Helping leaders create more bandwidth to grow engaged & resilient teams | Team Learning & Assessment Facilitator

The #1 leadership lesson I learned working for America’s Funniest Home Videos:

What not to do as a leader.

For 9 months, I answered calls, watered plants, picked up lunch, delivered scripts, monitored emails… & got yelled at almost daily.

“What did you do?!”
“What are you doing?”
“Why are you sitting there?”

Daily chaos. Mixed messages. Fear in the hallways.

I never knew what mood my boss would be in. 

Those Hollywood years were full of rejection, & taught me resilience, adaptability, & how to keep moving forward. 

Even then, I knew leadership could be better. That experience became the foundation for everything I’ve done since.

I went from chasing roles in Hollywood to leading in corporate. For the past 15 years, I’ve guided 100s of leaders & teams to cut through the noise, align efforts, & create systems that sustain performance without sacrificing results or wellbeing.

Today, I help executives rebuild capacity, strengthen trust, & lead high-performing teams through coaching, workshops, offsites, & keynotes.

And the impact shows in both the results & the relationships.

“𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘴𝘵𝘺𝘭𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺 & 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘦𝘵.” -Val Cassano, Director Strategy

“𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘹 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘥𝘺𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘴 & 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘥.” -Jaime Moreno, CMMO

“𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 & 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴.” -Beth Coleman, Director Contracting

Leadership can be emotionally exhausting, especially when you’ve been thrown into it or asked to do more with less. I help you:
→ Simplify what’s overcomplicated
→ Strengthen communication & trust
→ Build systems that create space to think, lead, & perform 

Because leadership isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters most, & creating space to do what you love.

For me, that means hiking mountain trails & chasing adventure with my family.

If you’re ready to lead with more focus, less friction, & a team that performs at a higher level, let’s connect.

Send me a DM or schedule a free discovery call in my Featured section.

5 years ago, I joined a local nonprofit. 
2 years ago, I volunteered for their conference.
Last year, I raised my hand to be their president-elect.

And, in just a couple of months, I'll be taking on the President role after working under the amazing leadership of Alyssa!

This role is 100% volunteer.

It's on top of work, family, friends (all the things). 

And I'm so grateful to be entrusted with it.

This Saturday, we had our annual retreat, & the energy in the room was incredible!

We focused on connection, visioning, & mapping out next steps. 

We celebrated those stepping down.
And those filling in.

I'm looking forward to a year of collaboration, fun, & impact.

All while remembering: this is no one's #1 priority. 

We need to be ok with:
-Saying no
-Asking for help
-Letting go of perfect

Kind of like our full-time roles, huh?

What's one thing you can nope this week? (so you can say yes to something else)

P.S. This is us 👇🏼 on Saturday! Our board is growing!

Jennifer Recla

Leading shouldn’t drain you | Helping executives rebuild capacity, strengthen trust, & lead high-performing teams | Leadership Coach & Trainer | Fun & Adventure Junkie

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Today is National Mentoring Day!

In 2018, a colleague asked if I would mentor her.

I was shocked.
Flattered.
And immediately said "yes!"

We spent months connecting, sharing, & growing together.

I learned as much from her as she did from me. 

7 years later, she's still a big part of my life. 

Grateful for you today, Valerie Cassano!

Who is a mentor or mentee who positively impacted your life?

P.S. More about National Mentoring Day here: https://lnkd.in/gr6YUPf8

Why don't monsters eat ghosts?


Because they taste like sheet. 👻

Bahahahaha.

I know, I tell this Halloween joke every year.

But it still makes me laugh. 

Your turn...
what's your favorite Halloween joke?

P.S. Throwback to Halloween 2021!

What my most humiliating experience in Hollywood taught me about leadership...

I was 21.
Dreams of a career in film. 
Working as a production assistant.

I went to an event led by a casting director.

At the start, he asked:
What are you all doing to make money while you audition?

I raised my hand. 
Not shyly (proudly).

(not sure where that overconfidence came from)

Me: I'm working at America's Funniest Home Videos. 

Him: Is that a 9-5, M-F schedule?

Me: Yes

Him: How do you go to auditions?

Me: Well, I just moved here. I haven't had any yet.

Him: Hmm...auditions happen 9-5, M-F. What happens if you get a call to audition? Can you step away from your work? 

Me: Uhhh...no. (gulp)

Him: How's that going to work? 

Me: Uhhh...not sure. I just needed to start bringing money in. 

Him: Well, what are you doing to get auditions?

Me: Meeting people in the industry. Going to events or dinners. 

Him: An industry person is taking you out to dinner? 

Me: Uhhh...sometimes.

Him (laughing): Honey, they're not gonna get you an audition. They're taking you to dinner for other reasons. 

(everyone laughed) 

Then he turned to the audience & used me as an example of what NOT to do.

Stomach dropped.
Heat rushing.
100 staring.
No escape. 

Thinking, "Oh, you silly, stupid girl."

During the break, I left to collect myself. 

Locked in a stall.
Deep breaths. 
No tears.

I straightened my shoulders & went back to the same seat. 

Front row.

I wasn't going to leave defeated.

That day taught me some valuable lessons:
-I needed to shift my "making it" approach
-I can survive shameful moments
-And how NOT to treat others

Leadership isn't about proving a point or showing someone they're wrong.

It's about helping people grow, even when it's uncomfortable.

You can be direct with feedback AND still lift someone up, not tear them down. 

What's a leadership lesson you learned the hard way?

P.S. This is my very first acting headshot. It was free & so NOT my style. 

P.P.S. This is the kind of balance I help leaders build: direct feedback, delivered with care. If you want to explore what that could look like for you, check out my Featured section to book a call.

It's Women's Entrepreneurship Day! 

Huge shoutout to the amazing women who've led the way for me & so many to leap ourselves.

One of those women is my favorite Jennifer in the world!

I remember her first day as a business owner. 

I was in my backyard at 10 am on a weekday.
(maternity leave)

I saw Jenn.

To make this dialogue easier to follow, I'll label us as J (no bangs) & J(bangs).

J (no bangs): What are you doing at home?
J (bangs): Oh, I quit my job.
J (no bangs): Uhhhh
J (bangs): I didn't tell you?! I started my own PR/marketing company with a colleague.
J (no bangs): Ahhhhhh! That's incredible.

Over the years, I've watched her build an amazing company.

And an even better work culture. 

It hasn't always been easy.

But she's put in the work.
She cares about leading well.

And it shows. 

That makes me so happy (as someone hugely invested in leadership & strong team culture). 

Here's to you, Jennifer McFerron Sloan!

Your journey inspired me to dive into entrepreneurship. 

You showed me what was possible.

Who inspired you to take a big leap in your career?

P.S. Happy Women's Entrepreneurship Day to so many of you. This world is a roller coaster. But I wouldn't choose another path. 

https://lnkd.in/guKF8naZ

Gratitude.

That’s what I’m feeling this Monday morning.

When you express gratitude, it boosts your:

✔️ Physical health
✔️ Relationships
✔️ Self-esteem
✔️ Patience
✔️ Focus

Just a few minutes a day thinking about what you’re grateful for can transform everyday experiences & improve well-being.

Today, I’m grateful for…

➡️ Rebooking an earlier flight & making it home smoothly after my original flight got canceled

➡️ Learning from powerful sessions on learning science, AI chatbots for role-playing, & reflection in learning

➡️ Exploring what we should stop, start, & continue doing in leader development

➡️ Digging into budget-friendly tools for design work with Bianca Woods  

➡️ A big reminder that growth mindset isn’t embedded in most orgs yet 

➡️ Reconnecting with friends like Eloise Littlejohns, Matt Gjertsen, James Gilchrist & meeting new ones like Leanne Glasser & Nilou Derakhshan 

➡️ Renewed inspiration to strengthen my focus on developing leaders & teams

All from an amazing experience at DevLearn Conference & Expo! 

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐲?

P.S. What other benefits of gratitude do you experience?

P.P.S. Thank you #DevLearn for all you do for learning practitioners!

Good Morning from the DevLearn Conference & Expo!

After attending dozens of conferences over the years, here are my top tips:

-Bring a sweater 
(The venue is always freezing)

-Leave space in your suitcase
(For the swag!)

-Have 2-3 goals beforehand
(Information overload will happen if you aren’t focused)

-Wear comfortable shoes
(You’ll easily clock 20k steps a day)

-Make friends 
(Say hello to strangers & make plans to connect again in the future)

What are your top tips for attending a conference?

P.S. I got to hang with my friends Matt Gjertsen & James Gilchrist  last night. They shared their thoughts on the top leadership skills needed now (trust, communication, & speed), along with the importance of community. Thank you for a great discussion!

P.P.S. I’m literally walking & texting right now, on my way to the first keynote! (& I haven’t tripped…yet) 

#DevLearn

When people feel valued & heard, they give their best.

I once spent an entire evening communicating with my kids using only questions.

It was harder than I expected. 

I had to pause before answering.
Listen more deeply.
And resist the urge to solve everything (eek!).

By the end of the evening, my daughter & I had the best conversation about what friendship really means. 

I felt more connected to her.
And she gave me extra hugs. 

The next day, she asked me: 
"What questions do you have for me today?"

Too often, we jump in with answers.

Make assumptions or pass judgment.

Stifling creativity, engagement, & curiosity.

Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. 

It’s about creating space for others to think, explore, & share their ideas.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is step back, listen, & ask:

-What am I assuming here?
-What do I need to understand before I act?
-How can I help this person feel heard & valued?

And when all else fails, stay curious.

I shared this story recently with Jonathan H. Westover, on the HCI podcast. Watch the replay here: https://lnkd.in/gxPEYWiz

Final prep for a team session today!

Team engagements are the best part of my role.

They give teams space to communicate openly, align priorities, & build trust.

Today, we'll focus on:
-Leaning into a growth mindset
-Finding smarter ways to collaborate
-Strengthening connection & communication 

All with the end goal of boosting performance & revenue.

The power is in the shift from learning to application. 

That's where the real magic happens, & what I love most about working with leaders & their teams. 

What’s one thing you’re most looking forward to this week?


P.S. Curious how to help your team communicate better, build trust, & perform at their best? Check my Featured section or send me a DM to see what that could look like for your team.

Earlier this month, I led a keynote with less than 24 hours' notice. 

300 people.
Interactive session.
Less than a day to prepare.

It was fun.
Nerve-wracking.
And an overall great time.

So, what did I talk about?

I focused on 2 areas that are critical for getting the best out of yourself & others:

-Leaning into a growth mindset
-Adopting a strengths-based approach

And one of my favorite strengths tools is Insights Discovery. 

Curious about your communication strengths? 

Here's a quick exercise 👇🏼 

Which motto resonates the most with you?

🔴 Be brief, be bright, be gone 
🔵 Give me the details
🟢 Show me you care
🟡 Involve me 

These mottos are just a glimpse of the full Insights Discovery model, & part of what I shared during the keynote.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮?

P.S. You can explore more & take a mini quiz here: https://lnkd.in/gD_uTbPM

You know you need to delegate, but your team is overloaded. 

I led a session last week on leading in today’s landscape.

Resources are tight.
Timelines are shrinking.
Uncertainty is pervasive. 

Everyone feels stressed & stretched thin.

We all agreed that work needs to be delegated.

But how do you do that when a team is already overloaded?

You start by taking things off their plate.

Help them untie their worth from the work.

 "You are not the task. You are a set of capabilities, skills, & knowledge."

Then, focus on aligning those skills with the right goals & priorities.

Pause, minimize, or sunset the rest.

And as you do, get clear on what truly deserves A+ effort…
and what can be B or C work.

Because if everything is treated like an A+, burnout is inevitable.

Great leaders know when good enough is actually great.

What’s something you could make a “C” this week?

P.S. If you want help getting clear on priorities, delegating effectively, & reclaiming time in your week, join the Workload Reset Bootcamp. 

A live virtual experience designed to help leaders take control of their work without burning out: https://lnkd.in/gaNrMVyB

Leaning into a growth mindset means, sometimes, that your eyes will be closed in a photo.

It’s Day 2 of DevLearn Conference & Expo & I led a Morning Buzz session:

“Cultivating a Growth Mindset in L&D” 

L&D = learning & development 

We talked about:

-the power of “yet”
-leaning into curiosity 
-playing the long game
-progress over perfection
-knowing when “C” work is ok

We shared the benefits, challenges, & wins of a growth mindset.

And discussed strategies to help us strengthen it:

-role modeling it in L&D
-learning about mindset
-adopting a reflection practice
-sharing mistakes & lessons learned 
-creating a healthy feedback culture 

P.S. I asked someone to take my pic next to the Morning Buzz sign. Kinda thought it was perfect how imperfect this came out. 

Sometimes it’s ok to post a “C” pic!

#DevLearn

What would you do if you had 10 hours back each week?

That's what I asked leaders on Tuesday.

Here's what they said:
-Take a break & not feel rushed
-Enjoy "me time" (art, reading, etc.)
-Spend time with family, friends, & pets
-Work more directly with customers/clients
-Prioritize health (exercise, hiking, massages)
-Grow themselves, their business, or their career

Not one person said MORE emails or MORE meetings.

They were focused on what's important. 

Why does this matter?

Because this is your motivation, what you're reclaiming time for.

If you don’t know how you want to use your time, you’ll fill it with busy work.

You’ll slip back into old patterns.

Knowing your priorities helps you build habits that stick:

-Saying "nope"
-Planning your week
-Batching your emails

That's what I walked through in yesterday's session. 

Watch the replay:
https://lnkd.in/gsh_SwV6

Here are the links I mentioned in the reply:
https://lnkd.in/gFfDy_P6
https://lnkd.in/gaNrMVyB
https://lnkd.in/g-cy7ZCi

So, what would you do with an extra 10 hours a week?

I'm emotionally exhausted.
I'm stretched too thin.
I feel burnt out.

These are sentiments I've heard a lot lately.

At a conference last month, several attendees shared how hard & heavy everything feels right now.

There's disruption.
Job insecurity.
Constant change. 

While we can't change our reality, we can choose how we face it. 

In my recent discussion with ⭐️  Maryanne Dersch, "How Nonprofit Leaders Can Prevent Burnout, Build Trust, & Take Back Their Time," we explored:

-Early signs of burnout
-Reframing productivity
-Taking back your time
-A healthy feedback culture
-Leading with fun & adventure

Because even when demands are high, you can still find ways to feel connected, capable, & balanced. 

Check out the episode here: https://lnkd.in/gP7VrVaK

P.S. If you want to chat about ways to reduce burnout, build trust, or strengthen your team, send me a DM. I'd love to explore how I can support you.

“Learning Changes Lives.”

This was Dr. Keith Keating’s final message in a deep dive session with him last Friday at DevLearn Conference & Expo.

His words have stayed with me all weekend. 

It was my father’s support & encouragement to always complete my homework that helped me build a strong work ethic.

It was that ethic that led to scholarships for college. 

It was my college theater degree that brought me to CA.

It was my experience with my first corporate boss that sparked my interest in leadership.

It was my lean certification that opened the door for my first learning practitioner role.

It was my CliftonStrengths results that led me to start my own leadership development practice. 

I am a lifelong learner. 
That path has changed my life. 

And I’ve seen it change the lives of others too.

How has learning changed your life?

P.S. A few pics from #DevLearn!

The panic is setting in...


One more month until the end of 2025.

(Insert loud horror movie scream.) 

Or feel free to scream out loud right now. 
It’s okay. 
Let it out.

Alright, now that that’s out of your system... 

Let’s get real.

Real about what you can actually accomplish this month (because it’s really more like 2–3 weeks).

Between holiday events, year-end deadlines, & time off, it’s time to take control of your calendar.

Open it up, review your schedule, & ask yourself: What can I nope?

1. What connection time or holiday fun is an immediate "Yes, please!"?
-Keep it, these moments energize & motivate us
-If it's a no, don't go, & let the host know

2. What are the non-negotiable Dec. deadlines?
-Block focused time to complete these

3. Do we really need to meet this year (or at all)?
-If not, reschedule or shift it to an email/IM

4. What doesn't have an agenda or purpose?
-Ask the host for clarity, reschedule, or politely decline

5. Where am I NOT providing value?
-If you’re not adding or receiving value, rethink your approach or say no

What else can you nope this month?

P.S. If you want to start 2026 with more breathing room, join me in January for the "Workload Reset Bootcamp." 

It’s designed to help you:
-Get clear on what actually matters
-Reset your workload habits
-Reclaim time, focus, & energy

Grab your spot here: https://lnkd.in/gaNrMVyB

P.P.S. Doesn't it look like I'm saying "nope" in this image? 👇🏼

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