Resilience is often praised, especially in conversations about leadership and growth. The more important question is how resilience is cultivated, particularly in the face of adversity. My early years in the elementary classroom offered an unfiltered view of resilience in its rawest form. Students, in their blend of vulnerability and determination, became my first teachers. One second grader stood out. She struggled with reading and came from a difficult background. Academic challenges were only one layer of the adversity she faced. Still, she showed up every day and met each hurdle with quiet resolve. Over the course of the year, I supported her as best I could, and something meaningful unfolded. She did not quit. She worked harder. Her reading skills improved, but the deeper transformation was internal. She began to see struggle as part of learning rather than as a stopping point. From that experience, the earliest seeds of my understanding of resilience took root. Across classrooms ...

When was the last time you revealed your vulnerability to your team? If that question makes you uncomfortable, you are not alone. During my third year in the classroom, pressure mounted from classroom management, lesson planning, and alignment with assessment benchmarks. One day, while teaching a particularly challenging lesson on fractions, I made a clear and noticeable mistake. Rather than covering it up, I acknowledged the error in front of my students and named my vulnerability at the moment. That honesty transformed a potentially embarrassing situation into a shared learning experience. The moment revealed something powerful. Vulnerability, when met with authenticity and respect, can create deep connection and meaningful learning. That insight has followed me into every leadership role since. Drawing from the work of Dr. Brené Brown, who describes vulnerability as “the birthplace of connection and the path to the feeling of worthiness,” I have found strength in sharing fears and m...

What strikes you more: an empty promise or a purposeful commitment? My journey from the schoolroom to the boardroom has taught me that real impact lives in purpose-driven leadership. Years ago, I stood before an eager fourth-grade class, guiding and shaping developing minds. My sole focus was to inspire a love of learning by nurturing each student’s curiosity and individual learning journey. Little did I know those young learners were preparing me for my future, guiding me toward a purposeful leadership style that would later define my career in Learning and Development. Fast-forward to the corporate world, where those same lessons resurfaced in new ways. Leadership revealed itself as more than driving results. Leadership became about inspiring purpose and sharing, then living, a compelling why. Specific moments stand out while designing faculty coaching and performance support programs for performing arts organizations, where the power of purpose consistently outweighed the mechanic...

What does the excitement of a second-grade classroom have to do with the boardroom buzz of executive leadership? The answer is more than you might imagine.  Before stepping into the world of Learning and Development, I was an elementary school teacher. That classroom was alive with curiosity. Each child acted as an active participant in their learning journey. Big concepts were unpacked. Lessons were shared. Community was valued above all else. Unity, ownership of learning, and purposeful curiosity were the norm rather than the exception. The transition into leadership and professional development marked a profound evolution, yet it remained grounded in familiar territory. Classrooms became boardrooms. Children became professionals. The lessons, however, remained strikingly similar.  Elementary teaching revealed an essential truth. People are learners by design and capable of growth at any age or career stage. Learning is anchored by three pillars: purpose, people, and data. T...

Is it possible to be a caring leader while still maintaining firm boundaries? Let’s explore the balance between empathy and respect. In my early years of teaching, I encountered a unique challenge. A student was academically brilliant yet emotionally disruptive. Although he was intellectually advanced, his behavior often tested my patience and challenged the norms of the classroom. During a parent-teacher meeting, I realized my hesitation to enforce boundaries came from deep empathy. His parents were going through a divorce, and the emotional turmoil was spilling into his behavior at school. I softened my approach and frequently overlooked his disruptions, assuming it was temporary. Everything shifted when another student approached me. “Mr. Maydwell,” she said, “we can’t learn when he’s so loud all the time.” In that moment, I understood that my empathy had crossed into unfairness. Whether in a classroom or a boardroom, leadership often requires walking a tightrope between empathy a...

Did you know there is deep wisdom in our greatest failures? Our biggest mistakes often become powerful teachers. They remind us of what truly matters in leadership. Early in my career, while working in an elementary classroom, I experienced a moment that shaped how I lead. One morning, a student arrived late and visibly overwhelmed. Their emotions surfaced quickly as they tried to explain what had happened. Instead of responding with my usual patience and understanding, I felt the pressure of staying on schedule. Frustration took over. I did not respond with the empathy the situation called for. My reaction focused on consequences rather than connection, and it became a moment I returned to often as I grew as a leader. Looking back, that moment taught me more about leadership than any workshop ever could. I had prioritized following a plan over responding to a human need. I had enforced a rule instead of showing compassion. That experience showed me that leaders are not just decision m...

Is there a magic ingredient to great leadership and authentic connections? Today, I'd like us to explore one that is often overlooked: vulnerability. In my early teaching days, I encountered moments that still stay with me. In a classroom full of energetic 4th graders, a few students regularly lingered quietly on the edges. They blended into the background, while others naturally took up space. My goal was to build an inclusive environment. I wanted every student to feel safe expressing themselves without fear. When traditional approaches weren’t creating that connection, I tried something different. I set aside my usual teaching tools and shared a story from my childhood.  It was a moment when I understood what it felt like to stand alone in a crowd. The room became noticeably quiet. As the story settled, I saw subtle shifts in the class. Small signs of understanding and recognition began to surface. By sharing my own vulnerability, I became a model of empathy and authenticity for...

Years ago, when I was an elementary school teacher, I witnessed the resilience of young learners every day. Their innocence and curiosity helped them embrace the long, sometimes tedious journey of growth. They celebrated small achievements, learned from mistakes, and practiced resilience in ways that protected them from the sting of failure. Fast-forward to corporate development and leadership work. Resilience in adults is not as visible. Many experience change as uncomfortable and avoid it when possible. Yet today’s business landscape demands adaptability. Resilience has become essential for both individual success and organizational progress. In Learning and Development (L&D), resilience is the ability to adapt to change with a growth mindset. It helps us view challenges as opportunities. As our tolerance for uncertainty increases, our strategies evolve as well, creating an environment of continuous learning. Carol Dweck’s research on mindset reinforces this idea. People with a g...

Have you ever wondered if the lessons learned in the classroom have any bearing on success in our careers? Over my 15-year journey from the classroom to the boardroom, I’ve discovered they have more impact than we could ever imagine. The lessons we glean from early education are truly timeless. My time teaching in an elementary school classroom wasn't just about imparting academic knowledge—it taught me several enduring lessons about human nature and growth. I was not merely an educational instructor, but also a student, learning from the experiences, triumphs, and mistakes of others. One sunny afternoon stands out in my memory. The class was engrossed in a project, constructing makeshift gingerbread houses. Observing, I noticed a particular student, we'll call her Lucy. Her approach to problem-solving was strikingly different from her peers: she was slow but meticulous, right from conceptualizing the design to executing it. When her classmates finished and rushed out for playt...