Hey there, fellow Disruptor!
It’s been a minute since I've landed in your inbox! I took a little summer break to recharge and reflect — and give you a break too. 😊
If you’ve been reading for a while, thank you for welcoming me back into your inbox. And if you’re new here, welcome! This is Disruptive by Design: The People Leader’s Playbook — a newsletter I personally write every two weeks, designed to share practical wisdom for people leaders who challenge the status quo and shape the future of work.
My goal is to make this something you actually look forward to opening — quick, useful, and maybe even a little fun. You’ll notice a fresh look and name (formerly Impact Makers), but the spirit is the same: human, relevant, and real. And I hope you’ll see this as a dialogue between us — not a broadcast.
So if something resonates, reply and let me know. I read every message, and love hearing from you.
Now, let’s dive in.
💡 This Week's Featured Insight
Lately, it feels like everyone has an opinion about personal branding — and not all of them are positive. When I heard Adam Grant share The Case Against Personal Branding on his podcast, I was intrigued (and maybe just a tad defensive).
As someone who’s spent years helping leaders build visibility and influence with intention, I agree that self-promotion done poorly can absolutely backfire. But I don’t believe the answer is to step away from personal branding — it’s to redefine what it really means.
For me, personal branding isn’t performance; it’s practice. It’s how we create clarity, connection, and contribution in a world where AI and noise compete for attention.
If you’ve ever wondered whether personal branding still matters in a world full of AI-generated sameness, this one’s for you.
My latest thinking — here’s the full read...
🎧 A Fresh Take on Future-Proofing Your Career
If you’ve been thinking about how to stay relevant in a world that’s moving fast, you’ll like this one.
I recently joined the Impact with Ease podcast to talk about how the rules for career success are changing — and why reputation alone isn’t enough anymore. Host Blake Schofield and I explored what it really takes to stay visible, relevant, and trusted in a world that’s evolving faster than ever.
Listen here → Future Proof Your Career: Why Reputation Isn’t Enough Anymore
🔎 What I’m Reading and Why It Matters
Guild: Could this be a glimpse into HR in the 2030s?
The folks at Guild recently gathered twelve senior HR leaders together for a Meeting of the Minds to explore how human resources might evolve in the next decade — from new capabilities to reimagined roles. The conversation points toward an HR future that’s more experimental, data-fluent, and deeply human.
Why it matters: The future of HR won’t be built on certainty — it’ll be built on curiosity, adaptability, and courage.
BCG: AI Is Moving Faster Than Your Workforce Strategy. Are You Ready?
AI is reshaping roles, decision-making, and the structure of work faster than most leaders can adapt. This piece makes a compelling case for moving beyond “AI awareness” to redesigning talent, leadership, and culture around human-machine collaboration.
Why it matters: The future of leadership will belong to those who can translate technological disruption into human advantage — not just manage the fallout.
Center for Creative Leadership – Essential Communication Skills for Leaders
This article outlines the core traits of effective leadership communication (authenticity, clarity, listening) and offers 15 research-based tips to help leaders connect, align, and inspire across teams. It emphasizes that communication is one of the “Fundamental 4” skills for leaders and explores how good conversations build stronger cultures.
Why it matters: In a world where leaders face dispersed teams, hybrid work, and rapid change, the ability to communicate clearly and connect authentically is no longer optional — it’s essential for trust, alignment, and impact.
🤖 The AI Prompt Lab
A prompt I found surprisingly helpful/thought-provoking — so you can try it too.
Enter the following prompt in your preferred AI Assistant:
“Act as a trusted leadership advisor. I want to strengthen my influence and reputation within my organization and industry — not by self-promotion, but by adding value. What steps can I take over the next 90 days to increase my visibility and credibility in an authentic way?”
Why it’s powerful: Because influence isn’t built through self-promotion — it’s earned through consistent value, credibility, and connection.
If you try this, I'd love to know what steps were recommended to you. Hit reply and share with me!
🎟️ The Backstage Pass
A peek behind the curtain into what I’m loving, learning, or laughing about.
I love Fall conference season — it’s always full of energy, ideas, and opportunities to connect in person with so many of you in the Disruptive by Design community. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be traveling around Ohio sharing the stage with some incredible leaders and change-makers:
- Toledo HR Association Conference — November 6 | Toledo, OH
- P&G Women’s Network Personal Brand Workshop — November 7 | Cincinnati, OH
- Ohio Housing Conference — November 13 | Columbus, OH
Yes, it’s an all-Ohio tour this month — but I’m always ready to cross state lines (and international borders) to connect with new audiences and share what’s possible. 😉
If you’ll be at any of these events, please reply and let me know — I’d love to say hello and connect IRL!
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