They have 15 minutes between meetings.
Design for their reality.

✅ Let them skip what they know

Forcing experts through basics isn't thorough.
It's disrespectful.
Give them control.

✅ Build in recovery time

After something heavy, add something light.
After vulnerability, add reflection.
Energy management is learning management.

✅ Make it feel human

Not perfect. Not polished.
Just real, relatable, and grounded in how people actually learn.
Connection drives retention more than any script ever could.

The uncomfortable truth?

Your learners aren't empty vessels waiting to be filled.
They're overwhelmed humans trying to survive.

They don't need more information.
They need transformation that fits in the margins of their life.

The best learning doesn't feel like learning.
It feels like finally understanding something you always knew but couldn't articulate.

So before you design your next program, ask:
Will this work for someone having their worst day?

Because that's who needs it most.

💭 What's the most realistic learning experience you've ever had?

I’m taking 3 doctoral classes this term.

Because apparently, I collect academic stress like some people collect stamps.

𝟑 classes testing my sanity:
→ Qualitative Research Methods (aka “where are the numbers?")
→ Strategic Operations (reading list longer than my arm)
→ Financial Resources (cue 3am calculator meltdowns)

𝟑 main reasons why I’m doing this:
→ Determined to finish in 2026
→ “Dr. Casiano” has a nice ring
→ Passion walking a fine line with practicality

𝟑 ways I'm currently coping:
→ Coffee = is a must
→ Hair and I are barely on speaking terms
→ Applying all the productivity hacks I often preach about

And a heads-up: you might see me a little less here.
Daily posts may turn into several ones a week.
But the same energy, same investment, just paced differently.

But here’s the truth:
Passion whispers “2026 or bust” more often than rarely.
It turns exhaustion into exhilaration.
It makes you laugh at your own audacity.

Because when you want something badly enough,
you don’t count the hours (or headaches).
You count the days until you cross that finish line.

💭 What’s the craziest thing passion made you commit to?

#DoctoralJourney #PassionProject

No alternative text description for this image

Kindness never gets old.
We just get too busy to notice.

Real impact rarely announces itself.
It lives in the pause, the moment you choose presence over productivity (or hurry).

That small act that whispers “you matter” louder than any achievement.

Here's what we miss when we label kindness as "soft":

✨ It rewires our biology
Acts of care flood the brain with dopamine.
That warm feeling? It’s your mind saying “more of this, please.”

✨ It builds trust at lightspeed
When people feel genuinely seen, oxytocin rises.
Connection deepens. Relationships strengthen.

✨ It multiplies exponentially
Research shows 70% of people pay kindness forward within 24 hours.
Your one moment becomes someone else's turning point.

✨ It heals what hustle breaks
A single act of genuine care drops cortisol by 23%.
For both giver and receiver.
That's not weakness. That's wisdom.

The truth about kindness?
 It’s not the easy path.
 📌 It’s the courageous one.

Because anyone can stay busy.
It takes awareness to pause.
It takes courage to care when no one’s watching.

So today...
Slow down.
Notice who’s struggling quietly.
Offer presence, not performance.
Compassion, not convenience.

Because kindness isn’t small.
It’s the thing holding the world together.

💭 When did someone’s unexpected kindness shift everything for you?

🔁 Share to remind someone that humanity is the strategy
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette, for more on leading with both head and heart

Credit: I do not own the copyright claim to this video

A reframe that changed my leadership:

Resilience ≠ toughness
Resilience = recovery with intention

Resilience isn’t about holding it all together.

It’s about learning how to reset, realign, and rise.

You don’t rise to the level of pressure.
You fall to the strength of what you’ve built.
Habits, systems, and self-trust.
📌 That’s your real foundation.

Here’s how to lead with grit, clarity, and calm:
(especially when it’s hard)

🔥 4 Pillars of Resilient Leadership:

→ Mental Fortitude: Manage stress + make sharp calls under pressure
→ Adaptive Capacity: Navigate change + lead through chaos
→ Emotional Stamina: Protect your energy + set boundaries that last
→ Strategic Focus: Prioritize what matters + pivot when needed

💡 Your Daily Resilience Routine:

• Morning Power-Up → Clarity & intention
• Midday Reset → Pause, breathe, recalibrate
• Evening Wind-Down → Reflect, reset, prepare

🚨 Red Flags to Watch:

• Team energy drops
• Decision paralysis
• Communication breakdown
• Innovation stalls

When things go sideways?
 
Pause
Prioritize
Pivot

But especially: Learn.

And the most overlooked truth?
Resilience isn’t built in burnout.

It’s built in how you reset,
how you recover, and how you choose to begin again over and over, intentionally.

If you're leading in high-stakes environments → this is your roadmap.

📥 Save this to revisit later
🔁 Repost with your network if you found it valuable
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette for more leadership insights

Design by: Areeba

I couldn’t be more excited to have made it to Salt Lake City, Utah for the She Leads AI | Official 🌸 CREATE Conference this weekend.

The energy here is electric! So many brilliant minds, powerful conversations, and women shaping what leadership in AI looks like next.

I'm also so excited (and grateful) for the opportunity of sharing my NeuroSCALE™ Framework, a model designed to help leaders grow the human side of performance as fast as technology evolves.

But more than anything, I’m here to learn.
To listen.
To connect with the incredible people driving change with both intelligence and heart.

Here’s to what happens when women lead, and AI follows our example. 💡

#SheLeadsAI #CREATE2025 #WomenInAI #Leadership #ResponsibleAI #EmotionalIntelligence #FutureOfWork #AILeadership

The 9 leadership moves no one notices (but everyone feels)

After years in leadership, I’ve learned something simple:
The most powerful moments don’t happen on stages or in all-hands meetings.

They happen in the margins - in quiet, human micro-moments that shift everything.

Here are the invisible moves that create visible impact:

1. The pause before you respond
When bad news lands, a two-second pause says, “I’m processing, not reacting.”
That pause teaches your team it’s safe to tell you the truth.

2. Remembering the small things
“How did your daughter’s recital go?”
These aren’t small talk: they’re proof you see people, not just producers.

3. Admitting what you don’t know
“I need to think about that.”
Three seconds of vulnerability build more trust than three hours of pretending.

4. The energy you bring to Monday mornings
You set the emotional temperature for the week.
Your state becomes the team’s baseline.

5. How you handle mistakes
It’s not your words, it’s your face.
That flash of disappointment or curiosity determines if people hide or learn.

6. Leaving space in conversations
Most leaders fill silence.
But the pause is where introverts contribute and truth emerges.

7. What you do when no one’s watching
Giving credit, staying late, cleaning up.
These small choices become your real culture.

8. The questions you ask in 1:1s
“What's energizing you?”
“What obstacles can I remove?”
Your questions reveal what you value.

9. How you end hard conversations
The last 10 seconds shape what happens next.
“I believe in you.” “Let’s figure this out together.”

During a brutal product launch, everything was failing.
Tension was high. Morale was gone.

I canceled the meeting.
Brought everyone into one room.
Said just one thing:
“I know this is hard. Let’s take 15 minutes to breathe, then we’ll figure it out together.”

No pep talk. No fake positivity.
Just space to reset.

Years later, that’s what the people in that team remembers.
Not the failure, but the moment they felt seen.

Leadership isn’t the big moves everyone sees.
It’s the small, consistent ones that create safety, trust, and belief.

They cost nothing.
Take seconds.
Change everything.

💭 What invisible leadership move has someone done for you that you still remember?

📌 Save this to practice these micro-moments
🔁 Share to help leaders see their invisible impact
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette, for more leadership insights

Tech is evolving fast. 
Leadership has to evolve deeper.

That’s why I’m building a new course for industry leaders, founders, and managers who want to:

✅ Lead people through change with calm and clarity
✅ Communicate with confidence as work keeps evolving
✅ Use tools like AI without losing their voice or values

But here’s the thing:
I don’t want to assume what people actually need right now.

So I’ve created a short 2–3 minute survey to gather real insights from real leaders.
Your input will help shape a course that’s useful, human, and practical.
Not just another “AI hype” program.

No pitch.
No list.

👉 Just a genuine ask to help reimagine what leadership looks like in the age of AI.

If this resonates, you can share your input here:
 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gfDepJhU

🔁 Repost to your network, someone in your circle might want to weigh in. ❤️

If leading feels harder lately, it’s not your imagination.

Brené Brown said it best:

“Geopolitically, changing markets, and AI.
You’ve got massive instability.
So you’re leading a workforce that’s increasingly struggling,
emotionally dysregulated, distrustful, and disconnected.”

And she’s right.

Whether you’re leading a small team or an entire organization,
today’s environment demands more than strategy.
It demands emotional steadiness in the middle of constant change.

We’re navigating:
🌍 Global instability
📉 Shifting markets
🤖 The accelerating impact of AI
💬 And an undercurrent of fatigue most people don’t talk about

It’s no longer about doing more.
It’s about leading differently.

With presence.
With calm & clarity when everything around you feels uncertain.

Because when people can’t predict what’s next,
they look to leaders who feel anchored.

The future of leadership isn’t control.
It’s stability with humanity.

I’m building a new course for leaders, founders, and managers who want to strengthen this exact muscle, leading through AI-driven change with calm, clarity, and humanity.

I’d love your input.
Here’s a short 2-minute survey to share what you’re facing most right now:
👉 https://lnkd.in/gfDepJhU

No pitch. 
Just an opportunity to shape a program that serves leaders at every level.
From rising managers to experienced founders, leading with the best of both advantages: IQ + EQ.

💭 What’s been your biggest leadership challenge this year?

🔁 Share to remind someone they’re not alone in leading through change

Video Credit: Fortune Magazine

We were taught about 6 basic emotions:
Joy, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, and disgust.
(Originally identified by psychologist Paul Ekman in the 1970s.)

But research from UC Berkeley (2017) maps 27 distinct emotional states...not separate boxes, but overlapping shades of human experience.

Here’s what that means for leadership:

• Awe mixes with fear. 
Big opportunities often feel terrifying.

• Pride overlaps with shame. 
Success can feel strangely hollow.

• Love connects to grief.
Caring deeply means risking loss.

• Excitement bonds with anxiety. 
Growth rarely feels comfortable.

Emotionally intelligent leaders read nuance.
Because most feelings come in layers, not labels.

When someone says “I’m fine,” they might really mean:
→ Disappointment mixed with hope
→ Frustration tangled with determination
→ Exhaustion wrapped in commitment

That complexity isn’t confusion.
It’s human data.

And when you make space for it, you build trust.

Next time you check in with your team, don’t stop at “How are you?”
Ask: “What else are you feeling?”

Because most people aren’t one emotion.
They’re a full spectrum, trying to be understood.

💭 Which emotion combination do you experience most at work?

📌 Save this for your next self-assessment
🔁 Share to help a leader see beyond the surface
🔔 Follow me, Alinnette, for more on EQ-driven leadership

Image Credit: avanmuijen on IG

Taplio

Alinnette Casiano's Linkedin Analytics

What is Alinnette talking about?

Who is engaging with Alinnette

's Best Posts (last 30 days)

Want to drive more opportunities from LinkedIn?